Report of the Knaresbrough Rail-way Committee | Page 6

regulated.
In presuming upon any increase of tonnage on this head, we feel
equally safe as on any other, or more so; for if the present mills turned
by water, and spinning Flax were found insufficient, some corn-mills
might easily be converted, and in lieu of them, wind-mills might be
erected, for which purpose many fine situations present themselves on
both sides of the valley, where there is abundance of stone and lime
always contiguous, which would render such erections less expensive
than in many other places.
The next subject for our consideration, and which naturally follows the
last, is the tonnage arising from manufactured

LINEN,
Which in former times when spinning was done by hand, was the staple
trade of Knaresbro' and its vicinity, but which, of late years has been
much on the decline, perhaps owing to many causes.
The principal one we are disposed to believe, arose from the capitalists
originally engaged in that line becoming mill owners; and as mills for
sometime did not increase by their numbers so rapidly as to glut the
market with their produce, the profits in that branch were better than
the other; and as this became apparent, its effects soon spread; so that
few more reasons are requisite to prove the fact, of the Linen
Manufacture having given place to that of Yarns.
Another reason why it hath not made equal progress with other places,
may be the length of time manufactured goods are on their passage to
London, where there is a market for every thing every day; the port of
York is the only one where these goods have been shipped, and from
what cause we cannot say, but they have been frequently so long on
their passage, that good connections have been entirely lost on that

account; whereas if the Railway was completed, Hull would naturally
become the port of Knaresbro', and all produce of its manufacture
would reach Hull in two days, at a much less expense than at present,
and London most probably in five or six days more. Thus it is highly
probable an order from London might be executed and warehoused in
eight days, or sometimes in half that time; a convenience perhaps
unenjoyed by any other place of the kind.
Notwithstanding the manufacture of Linens here has not till lately been
carried forward in that variety, nor the great increase of Looms been
made compared with other places, still the character of Knaresbro'
Linens is maintained, when brought into service.
With regard to the tonnage arising from Linens, it alone will not be
considerable, but as it is one article of tonnage in a descending
direction, we beg leave to class with it, that of Linen Yarns, for should,
by this improved mode of conveyance, either of these increase in
quantity in a descending direction, the other as naturally will decrease,
and as a considerable proportion of Yarns made in this neighbourhood,
finds a market at Barnsley, and in that direction, it is presumed that
along the Railway, and thence by a Barnsley boat, will be the cheapest
mode of conveyance; and in the reverse direction coal will naturally
become an article of tonnage and traffic. Having already from good and
safe data, stated the quantity of Flax likely to come on this improved
line of conveyance, at 2440 tons, and why a great proportion of it when
made into Linens, Yarns, and Tow, should naturally be tonnage in a
descending direction, we hope the public will give us credit for
estimating this tonnage, at 2000 tons, per annum, and which we will
suppose to be all delivered at Knaresbro'; hence the tonnage of it to
Bolton Percy, will be 2000 tons, 18 miles, at 4d. per ton, per mile 600
pounds per annum, in a descending direction.
We now come to that consideration belonging the tonnage arising from

GENERAL MERCHANDIZE,

Which will include every thing consumed for the support of the
population, and which there is no occasion to dwell upon separately
under respective heads. This tonnage is made up from entries of
different individuals, and amounts to 1035 tons, per annum, in an
ascending direction; 570 for the town of Knaresbro'; and for the district,
up to Pateley-Bridge, 465; the revenue arising from this source will be
as under:
1035 tons, 18 465 pounds 15 0 miles, at 6d. per ton, per mile 465 do.
do. do. 139 10 0 do. do. 605 5 0
Although the distance from Knaresbro' to Pateley-Bridge is 14.75 miles,
still we have only rated it at 12 miles.

TIMBER AND IRON
Will also become articles of tonnage in an ascending direction, and
although different when considered respectively, are in their application
so liable to meet, that perhaps it may not infringe much on