The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-14 00:00:00

THE' ACCIDENT TO THE C.RINAN

CANAL.

go THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—A )etter from Lochgilphead, which appearei
in the Tinze s a few days after the accident of the
2d ult., head ed " Destruction of the Crinan Canal,"
was copied into most of the provincial papers of
England, anti has left a very general impression
that the line of traffic from the head of Lochfine to
Lochcrinan is annihilated. In. consequence of nu-
merous inquiries addressed to me from all parts of
the country b v tourists who. have visited the
Western Highla% nds under my arrangements, I have
made a special
_journey to this district, with the
view of satisfyin,7 myself as to the extent of the
damage caused by the irruption, and the reality of
the supposed obstruction of the summer tourist
traffic. My obsery ations and inquiries on the spot
suggest the despatch. of a short letter, which may,
if you will kindly give it insertion in the Times, at
once allay public anxiety as to the continuance of
passenger traffic over this celebr .ated " Royal route."
Whatever may be the uLti'mate issue of the
rivalry that appears to be spi-Inging up betwixt
the friends of the established line of communi-
cation and the suggested shi_ p canal across the
isthmus from East to West Tarbert, it will be
satisfactory at least to the " the rusands of tourists
and the sporting public" that annually visit the
Hebridean district to be assured that there will be
no suspension of transit from Ar arispaig to Crinan.
The spirited proprietors of the l lighland steamers
are already conveying passenger, s twice a week each
way betwixt Glasgow and Oban , the journey being
performed in a day, as is usual i n the summer. But
it is proposed to improve upo the present mode
of conveyance by running tre ick-boats between
Ardispaig and Cairn-ban, and 13( :twist Crinan and
the chain of locks at the othc T end of the sum-
mit level of the canal. Eight out of the nine
miles of the canal are uninjurei I by the disaster,
and it will only be a pleasant w: ilk, or for invalids
a very short drive, between the two track boats.
Indeed, it has generally been ti to custom to walk
while the track boat passed throw igh the nine locks,
rising to and falling from the slummit level in the
middle of the canal. The time o4' transfer from one
track boat to the other will be n such less than was
occupied in passing through the locks.
It is not the object of this note to enter into any
details or incidents of the acciden .t, or much hitherto
unpublished information might 1 )e given. I under-
stand that the commissioners of the canal have re-
tained the services of an eminent scientific gen-
tleman to investigate and rep iort on the whole
matter, and, pending that report ;, all rumours about
the restoration of the canal, or a deviation of route,
are premature; but one thing I was assured by a
scientific and practical gentlema ,on whom I met on
the debris last evening, viz., that Ilith about £12,000
at his disposal he would have a boat through the
canal again in three months.
Very respectfully soliciting your kind attention
to this note, I am, sir, yours very obediently,
THOMAS COOK.
Cairn-ban Inn, March 9.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

LIVERPOOL—MARzn 12.

No alteration to-day in the price from Tuesday could be
made in either wheat, barley, flour, oats, beans or peas.

OXFORD—MAnc:a 12.

We had small supplies of all descriptions of grain to-day,
and wheat met a slow sale at about late rates. No change
is made in the prices of any other article, and little btusiness
doing.

CHELMSFORD-MARCH 11.

--------- - ---
The supply of wheat to-day was small,,. but the demand
was heavy, and sales could not be freely effected without
decline of s per qr., which was not submitted to by the
farmers generally. In flour and other articles there waS
rather a better sale.
Wheat, white 42s to 468 Peas, Parlhidge ..44s to 46s
red 38s to 41s White .. 4ls to 430
Barley 34s to 41s Boiling 42s to 485
Chevalier ....37s to 45s Dun.. 44s to 46s

Grinding 273 to 33s Beans, Tick ....388 to 40s
Malt 70s to 73s Harrow Ticks 388 to 42s
Chevalier 72s to 73s Mazagan... 36s to 396
Oats 25s to 35s

NOTTINGHAM-MARCH 12.

There was a limited quantity of wheat on offer, and prices
for all descriptions were about maintained. Barley a very
fair show, and sales flat at last week's rates. Beans were in
moderate supply, and prices easier. Oats a fair sale, at late
rates.

White wheat, new, 44s to 50s Barley, grinding.. 28s to 29s
Red do. 3Bs to 42s I Oats, old, ..
Old white 44s to 48s New do 29s to 30s
Red do • 37s to 42s Beans 498 to 52s
Barley, malting.— I 38s to 45s Peas „..—s to —5
Super. fiour, 33s to 36s ; fine, —s to 308 per 20 atone.