144 Reporl on the proposed Okeham and Boston Canal, 



strict uf country, and the connections with the interior 

 districts more perftct, and to afford a lair competition of 

 local advantages, I am of opinion that a canal should be 

 carried between the Welland and the Neno : and the coun- 

 try appears to be ])articularly favourable for this junciion. 

 Tins hne should de{)art from the Welland precisely where 

 the branch to Boston does, and in a manner similar thereto. 

 It should be carried m a line dividing the upland from the 

 flat country, and terminating at or near Peterborough, By 

 these means, tl)e elevation would be small ; atid proper 

 ground would be obtained for the canal works : and the 

 canal, being supplied with waters, which now pass partly 

 into the Welland and pauly into the Nene, those waters 

 would be turned by lockage to the respective rivers, so as to 

 Injure neither. The country through which the canal would 

 pass is very populous, and requires conup.unication : and 

 the towns, and whole population of the valleys of theW^el- 

 land and the Nene, would thereby have an Ojiportunity af- 

 forded them to benefit by the navigation of all the rjvcrs 

 which fall into the great bay — with the choice of such of 

 them as should best suit their interest and convcniency, 



" Having, I trust, stated satisfactory reasons whv the 

 former surveyed line of canal should be abandoned, and 

 having hitherto been enabled to recommend other lines only 

 from a 2:c"^'»'cd inspection of the country, the committee 

 will readilv conceive, that, until regular and careful surveys 

 and sections have been made, of the new lines, it is im- 

 possible for me to enter into a more minute detail, either 

 with re^^ard to the precise situation f)f the lines, or the na- 

 ture of the works required, or to form any correct estimate 

 of the expense. But if it be judged adviseable, after this 

 general explanation, to authorize me to proceed in getting 

 these surveys and sections made, no time shall be lost iu 

 perfornnng the service, and furnishing the committee with 

 all nece;3sary data lor making an application to parlia- 

 ment. 



" In the mean time, I may venture to slate, that althon2;h 

 from the quantity of lockage necessary to ascend to the 

 canals, already made upon the sumnlit of the country, the 

 expense of the line from Stamford to Okeham wdl be 

 fuilv eq*al to the general average of canals of similar di- 

 UKusion? ; yet those from Stamford towards Boston and 

 Peterborough, from their sniall elevations — the favourable 

 Ijiuure of the ground-™-and fr<?m havmg, in the South 

 f(jrlV'foot dra.n, about fifteen miles of canal nearly com 

 plcLc, as v.ell as great tacilnies iu liic Car Dvke, . will. l>e 



ereatlv 



