'navigable Canal from the said River Aire, at or near Haddlesey, to the River Ouze at the old Brick Garth at Ouzegate End, within the township of Selby, in the said county, and for other Purposes.' The canal from Haddlesey to Selby, which was shortly afterwards executed, has been highly advantageous, from the great additional facilities afforded to the general trade of the country, as well as by the shortening of the distance to York, Malton, Boroughbridge, Ripon, and other places. In a short time after the passing, and by authority of the above-mentioned act, the following improvements took place upon the Aire, viz, a cut near Castleford, to avoid the shoals there, near the mills; a cut, called the Methley Cut; another cut, near Thwaite Mill; a cut, called Knostrop Cut; and a cut, called Leeds Cut. The canal from Haddlesey to Selby was opened for vessels to pass, on the 29th of April, 1778; and all the cuts mentioned above, together with a new set of locks throughout the navigation, (except Haddlesey Old Lock), were completed by the year 1785. This work, and other improvements, entailed a debt upon the concern of above £70,000.
Since the year 1800, very considerable sums of money have been expended in building additional locks, of larger dimensions than the former ones, so as to admit vessels carrying eighty tons to navigate these rivers; and within the last ten years, a serious expenditure has been incurred by the undertakers, in the purchase of premises at Leeds, in forming a new dock, extending the wharfage room, and in erecting most spacious warehouses, highly advantageous to the trade of Leeds. On the Calder, in the same time, Kirkthorpe-Dam has been rebuilt in the most complete and substantial manner.
The tolls on this navigation were very materially reduced by the second act, viz, from ten shillings per ton in summer, and sixteen shillings per ton in winter, on all articles, for the whole line, to the following rates:—
