Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/90



In the preamble of an act bearing date the 17th April, 1794, and entitled,  'An Act for extending and improving the Birmingham Canal Navigations,'  it is stated that all the works authorized to be done under the preceding acts, had been made and completed. By this act, power is given to make a collateral cut from Broadwater, in the parish of Wednesbury, to the town of Walsall, with three branches from the same, extending to the coal and iron-stone mines in the vicinity; also another branch canal from Bloomfield, in the parish of Tipton, to communicate again with the original line of navigation at Deepfield, in the parish of Sedgley.

By this act the company once more change their style, being incorporated under the name of "The Company of Proprietors of the Birmingham Canal Navigations," and three years were allowed for the due execution of the works therein described. Upon the canal and collateral cuts authorized to be made under this act, the proprietors are empowered to collect the following

TONNAGE RATES.
Coal, Coke, Lime-stone, Iron-stone, Lime, Goods, Wares, Merchandise, and all other things whatsoever, carried on the proposed Canal, from Bloomfield to Deepfield. the same Rates of Tonnage as are paid for other parts of the Birmingham Canal Navigation, made under the 8th George III.

By a Clause inserted in an Act of the 25th George III. entitled,  'An Act for extending the Dudley Canal to the Birmingham Canal, at or near Tipton Green, in the county of Stafford,'  it appears that the Birmingham Canal Company received ls. 5½d. per Ton, for all Stone, Timber, Goods, wares, Merchandise, and Commodities whatsoever, (except Coal, Coke, Iron-stone, Lime, and Limestone), which should pass between the Junction of the Dudley Canal. at Tipton Green, and the town of Birmingham; and also, the further Sum of 1½d. per Ton, per Mile; and for the same Articles, (with the same exception), between the Junction of the Dudley Canal and jhe western Termination of the Birmingham Canal, at Autherley, the same Rates of Tonnage as if they had been navigated along the said Canal from Autherley. By this act, however, these Tolls are reduced, in consequence of shortening the Navigation between the Junction of the Dudley Canal and Autherley, nearly Four Miles, by the proposed Canal from Bloomfield to Deepfield. Instead, therefore, of the Sum of is. 5œd. above-mentioned, it is reduced to 11½d. per Ton, retaining, however, the 1½d. per Ton, per Mile, granted under the Act of 25th George III. above recited.

The act of the 34th George III. empowers the proprietors of the Birmingham Canal Navigations, to borrow, on the credit of their works, the sum of £45,000, and a committee of nine are appointed to give security under the common seal of the company, upon the tolls, rates and duties arising from the same.