Star.
London, England, 1825-08-12 00:00:00

NUMBER 12,011:1

4EMI
ENGLISH AND BUI3:f014 CHANNELS SHIP CANAL
THE ACt of Parliament having passed, constituting
the SUBSCRIBERS a CORPORATION, Nodes is
ItCreby given, that applications for Shares, in lies of those for-
feited by the neglect of Holden thereof to execute the Deed,
may be made to Messrs. King and Lakin, No. 5, Gray's Inn.
square; or to Mr. Cl eke, Chard, Somerset, the respective Soli-
'titers to the Bill.

ENGLISH AND BRISTOL CHANNELS SHIP CANAL
rIIHE ACT for the formation of this Great Work
A. having passed, and its general nitrite, and the correctness of
the estimates of expense and return having been fully investigated
in both Hammel Parliament, the Committee of Management deem
.t right, at the termination of their labours, to submit to the public
a brief Statement of the nature of the Plan, and of the prospect of
advantage Which it held. out. The Committee consider such a
Statement, founded upon the evidence adduced, to be the more neces-
sary, in consequence of the partial and unconnected mode in which,
during a contest arising purely out of local interests, the attention of
the public has been called to the detail, while it has been led away
from the leading features of the measure.
The extreme danger and difEculty in the navigation round the
Land's End, and the detentions, extending frequently to six weeks,
and even looser periods, arising from the south-westerly winds,
which prevail during tight or nine months in the year, are facts well
known to all persons interested in the shipping trade from Ireland,
Wales, Liverpool, and the ports of the Bristol Channal. The call-
snitous losses of lives and shipping on the coasts of Devonshire andl
Cornwall are too frequently detailed in' the newspapers, to have'!
escaped the notice of the public generally.
'These circumstances being kept in view, a slight glance at the
snap will suffice to demonstrate to any one, the great obstructions
which must consequently arise to all veseels trading from ports
westward and northward of the Land's End, to ports southward
and eastward of It; and that these obstructions must most especially
present themselves to the increasing trade in the southern counties
of Wales, will also be readily perceived.
To remove these evils; and to open a speedy and safe comniuni-
cation at all seasons for vessels trading from London and the ports
on the eastern and southern coasts of England, to the ports of Ire-
land and to the western ports of England, including Liverpool and
Bristol, and to the coasts of South Wales, are the main objects of
the proposed Ship Canal.
,The Canal will extend front Beer or Seaton Bay in the English
Channel, to Stolford or Bridgewater Bay in the Bristol Channel ;
it will be 44 miles long, 90 feet wide, and 15 feet deep, and may
be navigated by vessels of COO tons burden, reilister measurement,'
when fully loaded.
At the two extremities harbours will be constructed, and, as
wiii be reen by the evidence, these harbours will not only secure
to vessels using the Canal safe and commodious entrances to it, but
will be of great service to the Shipping Interest generally, as
.Asylum Harbours. and wilt also prevent an Immense loss of lives
at.d property. The proposed Hafbour at Beer will, in time of war,
be of incalculable advantage in preventing captures by the enemy's
cruisers.
The total expense of forming the Canal and Harbours, and of
an 4,11 providing for every contingency incident to such a work, is
sift:sated by Mr. Telford at ae1,712,844, and front his evidence,
en oath, it appears that he has allowed for each distinct part of the
work a sum at which be can immediately and parties willing to
contract for it.

The sources of a revenue, proportioned to this expenditure, este-
blish,d by the evidence of ccenpeteot and respectable witnesars,were
ananged ouster the fellewing beads:—
fst. The supply ofsimila to the whole extent of Tons.
eouatry laardaing upot►tho can. 9, and for a
. .

- .
considerable distance as each.side•of in-
cluding tLe towns of Lioniton. Taunton, Il-
suinster. Axminster, Chard, ("revelment,
Cotytun, Langport, Bridgewater, and
oaken,
talszn only at une half of the estimate,
at 45,000 tuns, and groceries and other goods
•IR 15,000 tons - 60,000
$l. The like • supply of coals to the southern
pans of England, taken at one-half only of a
redoes:A estimate 530,000
341. Tannage of limestone for paving. building, Ste. 30;000
ash. Tonnage of ships trading between English
pprts, passing through the Canal. taken at one
. half of the tonnage of vessels at present navi-
gating round the Land's End. as appearing by
Returns made to Parliament for the purpose
of this calculation . . "205,337

sth. Tonnagenf foseigp vesselfruting the Canal,
taken at two-thirds of the amount sate:tabbed
by the like returns • • • • 127,658
6th. Tounage of Bridal' vessels trading to fo.
-reign ports, taken at one half the quantity _ .
ascertained by like returns . . 80010-
7tb. Tonnage of vessels trading from Ireland to
British and foreign ports, taken at one-third
of the quantity, ascertained by like returns 85,31?
111••••••••=1•1=110111

Total Tonnage 1,094527
At a charge of ld. per ton per mile on an ave-
rage, the above tonnap will pmd ace, for the
whew 44.uniles of Canal, a gross revenue of £200,846 12 4
All a tonnage rate, to be levied on all vessels
taking refuge in, or using title proposed bar.
boor, tuna also on vessels proceeding along
the. °mai, to Bridgewater and the river Par-
. ret. The amount annually from these sources
may, on an average of years,be taken at . 10,000 0 0

Pear annual income arising from the Canal
and Harbours, and applicable to a dividend
among the Proprietors, of about 12 per cent. 210,846 12 3
The expenses of management, repairs, and every other
contingency, will be provided for by the tonnage arising on the in-
ternal traffic on the Canal.
In the above calculation no allowance is made for the vast in-
crease of trade which is annually taking place in South Wales, and
to which this undertaking pvill most essentially contribute; nor is
any tonnage reckoned on coil brought from Wales to London * the
Stone Coal and Cultu are, however, already used there, and oaths
East coast of England ; and there is every reason to expect that the
common Welch Coal will find its way to the London market, when
a safe and regular mode of transit shall be secured.
The consequent increase of .trade and manufacture in the fuse
and populous country through which the Canal will pass, presents
a respect of additional revenue to a very considerable extent; and
in the great Northern Canals, which have proved so immensely
productive, that increase has been the great source of profit. It
should betetbe noticed, that a recent negotiation will allow the
Corporation, at a very moderate expense, to make a branch Ship
Canal to the populous and wealthy town of Taunton, and that a
jenction• with the Grand Western Canal will, by the same means,
be effected.
It should also be noticed, that although in the event of a war, the
transit through the Canal will be very materially augmented, the
additional income to be derived from that event has not been taketi
into consideration in the above estimates.
The Committee, therefore,eoneeived that this undertaking cannot
be considered of a delusive or even of a doubtful and hazardous
charactershut a measure affording to the Subscribers every reason-
able assurance of an ample present profit, and the additional pro-
mise of an income increasing with the advance of national prosperity.
The capitate( 41,750,000 is directed in the-Act to be raised, by
Shares of 4100 each. No Shareholder will be liable beyond his
Shares, and his liability to future Calls, in respect of such Shares,
will cease immediately on a transfer; the Act directs, that two
months at the least shall intervene between each Call, and that no
Call shall exceed Five per Cent.
A General Meeting of the Subscribers will take place on the
I sta of August; to elect Directors, and make the necessary ar-
t mgesuents for the commencement of the work; and the Com-
haute rs quest that all communications, is the interval, may be ad•
tiles-grit to Views. King and Lukin, 5, Gray's Inn-square; and
11r. Clarke, Chard, Somerset.