Report of the Knaresbrough Rail-way Committee Part 2

Next claims our attention: It is of various kinds and qualities, some about Birstwith is of a strong coa.r.s.e grit, will bear an immense pressure, is well adapted for bridges, locks, wiers, &c. but is not to be had in blocks large enough for pier works. There is another kind of stone at Dacre-Pasture, of a much finer grit than the last, paler in colour, and well adapted for finer masonry, such as columns, pediments, &c. Blocks of this kind may be had of large dimensions. Another kind of stone is found at Wilsill, in quality similar to that at Birstwith, but may be risen in much larger blocks. When the Ouse-bridge at York was building, in 1818, the contractors for, or the inspectors of that work, got some stone from this neighbourhood for the piers, and by a letter from Mr. William Craven, one of the inspectors, there is no doubt of its being fit for any kind of public works, as bridges, locks, &c. The expense of land carriage from the quarry to Ripon was the sole cause why a greater quant.i.ty was not made use of.

There is another kind of stone found a little way above Pateley-bridge, well adapted for flags, window heads and soles, staircases, landings, tomb-stones, and grind-stones; but owing to the beds being thin, it is not well adapted for general building purposes.

At Fellbeck, near Smelthouse-mill, a slate quarry has lately been opened, which produces a slate of a darker colour than that of Idle, is very sound, lays well on, and will probably improve in fineness, if pursued to a greater depth. A ton of it will cover about ten square yards.

Another Slate-Quarry, at Bouthwaite, near Pateley-Bridge, has recently been discovered; the produce of which is much superior to that of Idle; a ton of it will cover about 14 square yards.

All this stone and slate is immediately upon the adopted line, or can be brought to it for 4.25d. per foot, which, with the expense of carriage to Bolton-Percy will cost at that place as below:--

Pounds _s._ _d._ Rail-dues 30 0 3 1.5 miles, at 1.25d. per ton per mile Waggon-dues, 0 3 1.5 do. do.

0 6 3 Calculating 16 0 0 4.75 feet of this stone to weigh one ton, it appears the carriage of each foot will cost And the 0 0 4.25 original cost delivered on the line Cost of this 0 0 9 stone at Bolton-Percy per foot

Which if necessity requires, may experience a little reduction. At this time the Bramley-fall stone delivered at Selby, costs 1s. per foot; and at York during the building of Ouse-bridge it cost from 15d. to 16d.

STONE FOR HIGHWAYS.

This is found in immense quant.i.ties at Greenhow-hill, distant from Pateley-bridge two miles, it resembles a grey flint; the road from Pateley-bridge to Skipton is princ.i.p.ally composed of it; it is hard but easily broken small, and after a little using almost resembles one entire stone; its use and extraordinary properties are not known to a great distance, particularly towards Ripon or Ripley; this may be accounted for in two ways--first, the hills in either direction are long and steep; and 2dly, other materials are just at hand, of a quality sufficient for a road where the forbidding ascents deny the frequent pa.s.sing of heavy carriages.

This stone has been compared to that at Middleton-Tyas, near Richmond, and when a.n.a.lysed is found to be exactly of the same quality, although a little lighter in colour; it was compared to this merely to prove a corresponding property.

For it is a certain fact, that the Middleton-Tyas stone has been for some time, and is now, carted from the quarry to Northallerton and Brompton, distant 14 and 15 miles, for the use of their highways, at an expence of 8s. 2d. per ton to the former, and 9s. to the latter place. This fact is the more remarkable, since there has been a quarry open for many years, within 200 yards of Northallerton, but the stone is only of a common kind. From this circ.u.mstance, it is fair to expect, that provided the stone of Greenhow-hill can be delivered at Bolton-Percy for 6s. 6d. per ton, and at Cawood, Selby, Booth-Ferry, and Howden for 8s. it will both become an article of tonnage in a descending direction, and a great acquisition to that district; but as that neighbourhood has never been in the habit of paying such a high price for highway materials, it will probably in the first instance meet with many objections, which may be replied to in two ways--1st, that whatever is worth doing, is worth well doing; and that the best materials are the cheapest;--and 2dly, if the surveyors and overseers of Northallerton and Brompton have, by their experience, established the above fact, and found this stone cheaper than that at home, it is reasonable to conclude that the surveyors and overseers of the highways in the neighbourhood of Cawood, Selby, and Howden, may do the same; for the soil of that district is equally fertile and rich as that of Northallerton; and the occupiers of it equally opulent--hence their ability to do well whatever is worth doing.

