Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/146

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CALDER AND HEBBLE NAVIGATION.

which have furnished inexhaustible supplies for the London Market, and other parts of the kingdom; we allude, in particular, to the celebrated flag quarries of Cromwell Bottom and Elland Edge, at the former of which there is an extensive wharf, Iron-stone and coal works have been, and continue to be, extensively worked on its banks; and from the collieries at Flockton, a railway extends to the river at Horbury Bridge; from the Storr's Hill Colliery there is also a railway, terminating at the Calder, a little above the same bridge; within a few years there was a railway from the White Lee Colliery, above Heckmondwike, which terminated at this navigation, a short distance above Dewsbury, but the colliery is now worked out, and the railway taken up. At Kirklees a railway is laid to this navigation, from Sir George Armytage's Collieries; and the Earl of Cardigan has also a railway from his valuable collieries at New Park, to the Calder, at Wakefield, where are convenient staiths for shipment. Many other collieries, stone quarries, &c. have been opened on its banks, in consequence of the facility it gives for exporting their heavy produce, but they are too numerous to be all introduced within our pages.

In 1825 the company of proprietors applied for an act to enable them to extend a branch of their navigation to the town of Halifax, which will be attended with considerable advantage to that populous and important manufacturing town; it is entitled, 'An Act to enable the Company of Proprietors of the Calder and Hebble Navigation, to make a navigable Cut or Canal from Salterhebble Bridge, to Bailey Hall, near to the town of Halifax, in the West Riding of the county of York; and to amend the Act relating to the said Navigation. ' By this act the company are empowered to raise among themselves, or by the admission of new proprietors, the sum of £40,000 for carrying into execution (only one mile and three-eighths of canal,) the works proposed; with further power to raise, by way of loan, or by creating new shares, an additional sum of £10,000; but which sums of £40,000 and £10,000 may be raised upon promissory notes, or on mortgage of the tolls and duties authorized to be collected.

The clause in the former act relating to the limitation of the dividends, is in this act repealed, so that the proprietors may here-