410 WA'IEll-'J'ltANsruKT. 



tanks are used to supply water to rafting-channels ; tbcy are 

 preferable to any other mode of strengthening the head of 

 water, as they permit rafting to be carricd-on without inter- 

 ruption. 



The constant struggle to extend and improve commerce by 

 reducing the cost of transport is now chiefly directed in Germany 

 to the work of improving moderate-sized rivers by canalisation. 

 This cannot but have considerable influence on the rafting of 

 timber and on the dimensions of the rafts and their mode of 

 conveyance, &c., and arrangements should be made to allow 

 sufficient way through bridges, locks and sluice-gates for the 

 rafts. Accordingly, through the canalisation of the rivers 

 Main, Neckar, Saale, &c., timber-rafting will be more and more 

 extended to the lower courses of these rivers, if by forming 

 suitable collecting-places out of the reach of floods and spacious 

 tanks in which the rafts can be made-up and through which 

 they can pass, the construction of large rafts is rendered 

 possible. For if the rafting business is to be conducted on a 

 large scale, spacious timber-tanks at central places to which 

 rafts converge down the smaller streams are indispensable.* 



* ["The Oifsr. X<ivi(/f(ti(in. — Goods are cairicd over a length of 72f miles, 

 between liedi'ord and King's Lynn, and tlie Navigation possesses the power to 

 stimulate trade very considerably. 



"In the beginning of Jlarcli, 1893, Mr. Tliornber, who had been engaged by 

 Jlr. Simpson to cany out the restoration works, and who is now retained as 

 manager of the undertaking, commenced work at the St. Ives stauncli, and by 

 Sejjteniber in the same year the navigation was reopened to St. Neot's. From 

 October, 1893, to February 1894, the works were at a .standstill for the winter, 

 but in March, 1894, a tresh start was niaile, with the result that the lirst 

 steam tug, bringing a number of barges with pig iron from the Tees tor Messrs. 

 Howard's works, and timber for Alessrs. Hobson & Co., passed through the 

 Bedford lock on the 2.")th July, and was duly reported in the Juurnal a month 

 ago. lietween St. Ives and Bedford there are 15 locks and 3 staunches, and 

 there are also 42 flood-gates. The locks were all entirely restored and put into 

 perfect working onler. New sills, hollow ([uoins, and gate platfoiins were fitted 

 at every lock, togetlier with no less than 56 new lock-gates and 31 new flood- 

 gates, all the remaining lock and tlood-gates being jiut into thorougli rejtair. 

 Several of the locks were alino.st entirely rebuilt. ]5esi(ies the repairs and relmild- 

 ing of the locks a vast amount of work was done in rebuilding and repairing 

 bridges, horse pumps, landing stages, embanking, towing-patii revivals, and last 

 but not least not less than 50,000 tons of silt antl deposit were dredged from the 

 various shallows — to the vast benefit of not only tlie navigation but the tenants 

 ami iiwners of lands adjoining tiie river. 



"It is hoped that the dilliculties now in tlie way ol the furllier (levelopment of 

 the navigation will shortly be removed, and the prosperity of Bedford thereby 

 further assured." — Timber Trades Journal, Sept. 7, 1895. 



There can be no doubt that if similar attemjits are nuule elsewhere in Britain 

 to improve canal-trattic, that the British timber trade will greatly benefit, as 

 heavy timlier cannot be carried at a protit for long distances by rail. — Ti;.] 



