Decline of Canals 303 



The material differences in cost of construction and operation 

 between waterways on a low and uniform level and those 

 crossing considerable eminences, by means of locks, were well 

 recognised by Parliament when approving the lists of tolls 

 to be paid on different waterways. On the Aire and Calder 

 the minimum toll, if a boat passed through a lock, was fixed 

 at five shillings. On the Rochdale Canal the minimum toll 

 for a boat crossing the summit level was ten shillings. 1 The 

 reason for this difference is that whereas the Aire and Calder 

 navigation is but little above sea level throughout, the summit 

 of the Rochdale Canal is at a height of 600 feet above sea 

 level, and is crossed by means of ninety-two locks in thirty- 

 two miles. 



The reader will see, therefore, that the want of a common 

 gauge in the construction of artificial waterways, mainly 

 designed, at the outset, to supply the needs of particular 

 districts, may often have been due to more practical reasons 

 than simply a lack of combination or a difference of view on 

 the part of canal constructors, the problem of gauge on canals 

 built at varying elevations, and all depending on water supply, 

 being entirely different from any question as to the gauge 

 or the running of railways on the same or similar routes. 



" The necessity of a uniform gauge on canals as on railways," 

 says Clifford, " is now clear enough. We need not wonder 

 that, in the eighteenth century, Parliament was no wiser than 

 the engineers, and had not learned this lesson." It was, 

 however, not entirely a matter of wisdom. There were, also, 

 these inherent defects of the canal system itself to be con- 

 sidered. It is very doubtful if even Parliament, had it pos- 

 sessed the greatest foresight, could have forced, or have 

 persuaded, the canal companies to construct locks of precisely 

 the same dimensions at elevations of 400, 500 or 600 feet, 

 where water was difficult to get or costly to pump, as on canals 

 more or less on the sea level, and deriving an abundant water 

 supply from mountain streams or navigable rivers. 



Forbes and Ashford, in " Our Waterways," also think it 

 is much to be regretted that in this country no standard 

 dimension was ever fixed for canals, " as has been done in 

 France." But the superficial area of the United Kingdom, 



1 "The Law Relating to Railway and Canal Traffic"; Boyle and 

 Waghorn. Vol. I, page 296, 



