Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/450

 which sufficiently declares the proposed line of the same. The length thereof is about fourteen miles, in a south-west direction, at a very trifling elevation above the sea; for the first nine miles and three quarters, commencing at the sea-lock gates in Tetney Haven, the line is on a level; in the next two miles and three quarters there is a rise of 24 feet, and in the remaining mile and a half a rise of 32½ feet. The line was surveyed by Mr. John Grundy and afterwards revised by Mr. Smeaton; the estimate for which amounted to £16,500. For putting this work into execution, certain commissioners were empowered to raise money on mortgage of the tolls, which are directed to be paid as below.

TONNAGE RATES.
A Chaldron of Coals containing Forty eight Winchester Bushels to be estimated as One Ton.

Less Weights than a Ton to pay in Proportion.

The sum borrowed under this act was altogether £28,000; but though this amount had been expended, the canal was found to be so defectively constructed, that a further outlay was required, in consequence whereof meetings of the commissioners were held in the year 1777, for devising means to procure the necessary funds, and Mr. Chaplin having proposed to advance the sums required, on condition that he should have the tolls on lease for ninety-years, the act for sanctioning which agreement should be obtained at his cost, when required, that proposal was, with the exception of two subscribers, agreed to, and the lease granted to Mr. Chaplin, he covenanting on his part to make all repairs, to pay all wages and legal interest for all sums previously subscribed.

Mr. Chaplin accordingly took the works into his own hands, but doubts as to the validity of this agreement were entertained, and it having become expedient on other accounts to repeal the first act, a second was obtained in 1828, entitled, 'An Act for improving and maintaining the Navigation from the River Humber to Alvingham in the county of Lincoln, and from thence to Louth in the same county.' By this act the remainder of the term of Mr. Chaplin's lease, subject to a reduction of the tolls, is continued to him and his heirs or assigns. Instead of the former