Disadvantages of River Navigation 153 



In an undated pamphlet, entitled " Reflections on the 

 General Utility of Inland Navigation to the Commercial 

 and Landed Interests of England, with Observations on the 

 Intended Canal from Birmingham to Worcester," by the 

 proprietors of the Staffordshire Canal, stress is laid on the 

 trouble caused by the shoals in the Severn, and some facts 

 are given as to the way in which traders had to meet the 

 uncertainties offered by river transport. The pamphlet says : 



" A principal defect of the present conveyance arises from 

 the shoals in the river Severn above Worcester, an evil in- 

 curable. The fall from Stourport to Diglis, near Worcester, 

 is nineteen feet ; and the river is, what this fact alone would 

 prove, full of shoals. These shoals impede the current of .the 

 stream, and retain the water longer in the bed of the river. 

 Let these shoals be removed, the water will pass off, and the 

 whole of the river become too shallow for navigation. Locks 

 on the river could alone correct this defect ; but these would 

 overflow the meadows, impede the drainage of the land, and 

 do an injury to the landowners, which parliament can never 

 sanction. 



" This defect gives rise to others to uncertainty as to the 

 time of the conveyance for it is only at particular periods 

 that there is water sufficient for the navigation to delays 

 from a want of men 1 and expence from the increased number 

 which the strong current requires. It gives rise, also, to a 

 double transhipping of commodities sent from Birmingham 

 down the Severn, first from the canal at Stourport, and 

 secondly at or near Worcester, as the barges which this shoal 

 water will admit are too small to navigate much below. 



" The delays and damage incidental to such a navigation 

 have induced the manufacturers of Birmingham to employ 

 land carriage at a great expence many waggons are con- 

 stantly employed at the heavy charge of 4*. per ton from 

 Birmingham to Bristol alone to convey goods or manufactures 

 which cannot await the delay or damage to which in the 

 present navigation they are necessarily exposed ; large 



1 Barges were towed up-stream on the Severn by men. Writing in 

 1803, Archdeacon Plymley said : " A horse towing-path is now established 

 from Bewdley to Coalbrookdale, which is more and more used, and it is 

 hoped will soon be extended, the office of towing barges by men being 

 looked upon as very injurious to their manners." 