The expense of this stone at the before-mentioned places we state below:--

Pounds _s._ _d._ One ton of 0 1 3 stone delivered at Pateley-bridge 33 miles Rail 0 2 9 dues at 1d. per ton per mile 33 miles waggon 0 2 9 dues, do.

Cost of stone 0 6 9 at Bolton-Percy per ton Removing do. 0 0 6 into the boat, do.

Freight of do. 0 1 0 Selby, Cawood, or Howden 0 8 3

It is probable the expense of delivering this stone at Pateley-bridge, might be reduced by the application of a Railway from that place to the quarry; by this estimate horses are expected to be used; it is also possible to remove it from the waggon to the boat at less than is stated above.

The neighbourhood of Pateley-bridge possessing many water-falls on which more mills might be built, gave rise to an idea of cutting this last-mentioned stone by water-sawing, into scantlings for fire-places, hearths, and slabs; but upon an experiment being tried, it was found to contain what is termed the dry heads, which cause a division of the parts when brought into service, otherwise it yields a beautiful polish, and exhibits much of the sh.e.l.l and feather; but notwithstanding this last attempt hath failed to augment its value, another in reserve still remains of no small moment, which is that of the most excellent

GREENHOW-HILL LIME.

In the district where it has long been used as a manure either for arable or gra.s.sing land, no comment on its superior utility is requisite; but to those parts where its presence hitherto hath been forbidden by the rugged and steep hills, and to others at too great a distance to warrant the expense of a long land carriage, something of its superior quality as a manure in this place may not, we hope, be deemed unseasonable, especially as the carriage of it, when the Railway is constructed, will be an object of less notice, and this will be exemplified hereafter.

We have said before, the stone of Greenhow-hill has been submitted to a.n.a.lysis, to prove a corresponding property with that of Middleton-Tyas; this inquiry was extended to ascertain if they produced similar lime, and we have great satisfaction to inform the public this was the case.

We say a great satisfaction, because we have it in proof, that the Middleton-Tyas lime is situated in a country, where a knowledge of its excellence is not confined to narrow limits by steep and forbidding hills, but being more favourably situated, it has been for a great number of years, and is now, with increasing demand, conveyed generally 17 or 18 miles, and in some instances, into the immediate vicinity of other kilns, even at 24 miles distance.

The reader will be best able to calculate the expense of this lime to the consumer, when he is informed that the cost at the kilns is 12s. per chaldron of 32 bushels Winchester, one of which weighs 7st. 8lb.

Under this view of the case, we hope it may not be deemed impertinent to recommend a trial of this lime, even in districts where lime is plentiful and cheap, and which hath been upon proof hitherto satisfactory; and should it unexpectedly fail upon arable land, we still beg it may be admitted to a trial on gra.s.sing land. For the purpose of bleaching it hath been carted to Bilton-c.u.m-Harrogate, and used with satisfaction, and frequently 9 or 10 miles towards Ripley, to places distant from the Nidd lime-kilns only 3 or 3.5 miles. To say any thing of this lime for the purpose of building we are completely unable; for whenever it became a topic of conversation, its excellence as a manure alone may be named as one reason, and that of having at Knaresbro' kilns, a kind as well adapted for building as any lime probably can be, and at a rate as reasonable as circ.u.mstances will admit of, may be offered as another reason.

Having ascertained that two tons of this lime stone will make one chaldron of lime, weighing 1 ton 7 cwt. 2qrs. we give below a statement of what it will cost at different points on the line, recommending at the same time on all occasions the lime-stone to meet the coal.

Pounds _s._ _d._ Cost of the 0 2 6 stone at Pateley-bridge, 2 tons 10 miles 0 1 8 Rail-dues, at 1d. per ton per mile 10 do. 0 1 8 Waggon-dues, do.

7.5 bushels of 0 4 4.5 coals, at 7d.

per bushel Breaking stone 0 1 0 and burning At Killinghall 0 11 2.5 Toll-bar the chaldron of lime is 5 miles 0 1 8 additional tonnage on stone 0 12 10.5 5 miles 0 0 7.5 decrease of tonnage on coal At the Bond-End 0 12 3 Knaresbro' the lime per chal.

