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XrV. On Canals, JB^- Thomas Telford, jE/j.* 



XnLAND navigation has now been fo long and extenfively 

 practifed in Great Britain, that the benehts arifing from it 

 are generally felt and acknowledged ; and it is difficult to fay, 

 whether the improvements in agriculture, manufa<9:ure5> or 

 commerce, are mod indebted to the numerous canals which 

 now interfed the country in all direftions, or to other cauiies. 

 It is not my intention at prefent to trace the rife and pro- 

 grefs of this great national improvement, nor to enter deeply 

 into the general principles of it : what I chiefly aim at in tins 

 flight lke°ch is, to draw the attention of the people who are 

 concerned in laying out new canals, to fome circumftances 

 which appear to me to be very material to the interelts of canal 

 companies and to the country at large. 



In confidering the fubjea, I ftiaU beg leave to ftate, that 

 €a.nals are chiefly for the purpofe of, 



I ft, Carrying fuel and raw materials to fome manufactur- 

 ing towns or diflrifts, and for exporting manufactured goods. 

 adly, Carrying fuel for domeftic purpofes ; manure for the 

 purpofes of agriculture ; tranfporting the produce of the di- 

 ftrifts through which the canal palfes to the diflerent mar- 

 kets; and promoting agricultural purpofes in general. 

 3dly, Carrying the produce of mines to the fea-fliores. 

 Thefe appear to be the leading points by which our views 

 ©uo-ht to be guided in plamiing new canals. The fupplying 

 the diftria Through which the canal paflcs with groceries 

 and merchant goods is a very fecondary confideration ; expe- 

 rience has taught this lelFon to the perfons who are concerned 

 in the canals already made; and it is proper this fource of 

 difappointment fliould be made generally known, in order tQ 

 prevent future mifapplication of talents and capital. 



In planning a new canal, it ihould be carefully confidcred 

 under which of the foregoing heads the ufes of the canal 

 ou^ht to be clallcd. Cafes will fometimes, no doubt, occur, 

 where the fevcral purpofes above mentioned will in fome 

 meafiire be combined; but they willrarely be fo equally 

 balanced, as to create a difficulty in dlfcovcring tire predo- 

 minant features. The general purpofes of (he canal being 

 judicioufly determined, all the following Reps fliould be taken 

 with a view to promote the principal end. 



If the canal is for the purpofe of carrying fuel and raw 

 materials to fome manufaduring town or diftrict, and expbrt- 



* Comir.unicatcd by the Author. 



injr 



