ii6 The Landed Interest. 



off the hay, there is some compensation in the 

 heavy crops of aftermath that follow. If the 

 natural beds of the rivers were kept free from 

 obstruction there would be far more benefit 

 than injury from floods. 



But in earlier times, before steam-power was 

 known, water-power was found a valuable aid 

 for both mills and navigation. Weirs and dams 

 were then constructed, and water-rights have 

 grown up which greatly hamper arterial drain- 

 age. Towns on the river-banks, though gene- 

 rally built above flood-mark, are injured by 

 long-continued floods ; and their interests, as 

 well as those of the land, are concerned in 

 removing all artificial obstructions. There is no 

 longer any necessity for these, as steam-power 

 can everywhere be substituted for water-mills, 

 and the tedious delays of barges be superseded 

 by the quicker and more certain conveyance by 

 railways. The barge navigation was attended 

 by one benefit, as, in order to maintain adequate 

 depth of water, it was necessary to keep the bed 

 of the river free from the natural growth of 

 weeds which otherwise impede the current, and 



