148 REPORT—1874. 
For the utilization of the water-power of the Bann there are thirty-one 
mill-falls (besides the two mentioned before, where the weirs have been taken 
down): eight of these are above the confluence of the Muddock, one of them 
on the Rocky river and one on the Leitrim river (both important branches 
of the Bann); the other six are on the Bann itself. As none of these derive 
any advantage from the reservoirs, the Deer’s Meadow not having been 
made, their power is small and variable, and they are nearly all occupied by 
small corn- and scutch-mills. In the preceding Table (pp. 146 & 147) full 
particulars are given of the remaining twenty-five falls, which are more 
important, inasmuch as, in addition to the Bann, they command the water 
of the Muddock and the reservoirs. 
An inspection of the Table shows that the first four falls are at present 
unprofitable to the Reservoir Company, as the rates annually struck on them 
are annually remitted on account of the mills not being worked. There are 
several reasons for this: some of these are flax-scutching mills and have been 
burnt; and as that is a bad business at present, and steam scutch-mills can be 
kept going by using the waste products of the scutching for fuel, there is no 
inducement to put up new mills and pay the reservoir rate. Although the 
rate is the same as below the Corbet reservoir, these falls are deprived of the 
advantages of that reservoir; and the busiest season for both scutch- and 
corn-mills is subsequent to the time the greatest use is made of Lough Island 
Reavy. They are at a distance from large and important towns, surrounded 
by a poor part of the country, much of which is mountainous. 
The Banbridge Extension Railway is almost finished as far as Ballyroney 
Mill, and runs close to the river all the way trom Banbridge; when it is 
opened a great stimulus will be given to the trade of that part of the country, 
and, it is expected, capital drawn to it for the establishment of mills engaged 
in permanent manufactures, such as have clustered themselves around Ban- 
bridge. An improvement may therefore be looked for; and manufacturers, 
as they become alive to the fact that steam, although a very convenient, is a 
most expensive power, will gladly avail themselves of such a cheap and con- 
stant water-power as the Upper Bann offers. 
A consideration of what has been already done on the Upper Bann shows 
that had the Act of Parliament been such as, after forty years’ experience, is 
now adopted for such works, and power over the various watercourses secured, 
much litigation would have been prevented, and the Bann Reservoir Company 
much more prosperous; also, that many of the falls could be nearly doubled 
in value by improved water-wheels. 
I hope this brief description of what has been already done on the Upper 
Bann may induce other districts, profiting by this experience, to economize 
the vast amount of water-power that runs to waste in all parts of Ireland. 
Were such the case, it would go far to make up for the want of coal in that 
country, and much promote its industrial prosperity. 
The Upper Bann was formerly celebrated for its trout-fishing, which has 
been much injured of late years by the discharge of flax steep-water into the 
river, instead of lifting the flax out of the water when the water is low. It 
is said if some improvements were made in the weirs, salmon would come up 
the river. Eels can be taken during floods, but are not much sought after. 
Pearls have been found in rare instances in the river. The water is exceed- 
ingly soft (about 5°, Clark’s test), and peculiarly well adapted for bleaching, 
which is extensively carried on at the various establishments along the river. 
