Report of the Knaresbrough Rail-way Committee | Page 2

of the work in such a manner as would totally destroy the expected advantages to be derived by the trade of Knaresbro' and the surrounding neighbourhood, or leave little or no hopes for the shareholders receiving a fair per centage for their money embarked.
Under these circumstances your committee abandoned all further hopes of a Canal, and notwithstanding the funds then collected for the survey were exhausted, they relied on the same spirit which gave rise to the project, and felt convinced of the great utility and advantages of a Rail-way, if taken from a navigable part of the river Wharfe, and continued, passing Knaresbro', up the valley to Pateley-Bridge.
The object of extending the work thus far, was, in order to secure the back carriage of the lead, which is produced on a large scale in that neighbourhood, besides the excellent lime for agricultural purposes made at Greenhow-Hill, and the very excellent stone to be had there for making and repairing of highways; together with the inexhaustible quantities of stone for all purposes of building, which by the accounts we have of it, cannot be excelled; and also the produce of many flax and cotton mills, all of which are turned by water, and hence more likely to increase in number than diminish; the quantity of tonnage to be found in that direction, at a comparatively small expense in obtaining it, added to the tonnage of the lower end of the line, would, undoubtedly increase, not only the utility of the work, as regards the country in general, but give a preponderating quantity of tonnage in a descending direction; the advantages of which were so obvious to your Committee, that a survey nearly upon new ground was undertaken, and continued under very favourable hopes, till at length it was brought within the compass of both plans and sections, and exhibited to your Committee about the latter end of January, 1819.
From which data, and what more Mr. Palmer was able to give Mr. Telford from his own observations, your Committee requested Mr. Telford to give his estimates of the most advantageous manner of communicating this place with the navigable part of the river Ouse at Acaster Sailby, (this being at that time the point fixed on at the lower end of the line) either by a double Rail-way only, or by a double Rail-way to the Brook Crimple, and hence by a Canal to Acaster Sailby, taking the water from this brook as a supply, and forward from Knaresbro' to Pateley-bridge, by a single Rail-way, with passing places.
The separate expenses of each, as furnished by Mr. Telford, are below:--

MR. TELFORD'S ESTIMATE. Pounds 4.75 miles, with 116 From the lowest part 15,794 feet fall. of the Bond End, at the bottom of the High-Street, in Knaresbro', to the Brook Crimple, on Ribston-Green, a double Railway 9m. 1140 yds. with 82 From the Crimple 68,628 feet fall. Brook to Acaster Sailby, a Canal Add Ten per Cent. for 8,442 Contingencies 92,864 20 m. 142 yds. with From the same point 60,000 198 feet fall. in Knaresbro' to Acaster Sailby, by a double Rail-way 14.75 m. with a fall From the same point 38,830 of 11 feet per mile. in Knaresbro' to Pateley-Bridge, with Passing-places
In the foregoing estimates Mr. Telford has considered the Canal, with its locks and bridges, as suitable for the Humber Sloops, and the Rail-way sufficiently strong to admit of one ton and a half being carried by one waggon.
When it was originally intended for the lower end of the line to commence at Acaster Sailby, it was unknown to your Committee that an Act of Parliament existed, levying duties on merchandise on the River Ouse, after the same had passed the Wharfe mouth towards York; for the better information of the public, we insert as much as relates thereto.

ACT OF THE 5TH OF GEORGE II.
"An Act for rendering more effectual an Act passed in the 13th year of the reign of his late Majesty King George the First, entitled an Act for improving the Navigation of the River Ouse, in the County of York:--
"That from and after the 24th day of June, 1732, all and every the goods, wares, and merchandises, and other commodities, carried and conveyed on the said River Ouse, above Wharfe mouth, except such manure, dung, compost, or lime only, as shall be water borne, and used and applied in tillage; and also except all timber, stone, and other materials, made use of in or about the works necessary for improving of the navigation of the said river, shall pay the tolls or rates following, that is to say,--
"For every ton of wines and groceries, almonds, Areack brandy, cyder, cydar egar, hops, fish oil, line-oil, Florence oil, Seville oil, and turpentine oil, rum, spirits, tobacco, vinegar, bacon, hams,