junction, at Wordesley Brook, with the River Stour; and the other from Black Delph to the first branch at the Lays, in the parish of Kingswinford, in Staffordshire.
The first act of parliament sanctioning this undertaking was passed in 1776, and is entitled, 'An Act for making and maintaining a navigable Canal, from or near the town of Stourbridge, in the county of Worcester, to join the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal at or near Stourton, in the county of Stafford; and also Two collateral Cuts, one from a Place called the Fens, upon Pensnet Chase, to communicate with the intended Canal near the Junction of Wordesley Brook, from the River Stour, and the other from a Place called Black Delph, upon the said Chase, to join the first-mentioned collateral Cut, at or near certain Lands, called the Lays, in the parish of Kingswinford, in the said county of Stafford;' and a second act was passed in 1782, for explaining and amending the former act.
The first act of parliament incorporates the proprietors by the name of "The Company of Proprietors of the Stourbridge Navigation," and authorizes them to raise amongst themselves, for the execution of the work, the sum of £30,000, in three hundred shares of £100 each; and by a second act of parliament passed in 1782, they were empowered to raise a further sum of £7,500, making the shares £125 each. They are likewise authorized to collect the following
TONNAGE RATES.
| For all Coal, Coke, Iron, Iron-stone, Timber and other Goods, which may be conveyed upon the Canal from Stourbridge to Stourton, and passing through any of the Locks at Stourton | 6d per Ton. |
| For all Lime or Lime-stone | 2d ditto. |
| For all Coal, Coke, Iron, Iron-stone, Timber and other Goods, passing upon either of the Collateral Cuts and any Lock thereon | 6d ditto. |
| Except Coal passing from the Dudley Canal only | 3d ditto. |
| Lime and Lime-stone | 2d ditto. |
The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal Company have power to take Two-pence per Ton per Mile on Coal brought from this Navigation and carried on theirs; and may lessen the Tolls with Consent of the Commissioners.
Goods passing on the Summit of the Canal or Collateral Cut, and which do not pass any Lock, Tonnage free.
Paving-stones, Gravel and other Materials for repairing the Road, (Lime-stone excepted) and also Manure for the Estates of Persons, part of whose Land shall have been taken for this Canal, and not passing through a Lock, are exempted from Toll.
It being supposed that the extension of the Dudley Canal join the Worcester and Birmingham would lessen the profits of
