Report of the Knaresbrough Rail-way Committee | Page 2

requisite for locking down into a navigable
part of the river Wharfe or Ouse, distant about twenty miles, would
alone render the project unadvisable, by swelling the expense 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