Report of the Knaresbrough Rail-way Committee | Page 3

sides, and pork; cases and chests by measure, china, coffee, cork, drugs, and medicines; dyers' ware, (except logwood, copperas, and alum); flour, glass, (except green glass bottles); haberdashers' wares, household furniture, iron wrought, linen, linen-drapers' wares, lemons, oranges, and nuts; leather and calves' skins; mercery ware, silk and woollen, paper white and books, garden seeds, salt, tea, and woollen-drapery ware,--two shillings and sixpence respectively;--and so in proportion for any greater or less quantity. For every ton of cheese, flax, pewter, soap, marble, bell-metal, brass battery, and copper, two shillings respectively, and so in proportion for any greater or less quantity.
"For every ton of oak, bark, corn of all sorts, earthenware, green glass bottles, iron cast and unwrought, lead white and red; paper, cap, white, and brown; grass-seeds, beans and peas, rapeseed, stone, tallow, tin-plates and wire; timber, oak, ash and elm,--one shilling respectively; and so in proportion for every greater or less quantity.
"For every ton of alum, copperas, logwood, brimstone, bricks, tiles, coals, hemp, hay, lime for building, lead, and turfs,--sixpence respectively; and so in proportion for any greater or less quantity.
"For every firkin, pot, cask, or other vessel of butter, one penny. For every hundred of oysters, one penny. And that all other goods, not herein particularly rated, shall pay ad valorem, such rates or duties as shall be ascertained by the said commissioners, appointed by or in pursuance of the said former Act."
Soon as your Committee had clearly ascertained the existence of this Act, and its consequent increase on the tonnage of flax, a deputation went down to the Wharfe mouth, to examine the river, as far up as Bolton Percy, and found from their own observations, but more particularly from the information they collected, that vessels of seventy tons burden can navigate the river, nearly always once in twelve hours the whole year; and that, if a little improvement was made in the river at three places, which are rather too shallow for vessels of this burden, they might pass at all times without interruption; the deputation were also of opinion that the improvement was practicable at a moderate expense. This deputation also examined the line below Bolton Percy, (see the map {12}) and found it passed through the estate of Sir Wm. Milner Bart. near his residence, and over lands in his own occupation, consequently more likely to meet with his opposition than his approbation.
Under these accumulated circumstances, your Committee decidedly recommended a double Rail-way, to commence at a bend in the river, near Bolton Percy, (see the map) which will shorten the length of the original line about one mile and a half, and lessen the expense of the project at the same time; thence in a line, nearly straight, to Bow-Bridge, passing on the South side of the village of Wighill, and close to the North end of the village of Walton. Thence in a circuitous direction towards Wetherby;--but if the line was permitted to pass from the North end of the village of Walton to the North side of Ingmanthorpe, the seat of Richard Fountaine Wilson, Esq. distant from his residence about four hundred yards, it would pass over very suitable ground, and shorten the length of the line five-eights of a mile more. By either of these lines it would cross the great North Road, near the Drover's Inn, then proceed on the North side of the village of Little Ribston, and by the banks of the River Nidd, sufficiently high to avoid the broken parts, crossing the said river by a bridge, near St. Robert's Well, and thence proceeding along the Eastern side of the town of Knaresbro', ascending, in an uniform manner, to the level of the bottom of the High-Street, commonly called Bond-End; where it will most conveniently pass behind, or on the West side of Mr. Wm. Clayton's house; or, if more desirable to the owners of property at this point, it is possible to pass it under ground, and enter the valley of the Nidd without affecting or destroying any property, except two or three old houses belonging to Mrs. Stubbs. The line, for a single Rail-way, will then wind along the North bank of the valley, till it crosses the Nidd by another bridge, the clumps of trees on Scotton Moor; from this point it will keep on very favourable ground along the South side of the river, passing half way between Killinghall village and Killinghall bridge; thence through the middle of Hampsthwaite village, and close by Wreaksmill crossing the Nidd again below the village of Birstwith; after which it winds along the North bank of the River Nidd to Pateley-Bridge.
Your Committee having stated their reasons for abandoning the project of a Canal, and recommending that of a Railway, and having also pointed out the adopted