Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/470



MERSEY AND IRWELL NAVIGATION.
7 George I. Cap. 15, Royal Assent 17th June, 1720.

34 George III. Cap. 37, Royal Assent 28th March, 1794.

THE first attempt towards making navigable the Rivers Mersey and Irwell from Liverpool to Manchester, was the obtaining an act in the year 1720, under the title of 'An Act for making the Rivers Mersey and Irwell navigable, from Manchester to Liverpool, in the county palatine of Lancaster.' By this act certain persons were appointed undertakers, with power to scour and cleanse the rivers, and to make the necessary cuts and branches, build bridges, sluices, locks and weirs; all these necessary works were done, and a navigable communication made between Liverpool and Manchester, to the incalculable benefit of those towns; and for defraying time cost of such works, the undertakers are empowered to demand the following

TONNAGE RATES.
Dung, Marl and Manure carried on the Navigation for the use of the Owners or Occupiers of Lands within the Distance of Five Miles from the said Rivers, are free from the Rates; and since the River Mersey has been before navigable from Liverpool to Bank Quay, all Goods, Wares and Merchandize passing between those two Places, are not to be liable to the Rates.

This act was amended in 1794, by another act, entitled, 'An Act for altering an Act passed in the Seventh of George the First, entitled, An Act for making the Rivers Mersey and Irwell navigable, from Liverpool to Manchester, in the county palatine of Lancaster; by incorporating the Proprietors of the said Navigation, and to declare their respective Shares therein to be personal Property.' By this second act, the undertakers and other persons therein named are incorporated as "The Company of Proprietors of the Mersey and Irwell Navigation," and are invested with the powers of the former act; the navigation, its tonnage rates and duties, buildings, wharfs, warehouses, quays and all other appurtenances thereto belonging are granted to the said company, as are also all boats, barges, vessels and other effects, matters and things pertaining to the same.