History of Canal and River Navigations. 203 



Considering the part taken by the citizens of Manchester 

 and their representatives in promoting and completing their 

 Ship Canal, it is evident that we are all pledged to the careful 

 consideration of this problem. As a result of the exertions 

 above mentioned, which have called forth admiration at 

 home and abroad, this city will shortly become a seaport, 

 and situated as it is at the junction of five canal systems, it 

 follows that there is no district that has so immediate and 

 direct an interest in the best and quickest solution of the 

 question as Manchester. 



The revision of canal rates and tolls has recently been 

 under the consideration of the Board of Trade, and a com- 

 mittee formed of members of both Houses of Parliament. 

 In the statements laid before these tribunals a mass of new 

 and important information bearing upon the subject of 

 inland navigation has been made public property. When 

 this enquiry is completed, no valid reason can, in my 

 opinion, be urged for further delay in the preparation of 

 accurate statistics, such as will provide material from which 

 a reliable estimate can be formed as to the present position, 

 and the position to be occupied in the future by our inland 

 waterways, as well as their importance to the trade of the 

 country. 



As five years have elapsed since the last return was 

 made, a return for 1893 should be ordered by Parliament, 

 and the Board of Trade should make certain that all neces- 

 sary information for defining the capacity of the various 

 waterways, and especially with regard to through routes, is 

 included in it. 



It is necessary that this information should be carefully 

 considered by an expert before it is printed, so as to avoid 

 a recurrence of misleading statements, too many of which 

 are to be found in the 1888 return. 



Our representatives abroad should be requested to pay 

 particular attention to the internal navigation of foreign 



