This article during the latter period of the late war, was dressed and
manufactured here in greater quantities than at present, probably owing
to the profits upon it at that time being more adequate to the heavy
expense of carriage, than they are now. The depressed state of the trade
since that period has caused one flax-mill, turned by water, to be
converted into a corn-mill, no doubt to the detriment of others in that
line; and two more, turned by the power of steam, to stand still, and
become useless; whereas, if carriage could be considerably reduced upon
this article, and also in that of coal as stated already there remains
little doubt but this useless property would regain its former value, and
additional employment be afforded to the increasing population of the
neighbourhood; an object at all times deserving the notice of the opulent
and rich, and which of late, hath, with partial success engaged the
united efforts of the legislature.
In calculating on the tonnage of this article we have it in our power to
be more exact than on that of any named before, for every individual
concerned with it, has made his own return, and which added together
amounts to two thousand four hundred and forty tons, being for the town
of Knaresbro', one thousand seven hundred; and for the neighbourhood up
to Pateley-Bridge, seven hundred and forty. Hence the amount of revenue
from this tonnage will be as follows:
Pounds _s._ _d._
From Bolton 732 0 0
Percy to
Knaresbro' 2440
tons per ann.
18 miles, at
4d. per ton,
per mile
From Knaresbro'
to
Pateley-Bridge,
which is 14.75
miles, but for
safety sake is
only taken at
12.
740 tons, 12 148 0 0
miles at 4d.
per ton, per
mile
880 0 0
Having pointed out the probable amount of revenue which the article of
Flax will yield to the Railway; we shall next endeavour to exhibit how
much will be saved between the present and the projected mode of
conveying it to Knaresbro':
From Pounds 1 2 0
Hull,
via B.
Bridge,
the
present
expense
per ton,
is
And the
time of
coming
from 10
to 21
days
From 0 5 0
Hull to
Bolton
Percy,
per ton
Removing 0 0 9
from the
boat
into the
waggon
Rail 0 6 0
dues, 18
miles,
at 4d.
per ton
per mile
Waggon 0 2 3 0 14 0
dues, 18
miles,
at 1.5d.
per ton,
per mile
0 8 0
By this statement it appears there is a saving of 8s. per ton from Hull
to Knaresbro'; and nothing seems to prevent the same ratio holding good
from Hull to Pateley-Bridge; besides should the Flax come from Hull on
board the regular traders, it will in all probability arrive at the
Wharfe mouth in two tides, and from thence to Knaresbro' in eight or nine
hours; but should the trade of Knaresbro' attract the notice of the
owners of steam vessels, its dispatch would doubtless be greater; and
more in proportion it would benefit the trade of the place; in as much as
cheapness of carriage and dispatch of goods whether manufactured or
otherwise are the very sinews of commerce, and in such proportion as
these are obtained, so will the wealth and prosperity of the town or
neighbourhood be regulated.
In presuming upon any increase of tonnage on this head, we feel equally
safe as on any other, or more so; for if the present mills turned by
water, and spinning Flax were found insufficient, some corn-mills might
easily be converted, and in lieu of them, wind-mills might be erected,
for which purpose many fine situations present themselves on both sides
of the valley, where there is abundance of stone and lime always
contiguous, which would render such erections less expensive than in many
other places.
The next subject for our consideration, and which naturally follows the
last, is the tonnage arising from manufactured