It would easily be possible to greatly extend the consideration of the subject of this chapter. But that does not appear to be called for. Time will show how far the practice of England, which is at variance with that of nearly every other European country, is justified by results. So far, it must be confessed, that the justification is far from obvious. The waterways have been grievously neglected, while the railways have been authorised to impose very heavy rates and tolls. These are hardly likely to become much lighter as time goes on, while the controlling interest acquired by the railways in transportation arrangements will almost certainly make it difficult to recur to canal transport on a large scale.

FOOTNOTES
CHAPTER XXXV

[309] Paper on the present condition of inland navigation in the United Kingdom, with suggestions for its improvement, ‘Journal of the Society of Arts,’ 1888.

[310] In 1833, when railways were beginning to be generally projected, the dividends of seven of the principal canal companies in Great Britain, ranged between 25 and 124 per cent. per annum, while it is probable that others yielded a still higher return.

[311] Two Warwickshire canals, with a capital of 250,000l. have in this way paid in compensation tolls, to three other canal companies, more than a million sterling.

[APPENDIX.]

I.
CHRONOLOGY OF RIVER IMPROVEMENT AND
CANAL NAVIGATION IN ENGLAND UP TO 1852.