Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/654



These rates, however, were not considered sufficient, and they were accordingly, by this act, empowered to demand the following in lieu of the former

TONNAGE RATES.
But if the Vessel so paying shall within Forty-eight Hours proceed on the whole Line, then the Rate paid for entering the Basin shall be deducted from the Charge made on that Account.

These rates may be lowered and raised again, as needful.

In 1824 a further extension of the company's powers was obtained by an act, entitled, 'An Act for enabling the Thames and Medway Canal Company to raise a further Sum of Money to discharge their Debts, and to complete the said Canal and the Works thereunto belonging; and for altering, enlarging, and rendering more effectual the Powers for making the said Canal and Works.' By this act the company have the power of raising £50,000 by bonds of £1,000 each, bearing £5 per cent, interest, or by promissory notes or bonds under the common seal; and in case the said £50,000 shall not discharge the whole of their debts, they may in like manner raise an additional sum of £25,000, and any part of the sums directed to be raised by the former acts, may be raised by any of the means directed in the present act.

This canal commences in Gravesend Reach, nearly opposite to Tilbury Fort, and at this point, according to the provisions of the act, it has a basin and wharfs, From the wharfs it runs in nearly a straight line from west to east through Gravesend Marshes, a distance of about three miles; then making a detour to the south, it proceeds to join the River Medway nearly opposite Chatham, where a basin is made for the accommodation of vessels using this canal.

This canal, though of so short a length, is one of paramount importance, as to saving distance; an idea of the cost of executing it may be formed from the sums granted for that purpose by the various acts above quoted; and the utility of the work may be estimated from its situation and connection with the populous places on the line; the rates, however, do not appear to have given satisfaction, and the work is consequently not much used.