Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/93

 that such material is for the use of the furnaces and forges of the persons claiming this mode of payment, and that they do not pass a lock.

The Old Birmingham Canal, so called from its being executed under the earliest act relating to these navigations, is twenty-two miles five-eighths in length. It commences at Farmer's Bridge, near Birmingham, and passes by Smethwick, at which place there is a side cut, with three locks, rising 19¾ feet, which materially facilitates the passage of vessels along this navigation. From the last-mentioned place the canal continues on one level by Oldbury, Tipton Green, Bilstone, and Wolverhampton, to within one mile and a half of Autherley, where it locks down 132 feet by twenty-one locks, into the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. The summit level of this canal at Smethwick, was originally only one mile in length, and 18 feet higher than at present, and it was supplied with water by means of two steam engines placed at the extremities. Prior, however, to 1787, it was cut down to its present level at a cost to the company of about £30,000. It is here worthy of remark, that though two years and a half were occupied in this work, not more than fourteen days interruption took place to the passage of vessels.

There are several collateral cuts to the coal mines and iron furnaces, which are found described under the act which empowers the company to make them; the principal of which is, the branch to Wednesbury, of four miles and a half in length, which was finished in November, 1769, but as a part of it fell in, in consequence of working the coal and iron-stone underneath it, it is now of little use; there are three locks upon it, with a fall from the main line of 18 feet.

The supply of water for the lockage on this canal is chiefly derived from the Old Coal Works, from the bottom of which it is raised by steam power, at a very considerable expense. When Mr. Smeaton reported on some matters connected with this canal in October, 1782, there were eleven engines so employed. There are, also, reservoirs at Smethwick and near Oldbury. This canal communicates with the Worcester and Birmingham Canal at Birmingham; with the Dudley Canal near Tipton Green; and with the Wyrley and Essington Canal near Wolverhampton.