Report of the Knaresbrough Rail-way Committee | Page 4

line, the next duty which presents itself to their notice is the Revenue;--the nature and quantity of Tonnage which is likely to come upon the line, and within the limits of its attraction;--and give to each such a charge as will equally benefit the various consumers. Such as we conceive to be of the most general importance, first attracts notice, which is the article of

COAL,
Wherein there is little doubt but a saving of eight shillings per chaldron will, on the completion of the work, be effected--a most material object for the poor, and the general benefit of commerce. The rule by which this computation is made, compared with others we have seen, is very much on the safe side, but should a trifling mistake occur, we confidently believe that the decrease in the price of this article will very much enhance its consumption, without anticipating any increased demand at the lime-works and bleach-grounds, arising from an increase of business, which naturally follows the cheapness of carriage, and the rapid transport of goods from place to place. The increase of population, while speaking of this article, must not be omitted, since, in the last twenty-one years it hath increased from four to near seven thousand, including Knaresbro', Scriven-with-Tentergate, and Brearton. The most correct statement we are able to give is below:--
TONS. Knaresbro' and Scriven with 11,000 Tentergate, including lime-kilns and bleach-grounds Brearton 100 Flaxby 50 Goldsborough 100 Haverah Park 25 Killinghall 350 Plumpton 100 Harrowgate and Bilton 3,000 Ribston 150 Scotton 200 Stainburn 200 15,275 Birstwith Township 500 Hampsthwaite and Felliscliffe do. 600 Clint do. 260 Darley do. 400 Hartwith do. 450 Thornthwaite do. 200 Dacre do. 500 Bewerley do. 1,600 Bishopside do. 50 Updale do. 1,500 Pateley Tonnage 6,060 Knaresbro' do. 15,275 Total Tonnage of Coals 21,335
From good authority we are informed that Kippax and Haigh-Moor coals can be delivered at Bolton-Percy for ten shillings per chaldron, or 8s. to 8s 6d. per ton.; and if any back carriage could be procured they would be delivered for less, hence the advantage of taking yarns, &c. from Knaresbro', and the neighbourhood of Pateley-Bridge to Barnsley, and bringing coals back; but independent of such an advantage we are able to prove the great saving named before in these coals:
Pounds s. d. Cost per 0 10 0 chaldron of the Kippax, or Haigh-moor coals, at the end of the Rail-way, at or near Bolton Percy, is Removing do. 0 0 9 into the waggon, (if not landed 4d.) Rail-way dues, 0 3 0 18 miles, at 2d. per ton, per mile Waggon dues, 18 0 2 3 miles, at l.5d. per ton, per mile 0 16 0
The present cost by way of Boroughbridge, is one pound five shillings, and hence the saving to the public on every ton, or chaldron of coals, will be nine shillings, except the merchants' profit.
By the foregoing statement the tonnage of the Knaresbro' and Pateley-Bridge coal, when it reaches Knaresbro', will yield a revenue of 3200 pounds annually, being 21,335 tons, at 2d. per ton, per mile, for 18 miles, and the tonnage on the coal belonging the district up to Pateley-Bridge will be 6000 tons, for 6 miles, the average distance at 2d. per ton, per mile, or 303 pounds 0s. 0d. making together 3503 pounds 0s. 0d.
The next topic for our consideration which naturally presents itself, is the surplus

PRODUCE OF THE SOIL,
Which although composed of a great variety, we shall here only notice that of Corn; and although the town of Knaresbro' and its vicinity, cannot complain of a scanty or contracted supply, nor yet of exorbitant prices, compared with their more western neighbours, the inhabitants of Craven, and the borders of Lancashire: who, at least must pay such suitable advance as will compensate for a long and expensive land, or a longer and protracted water carriage, neither of which in all probability, can in these days of depression, bear a further reduction of rate.--Under these circumstances, knowing the soil in the neighbourhood of Wetherby and Tadcaster to be rich and fertile, we feel some confidence that corn and its produce in flour and meal, (which can so conveniently be converted by mills upon the line,) will soon become an article of tonnage in no small degree, nearly the whole length of the line; and thence being removed by land carriage from Pateley-Bridge to Skipton and other places further west, will be found cheaper than heretofore. The quantity of tonnage on this head is not so clearly ascertained, still it will have some reference to the quantity of coals brought from Skipton into the neighbourhood of Pateley-Bridge, or the quantity of lead taken from Pateley-Bridge, to Ripon as either one or the other of these articles, in both directions must be considered back carriage, otherwise they