He drained it six feet deep at an enormous cost.

He built an engine-shed with a centrifugal pump, which forced water from the stream that ran through the lower ground over the entire property, and even to the topmost storey of his house.

He laid a light tramway across the widest part of his estate, and sent the labourers to and fro their work in trucks.

The chaff-cutters, root-pulpers, the winnowing-machine--everything was driven by steam.

Teams of horses and waggons seemed to be always going to the canal wharf for coal, which he ordered from the pit wholesale.
A fine set of steam-ploughing tackle was put to work, and, having once commenced, the beat of the engines never seemed to cease.