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CHAPTER V. 



PROPOSED EXTENSION OF THE DUKE'S CANAL TO THE MERSEY. 



THE CANAL had scarcely been opened to Manchester 

 when we find Briiidley occupied, at the instance of tlie 

 Duke, in surveying the country between Stretford and 

 the river Mersey, with the object of carrying out a 

 canal in that direction for the accommodation of tin- 

 growing trade between Liverpool and Manchester. The 

 first boat-load of coals sailed over the Barton viaduct 

 to Manchester on the 17th of July, 1761, and on the 

 7th of September following we find Briiidley at Liver- 

 pool, 1 " rocconitoring ;" and, by the end of the month, 

 he is busily engaged in levelling for a proposed canal to 

 join the Mersey at Hempstones, about eight miles belmv 

 Warrington Bridge, from whence there was a natural 

 tideway to Liverpool, about fifteen miles distant. 



The project in question was a very important one on 

 public grounds. We have seen how the community of 

 Manchester had been hampered by its defective road 

 and water communications, which seriously affected its 

 supplies of food and fuel, and, at the same time, by re- 

 tarding its trade, hindered to a considerable extent the 

 regular employment of its population. The Duke of 



1 It would almost seem as if the 

 extension of the canal to the Mersey 

 had formed part of the Duke's original 

 plan; for Brindley was engaged in 

 making a survey from Longford to 

 Dunham in the autumn of the pre- 

 ceding year, as appears from the fol- 

 lowing account of Brindley's expenses 

 in making the survey, preserved at 

 the Bridgewater Canal Office at Man- 

 chester : 



" Expenses in Surveying from Longford 



Bridge to Dunham. 

 Oct r 21 st 1760. 



Spent at Stretford o c 



At Altringhiun all Night .. .. <i 

 Gave the Men to Drink that ) ^ Q 

 assisted } 



More at Altringham . . . . 26 

 P d Mr. Brinloy this." 



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