EDWIN A. PRATT.

London, April 1906.


CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE
I.INTRODUCTORY[1]
II.EARLY DAYS[12]
III.RAILWAYS TO THE RESCUE[23]
IV.RAILWAY-CONTROLLED CANALS[32]
V.THE BIRMINGHAM CANAL AND ITS STORY[57]
VI.THE TRANSITION IN TRADE[74]
VII.CONTINENTAL CONDITIONS[93]
VIII.WATERWAYS IN THE UNITED STATES[104]
IX.ENGLISH CONDITIONS[119]
X.CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS[142]
APPENDIX—THE DECLINE IN FREIGHT TRAFFIC ON THE MISSISSIPPI[151]
INDEX[157]

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS

HALF-TONE ILLUSTRATIONS
AQUEDUCT AT PONTCYSYLLTE (in the distance) [Frontispiece]
WHAT CANAL WIDENING WOULD MEAN: COWLEY TUNNEL AND EMBANKMENTSTo face page[32]
LOCKS ON THE KENNET AND AVON CANAL AT DEVIZES" "[42]
WAREHOUSES AND HYDRAULIC CRANES AT ELLESMERE PORT" "[48]
WHAT CANAL WIDENING WOULD MEAN: SHROPSHIRE UNION CANAL AT CHESTER" "[70]
"FROM PIT TO PORT": PROSPECT PIT, WIGAN" "[82]
THE SHIPPING OF COAL: HYDRAULIC TIP ON G.W.R., SWANSEA" "[88]
A CARGO BOAT ON THE MISSISSIPPI" "[110]
SUCCESSFUL RIVALS OF MISSISSIPPI CARGO BOATS" "[114]
WATER SUPPLY FOR CANALS: BELVIDE RESERVOIR, STAFFORDSHIRE" "[128]
MAPS AND DIAGRAMS
INDEPENDENT CANALS AND INLAND NAVIGATIONS" "[54]
CANALS AND RAILWAYS BETWEEN WOLVERHAMPTON AND BIRMINGHAM" "[56]
SOME TYPICAL BRITISH CANALS" "[98]