Report of the Knaresbrough Rail-way Committee | Page 6

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 their respective rights if classed together for their amount of tonnage; the amount handed to us is composed of returns made by such individuals as are concerned in the trade, and although it does not form a conspicuous figure, nor produce a great sum, still perhaps it is not the less likely to make up its full share of increase; for with these, cast metal may be classed, and recollecting the great wear and tear