Page:The Canal System of England.djvu/71

 Judging from past experience—the inevitable result of such universal combination would be an increase of freights at present in vogue, and the transfer of traffic as much as possible to the railway, leaving the trader entirely at the mercy of one carrier.

In 1882 the Railway Rates and Fares Committee reported as follows:—

"Cases have been adduced where Railway Companies, having aquiredacquired [sic] possession or control of a canal, have ceased to work it, or allowed it to fall into disrepair, or charged excessive tolls, especially in the case of through routes, and that in consequence traffic is diverted to the railways where higher rates are exacted, to the injury of traders and the public generally. Your Committee are of opinion that these complaints are not unfounded."

In 1888 the Railway and Canal Traffic Act was passed, which, recognising the report of the 1882 Committee, contained provision for the protection of the trader using railway-owned canals. As regards railway control, section 38 empowered the Railway and Canal Commissioners to make orders for the alteration and adjustment of tolls, rates and charges levied on the traffic of, or for the conveyance of merchandise on the canals controlled by Railway Companies, where it was proved to their satisfaction that such tolls, rates, or charges were calculated to divert the traffic from the canal to the railway, to the detriment of the canal or of persons sending traffic over the canal or other canals