664 WATER POWERS ON .MERSEY Rl\ ER, x\. .S. YORSTON. 



Miltoiii occupies both sides of the river wiiere it lias l>een 

 broadened out bv dams, and is one of the busiest places to be 

 found in the province. The Ijuzz of niachi'nery is heard all 

 over the place, and everybody appears busy and contented. 

 Soon after the starting of the pulp mills a steam tramway Avas 

 built up the left bank of the river, connecting the mills with 

 the dilferent wharf properties in Liverpool, avid has been used 

 to ship the products of the mills, although pulp has been the 

 staple freight outward and pulp-wood inward. I am of opinion 

 that this tramway could be more economically and l>est opera- 

 ted by electricity, and I feel there will not be any great difficulty 

 in extending this line up the river as far as Indian Gardens, 

 and if this were done every water power on the river could be 

 profitably utilized, for, with more patronage for the road, 

 cheaper freight rates could be had, a_nd with cheaper freight 

 rates and plenty of freight to carry, both tramway and the 

 manufacturer should make money. It does not seem that a 

 factory situated anywhere on the ]\Iersey would pay any more 

 freight per ton for its product delivered on the wharf ready 

 for shipment than many concerns not so fav(uirably situated do 

 for truckage. Xow, the rates fm" water carriage are, as a rule, 

 very much below the rates for rail carriage, and any concern 

 so situated as to be able to ship l)y water has an immense 

 advantage iii marketing its product. As Liverpool harbour is 

 open all the year round, no better shi[)ping port could b<^ 

 desired, and rnanuiacturod products from any mill or factory 

 situated in Liverpool or vicinity should be able to successfully 

 meet in competition with those from any other place. 



The town of Li^•erpool supplies electricity for powm- pur- 

 poses at a very low rate as an encouragement to manufacturers. 

 There is still room for industries requiring a moderate amount 

 of power in the town, and there seems to be every advantage in 

 the location, cheap power, cheap water and light, and low rate 

 of taxation. Since starting this paper I have learned that con- 

 struction is already started on a paper box and paper mill at 



