Page:The Canal System of England.djvu/69

 (vi.) The liability of canals being frozen up in winter and a consequent dis-organisation of traffic.

The chief points requiring attention are:—

(i.) The dimensions to be given to the main lines, with the best relative proportion of width to depth.

(ii.) Uniformity of gauge in locks and lifts, which should be of a size suited to the maintenance of the most effectual steam traffic.

(iii.) Remodelment of the cargo boats, so as to obtain the largest carrying capacity, with the least amount of sectional and frictional resistance.

(iv.) Provision for working the canals night and day, with the help of the electric light, the power for maintaining which would be easily and economically obtained at the various changes of level.

(v.) A uniform rate of toll.

(vi.) A careful revision of the administration, and the establishment of special effective supervision over the whole system.

(vii.) A uniformity and sufficiency of headway under bridges.

In spite of these numerous defects and disadvantages, the capacity of the English canals for traffic is very great. This is readily proved by the traffic returns, in which we find that for 1888—the Birmingham canals alone carried nearly 8,000,000 tons of traffic or 48,600 tons per mile of