Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/334

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It will be seen, from the title of one of the acts quoted above, that the company had powers granted for supplying part of Paddington with water; they have also immense warehouses and covered docks at White Friars, which afford stowage to the boats and barges of Mr. Pickford's establishment. At Paddington there is a basin four hundred yards long, and thirty broad, with ranges of wharfs, warehouses, and immense sheds for stowing goods in all directions around it; in addition to which, there are all necessary accommodations for persons attending the Paddington Market (established in 1802,) with cattle, hay, corny vegetables, &c.

Packet-boats regularly ply on the canal between London and Uxbridge, for the conveyance of passengers and parcels; and Mr. Pickford has a succession of barges day and night, conveying goods on this canal and those connected with it. Mr. Barnes, Mr. Telford, Mr. Holland, Mr. Jessop, and Mr. Bevan, all of them engineers of first rate abilities, have been consulted and employed on this canal, and the expectation of the original projectors, as far as regards public utility, have been fully realized. The design of making a communication between the Grand Junction and the various docks at London, has been effected by the Regent's Canal, out of which this company have now the privilege of taking the water, which they before were authorized to take from the Thames.

The advantages which the metropolis, and indeed all places on the main line and branches, derive from this grand undertaking, are incalculable. The staple goods of Manchester, Stourbridge, Birmingham, and Wolverhampton; cheese, salt, lime, stone, timber, corn, paper, bricks, &c. &c. are conveyed by it to London, whilst in return, groceries, tallow, cotton, tin, manure, and raw materials for the manufacturing districts, are constantly passing upon it. The immense trade on this concern is briefly stated, by observing that the tonnage amounts to near £160,000 per annum.

GRAND SURREY CANAL.

41 Geo. III. C. 31, R. A. 21st May, 1801.

47 Geo. III. C. 80, R. A. 8th Aug. 1807.

48 Geo. III. C. 99, R. A. 3rd June, 1808.

51 Geo. III. C. 170, R. A. 15th June, 1811.

THE first act obtained for the execution of the Grand Surrey Canal is entitled, 'An Act for making and maintaining a navigable