142 Report on the proposed Okcham and Boston Canal* 



south hank of the river Welland/ from near the junction 

 of the Chater, because it is more favourable ground for a 

 canal than the north bank-, which is composed of loose 

 rock; and bc^^ause, if the proposed hne to Harhorough 

 be executed, the last-mentioned t\vo miles and a half 

 vould answer the purposes of both navigations. The 

 length of tlie line between Stamford andOkehani, as near- 

 ly as I can at present make out, would not exceed ilfleen 

 miles, being shorter than the line laid down by Mr, 

 Wliitworth by four miles. ' Besides that this line arrives 

 nt Stamford from Okeham by a shorter distance than the 

 other, it will be more satisfactory to the principal land- 

 owners in the county of Rutland ; it bears more equally 

 upon the general population of that county than the other 

 does : and it will for ever fix, more directly, the inter- 

 course by inland navigation through the town of Stam- 

 ford. 



** Proceeding from Stamford towards the sea coast, it 

 will be necessary to continue upon and improve the present 

 jnavigation of the Welland to the second lock, being a 

 distance of about three miles ; buf from thence to the sea, 

 it will cost more to render the old navigation perfect, and 

 acquire a proper outlet to the sea, than will construct an 

 entirely new canal navigation to the town of Boston. 



*^ I am therefore of opinion, that, at or near the se- 

 cond lock, a line of canal should depart from the north 

 bank of the Welland, and, — passing along a line between 

 the uplands and the nieadows to the westward of Tailing- 

 ton, and inmiediately eastward of Barholm, to the west 

 of Kate's Bridge, — it should enter the Car Dyke, along 

 which it should be carried, until that ancient work ap- 

 proaches the South forty-foot drain; and opposite Billing- 

 borough, or llorblinii, and then should proceed along that 

 excellent drain, to , the town of Boston. 



*' From the Welland to Car Dyke, an entirely new canal 

 must be formed. Its parsing, as much as practicable, be- 

 tween the uplands and meadows, will be favourable to the 

 adjoining properties, and afford irood ground for the ne- 

 cessary works. Along the Car l5yke, in many places, it 

 has been preserved as a drain, and will beconve a part of 

 the proposed navigation. It will then also form a more 

 perfect bountiary to the fields which have always been sepa- 

 rated by it, and when thev are accommodated by necessary 

 bridges, the adjacent properties will be much improved. 

 Along the South forty-foot drain, with the exception 

 ©f deepening Us bottom from half a yard to two feet, and 



widening 



