s directions until the middle of September;--about
this time your Committee became alarmed for the success of the intended
Canal, both on account of the unfavourable ground between the town of
Knaresbro' and Ribston, and the difficulty of obtaining a sufficient head
of water in a natural manner.

Besides at this time the elevated situation of Knaresbro' above the
Wharfe was ascertained to be 198 feet, equal to 22 locks of 9 feet each;
and hence, even if water could be obtained at a cheap rate, by artificial
means, the number of locks requisite for locking down into a navigable
part of the river Wharfe or Ouse, distant about twenty miles, would alone
render the project unadvisable, by swelling the expense of the work in
such a manner as would totally destroy the expected advantages to be
derived by the trade of Knaresbro' and the surrounding neighbourhood, or
leave little or no hopes for the shareholders receiving a fair per
centage for their money embarked.

Under these circumstances your committee abandoned all further hopes of a
Canal, and notwithstanding the funds then collected for the survey were
exhausted, they relied on the same spirit which gave rise to the project,
and felt convinced of the great utility and advantages of a Rail-way, if
taken from a navigable part of the river Wharfe, and continued, passing
Knaresbro', up the valley to Pateley-Bridge.

The object of extending the work thus far, was, in order to secure the
back carriage of the lead, which is produced on a large scale in that
neighbourhood, besides the excellent lime for agricultural purposes made
at Greenhow-Hill, and the very excellent stone to be had there for making
and repairing of highways; together with the inexhaustible quantities of
stone for all purposes of building, which by the accounts we have of it,
cannot be excelled; and also the produce of many flax and cotton mills,
all of which are turned by water, and hence more likely to increase in
number than diminish; the quantity of tonnage to be found in that
direction, at a comparatively small expense in obtaining it, added to the
tonnage of the lower end of the line, would, undoubtedly increase, not
only the utility of the work, as regards the country in general, but give
a preponderating quantity of tonnage in a descending direction; the
advantages of which were so obvious to your Committee, that a survey
nearly upon new ground was undertaken, and continued under very
favourable hop