142 
Land Drainage and Im'provement 
exclusive of moneys expended by the two operative Companies 
for landowners who have not charged their estates, and which 
proceedings do not come in any way under the surveillance of 
the Inclosure Commissioners. They would amount to a con- 
siderable addition. 
8. Besides the several Acts already referred to there is the 
general Act of the 27 & 28 Vict., cap. CXIV., entitled " The 
Improvement of Land Act, 1864," which was intended to include 
all the desirable powers of the several Companies. In fact, when 
enumerating the objects intended by the term " Improvement of 
Land," all the works specified in the various private Acts are 
repeated. It goes, however, somewhat further, and includes in 
its provisions one of the most important privileges which has yet 
been granted to landownei-s with limited interests. It enables 
them to subscribe to railways and canals, the construction of 
which may benefit their estates, if the Inclosure Commissioners 
approve of the object. 
It can well be conceived that, with the present difficulties in 
raising capital for the construction of railways, landowners might 
very materially aid in securing a branch or local line by raising 
money on their estates proportionate to the extent of benefit they 
will derive, and by subscribing such amounts towards its con- 
struction. 
This provision is not sufficiently well known, for there can be 
no doubt that, within cei"tain limits of amount, no improvement 
so decidedly increases the commercial value of rural property as 
the existence of railway communication. 
But it cannot be withheld from the agricultural interest, that 
however desirable it may be to have at command such general 
powers as were gained by the " Improvement of Land Act, 
1864," the same difficulty of securing money under its provisions 
will prevail as attended the private Money Drainage Act — 
which it repealed — although the period for the repayment of 
borrowed money may be extended from twenty-two to twenty- 
five years. The medium of supply will still be wanted, and 
nothing can be done without recourse to legal assistance, which 
is altogether avoided with some of the Companies. 
One further remark is necessary to conform to the conditions 
expressed in the terms of the Society in reference to the influence 
these various Acts have had upon agriculture. 
Though the total amount, 8,000,000/., expended under them 
amounts to but a small proportion of the money necessary to 
effect all the improvements they were designed to promote, still 
the money borrowed under their powers, if associated with that 
which has been contemporaneously expended from private 