6 miles 0 2 0 additional tonnage on stone 0 14 3 6 miles 0 0 9 decrease of Tonnage on coal 0 13 6

By the above statement it appears the Greenhow-hill lime can be burnt at Ribston, for 13s. 6d. per chaldron, a circ.u.mstance not unlikely to make it in great demand, whenever its properties are known for agricultural purposes.

Adverting now to some articles the exact quant.i.ty of which is difficult to ascertain, such as slate, oak bark, wood, Irish flax and linens, ashes and some other kinds of American and colonial produce imported into Liverpool, and which will have a cheap conveyance from Liverpool to Skipton by ca.n.a.l, and naturally become a back carriage from Skipton to Pateley-Bridge; as corn, &c. will move in the other direction, and from Pateley-Bridge to Knaresbro', by the Railway at a much cheaper rate than heretofore, and will as a matter of course, increase the tonnage, as example will prove:

VIA SKIPTON.

Pounds _s._ _d._ The present 1 6 8 cost per ton from Liverpool to Skipton in general Merchandize, is Do. from 1 7 6 Skipton to Knaresbro'

2 14 2 VIA LEEDS.

The present 2 0 0 cost per ton from Liverpool to Leeds Do. Leeds to 0 15 0 Knaresbro'

2 15 0 VIA RAILWAY.

The present 1 6 8 cost per ton at Skipton Skipton to 0 16 0 Pateley-Bridge Pateley-Bridge 0 3 9 to Knaresbro', per Railway, 15 miles, at 3d.

per ton, per mile Waggon dues, 15 0 1 10.5 miles, at 1.5d.

per ton, per mile 2 8 3.5

By the foregoing statement it appears, that when an average of the cost is taken, which the present modes of conveyance afford, and contrasted with the Railway when completed, the latter will have a preference of 6s.

3.5d. per ton, being a reduction of more than ten per cent. upon the present charges.

Having now dwelt on the different articles of tonnage in each direction, with as much accuracy as we are able, and finding the tonnage in the ascending direction amount to 31,735 tons per annum, and that in the contrary to 4,000; and believing from the best information we are able to obtain, that for every two tons moved in an ascending direction, three tons may be moved in the contrary; consequently we look to building stone, stone for highways and lime, and some other articles not enumerated, to make up the quant.i.ty of tonnage required to keep the whole waggons in full work; and to produce the greatest possible revenue.

Having enumerated such tonnage as falls within our power of calculation, and named a source with strong probability of much more; we come next to the general summary, and to contrast it with the expense of the project as stated by Mr. Telford, wherein we have no doubt, but every ample consideration is embraced.

COST OF THE RAILWAY.

Bolton Percy to Knaresbro', 18 54,000 pounds miles, at 3,000 pounds per mile, double Railway Knaresbro' to Pateley-Bridge, 38,830 14.75 miles, with pa.s.sing places, single Railway 92,830

REVENUE ASCENDING.

Pounds _s._ _d._ 21,335 Tons of 3503 0 0 Coal, see page 15 3,000 . . . Corn, 937 10 0 &c. p. 16 2,440 . . . Flax, 880 0 0 p. 17 1,035 . . . 605 5 0 Merchandise 21 1,250 . . . 281 5 0 Timber and Iron 21 29,060 6207 0 0

REVENUE DESCENDING.

Pounds _s._ _d._ 2,000 Tons Linens 600 0 0 and Yarns, (see page 20) 2,500 . . . Lead 515 12 6 . . . 23 4,500 1115 12 6 Total 7322 12 6 amount of revenue at present estimated

By the above statements it appears the project will cost 92,830 pounds; and the amount of revenue arising from such tonnage as is comprehensible, will amount annually to 7,322 pounds 12s. 6d. which is rather more than 8 per cent. per annum for the shareholders, independent of 39,090 tons more which the works will be able to perform, if required, and which from the low price of one penny per ton for Rail dues, for twenty miles, will amount to 3,257 pounds 10s. 0d. and when only another penny per ton, per mile is estimated for waggon dues, this kind of tonnage will be conveyed at a cheap rate, and delivered in the neighbourhood where it is so much wanted, at prices agreeable to the foregoing estimates; a circ.u.mstance of itself likely to improve the value of all estates, containing the articles of stone and lime, and ultimately bring a great increase of tonnage in that direction, most desirable in all Railway projects.

In the foregoing estimates it is calculated that the waggons will be drawn by horses, at the same time we believe, that loco-motive engines might be applied to do the work at a less expense: but not having employed an engineer perfectly acquainted therewith, we are not authorized to say more on the subject.