Jervis, a gentleman of large experience, and who proved throughout admirably fitted for the arduous duties that fell on him. The company at this time, it seems, complained that they were not met in a fair and equitable spirit by the owners of the land through which the road would pass, " who would derive," it was said, " far greater benefit than the company itself could expect." In the summer of 1847 the route which Mr. Jervis deemed it highly important should follow closely the river, and which had been divided into sections, was placed under contract, and by November all the contractors on the line of the road had commenced work and the desire was to push it forward with all speed Mr. Jervis, by the following remark in his reporc of January, 1848, indicates his own anxiety : " The contractors cannot induce men to work at night." But the men were found as untractable, when national feuds sprang up among them, and efforts were made to drive each other from the line. This rioting between the "Corkonians and the Far Downs " delayed, of course, the work. But obstacles unavoidable occurred, which, in a large measure were owing to the proximity of the road to the river, adverse winds and tides often hindering the workmen. From the same cause in the cuttings which were found at points very hard, much trouble was occasioned by the flow of the water into the crevices in the rock. The board, however, at the instigation of the engineers did everything it could to encourage the contractors, adopting the principle of making allowances when unforeseen difficulties were presented in the execution of the work.