Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/438

 and obtained an act in the year 1826, under the title of 'An Act for making and maintaining a Railway or Tramroad from the town of Liverpool to the town of Manchester, with certain Branches therefrom, all in the county of Lancaster.' By this act, obtained for constructing this magnificent work, certain subscribers were incorporated as "The Liverpool and Manchester Railway Company," with powers to make and maintain a railway or tramroad with collateral branches, commencing on the east side of Wapping in the town of Liverpool, and passing through the several parishes of Liverpool, Walton, Childwall, Huyton, Prescot, Winwick, Warrington, Leigh, Eccles and Manchester, in the county palatine of Lancaster; and extending to or passing through the townships of Liverpool, West Derby, Wavertree, Much Woolton, Thingwall, Roby, &amp;c. &amp;c. to Salford and Manchester, terminating near the south-west side of the New Bailey Prison in Salford, in the parish of Manchester, near the New Bailey Bridge over the Irwell. The branches mentioned in the act are one from certain closes called the Ridings, in the parish of Prescot, running northwardly to Whiston Potteries; the other running southwardly from the same place and terminating in the Lower Houghton Hays in Whiston aforesaid. The proprietors have power also to make inclined planes on any part of the work; they are likewise directed to make that part of the line, which shall be in the town of Liverpool by means of a tunnel under the same, in a direction laid down on the original plan, subject to the inspection and approval of the corporation surveyor, and to purchase houses undermined, if the owners require it. Locomotive engines are not to be used in the town, nor are steam engines to be set on certain lands therein specified. Not more than twenty-two yards in breadth to be taken, except in certain cases.

For completing the work the company are authorized to raise £510,000, in shares of £100 each, of which the Marquis of Stafford shall hold one thousand, and which shall be subscribed for before the work commences; and should that sum prove insufficient, they may raise £127,500 additional, on mortgage of the works.

Before any dividends out of the profits are declared, the proprietors are to invest one-tenth part of such profits in government