Which although composed of a great variety, we shall here only notice
that of Corn; and although the town of Knaresbro' and its vicinity,
cannot complain of a scanty or contracted supply, nor yet of exorbitant
prices, compared with their more western neighbours, the inhabitants of
Craven, and the borders of Lancashire: who, at least must pay such
suitable advance as will compensate for a long and expensive land, or a
longer and protracted water carriage, neither of which in all
probability, can in these days of depression, bear a further reduction of
rate.--Under these circumstances, knowing the soil in the neighbourhood
of Wetherby and Tadcaster to be rich and fertile, we feel some confidence
that corn and its produce in flour and meal, (which can so conveniently
be converted by mills upon the line,) will soon become an article of
tonnage in no small degree, nearly the whole length of the line; and
thence being removed by land carriage from Pateley-Bridge to Skipton and
other places further west, will be found cheaper than heretofore. The
quantity of tonnage on this head is not so clearly ascertained, still it
will have some reference to the quantity of coals brought from Skipton
into the neighbourhood of Pateley-Bridge, or the quantity of lead taken
from Pateley-Bridge, to Ripon as either one or the other of these
articles, in both directions must be considered back carriage, otherwise
they could not be removed, as heretofore, at the usual low rates. From
these data, and the fact of three waggons three days each week from
Knaresbro' towards Skipton, we believe the tonnage under this head in
that direction will be three thousand tons annually, which being nearly
the whole length of the line, or twenty-five miles at 3d. per ton, per
mile, will yield a revenue of 937 pounds 10s. Being aware some doubt may
arise as to the computation of this tonnage being correct, we feel no
apprehension as to the result.
For while it must be admitted, that lead in this case ceases to be a back
carriage, hence the expense of carrying corn from Ripon to Pateley-Bridge
must naturally increase, whilst on the contrary, the expense by the
Railway must as naturally decrease; these two circumstances in all
probability will fully support the estimate, if not greatly exceed it.
We now come to the present principal trade of the town and neighbourhood
of Knaresbro', which is that of dressing Flax and spinning Yarns; and
what first takes our notice upon the subject of tonnage, is that of