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History of the Manchester Ship Canal, from Its Inception to Its Completion

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History of the Manchester Ship Canal, from Its Inception to Its Completion HISTORY OF THE MANCHESTER SHIP CANAL SIR BOSDIN LEECH to of tbe of Toronto lo. C . -CT : HISTORY OF THE MANCHESTER SHIP CANAL " Floreat Semper Mancunium DANIEL ADAMSON, FIRST CHAIRMAN OF THE MANCHESTER SHIP CANAL COMPANY. Elliott & Fry. Frontispiece. HISTORY OF THE MANCHESTER SHIP CANAL FROM ITS INCEPTION TO ITS COMPLETION WITH PERSONAL REMINISCENCES BY SIR BOSDIN LEECH NUMEROUS PLANS, PORTRAITS AND ILLUSTRATIONS IN TWO VOLUMES VOL I. 1*1 a s MANCHESTER AND LONDON: SHERRATT & HUGHES 1907 THE ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY PRESS LIMITED THESE VOLUMES ARE DEDICATED TO THE LORD MAYOR AND CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF MANCHESTER IN COMMEMORATION OF THE PUBLIC SPIRIT DISPLAYED BY THAT CITY IN COMING TO THE ASSISTANCE OF THE MANCHESTER SHIP CANAL AT A CRITICAL STATE OF ITS AFFAIRS, AND IN THE HOPE THAT THEIR EXAMPLE MAY STIMULATE FUTURE GENERATIONS TO SIMILAR LOCAL PATRIOTISM PREFACE. early struggles and ultimate triumph of the Manchester Ship Canal consti- THEtute a subject of absorbing interest. In the history of Manchester, and indeed of South Lancashire as a whole, no other event or enterprise can compare with it in its far-reaching effects. The story, too, in many respects contains all the elements of a romance. It is the relation of a desperate and almost hopeless fight against opposi- tion of the most powerful and uncompromising character, and it is meet that the names and qualities of the men engaged in the strife, and the nature of the difficulties which they encountered and overcame, should find a permanent record. To rescue both individuals and incidents from oblivion, and to give a connected narrative of the course of events from the conception to the completion of the canal, is the object of the present work. The task has not been an easy one, nor has it been lightly with from the undertaken. If, however, a personal association the enterprise outset, a close and intimate knowledge of all its engineering and constructive phases, and and the possession of a unique collection of materials, correspondence, reports if not records of every kind, may be regarded as qualifications necessary, even indispensable, I can at least lay claim to these. both My first chapters are devoted to the early history of water communication, at home and abroad, and to the rise and development of the port of Liverpool. The conditions which called the Manchester Ship Canal into existence are next dealt of to with, and it will be seen that the actuating motive was in no sense one hostility of Liverpool or to other existing interests, but was the mere instinct self-preservation. The trade of Manchester, and in fact of the whole district of which Manchester is kinds the centre, was being strangled by the heavy charges of various imposed by of between Liverpool, aggravated as they were by the high rates railway carriage the two cities. As a remedy for a state of affairs beyond endurance, the Ship Canal to Manchester on has been a signal success. The average freight charges imported The is goods are now about one-third what they were twenty-five years ago. pity not into the of that some portion of the great saving thus effected has gone pockets viii PREFACE the non-trading canal shareholders, by whose exertions and sacrifices these striking economies have been brought about. It is interesting to note that the conception of a navigable waterway between Manchester and Liverpool dates back for at least two centuries, and I have given a brief account, accompanied by maps and plans, of the various schemes propounded since 1712. With reference to the Ship Canal itself, plans are inserted, showing the changes and modifications, both in the course of the waterway and in the position of the docks, which were made from time to time in the original design. Two chapters in each of the years 1883-4-5 are devoted entirely to the Parlia- a mentary fight. These necessarily give repetition of evidence, and may be passed over the casual reader contain extracts of eminent by ; they, however, speeches by counsel, and are full of interest to any one wishful to become master of the questions in dispute. My intention, at the outset, was to bring the story of the Ship Canal to the present time. My labours thus far, however, have been sufficiently heavy, and I content myself by expressing the hope that some abler hand will chronicle the subsequent developments and successes of the undertaking. Manchester people recognise with regret and even humiliation that those who have benefited most by the canal have helped it least. It is within the power of the manufacturing and trading interests of the district to place the enterprise within a very short space of time upon a paying level. A determined effort ought to be made to break down the pernicious rebate system of the shipping rings, and new lines should be established in Manchester itself if shipowners persist in boycotting the canal. If the above-named interests will rise to the occasion and be animated by the lofty patriotism displayed by the humble shareholders, they have it in their own power to make the canal a commercial success of which Manchester would indeed be proud. Original shareholders, who have not been fortunate enough to recoup themselves by indirect advantages, have the satisfaction of knowing that the noble self-sacrifices they have made have not been thrown away, but will some day be acknowledged with gratitude by those who come after them. It must be understood that this work has no pretentions to literary merit, but has been written with the sole object that future generations may be aware of the their in to great struggle forefathers had order convert Manchester into a port, and thus add to her commercial prosperity. BOSDIN T. LEECH. MANCHESTER, 2$th December, 1906. MEMORANDUM. DESIRE to acknowledge my indebtedness to the many friends who have rendered me valuable assistance whilst this to I compiling history, especially Sir Leader Williams and the Ship Canal officials, also to Mr. Marshall Stevens for his statistical information. My gratitude is also due to the gentlemen who have assisted me in revising facts and figures, especially to Councillor Plummer, who has been most kind in rendering valuable counsel and advice. Also to Earl Egerton and to Messrs. Thos. Agnew & Sons for their ready consent to the reproduction of Mr. B. W. " Leader's Mount Manisty," and to Mr. Bythell and my co-directors for the help they have given me. I wish particularly to thank Mr. Thos. Dirties, of Warrington, and Messrs. H. Birch-Killon and James Barningham, of Manchester, for the use of their excellent photographs of the Ship Canal works, taken during construction, and also the following firms who have permitted me to use their photographs and engravings, viz. : Messrs. Elliott Baker London Messrs. Bond & Fry, Street, ; Thomson, New London Messrs. Valentine Messrs. Dundee ; Street, ; & Sons, Lewis's, Ranelagh Messrs. Punch Messrs. Street, Liverpool ; Bradbury, Agnew & Co., ; George Tit-Bits Messrs. Manchester Messrs. Newnes, Limited, ; Lafayette, Limited, ; Manchester Wilkinson Brothers, Manchester ; Messrs. Brown,, Barnes, & Bell, ; Mr. Franz Manchester Mr. Baum, Manchester ; Mr. Warwick Brooks, ; J. Ambler, Manchester Mr. P. Cable Mr. A. ; W. Gray, Street, Liverpool ; Coupe, Withing- ton Mr. and Messrs. Macmillan & London. ; }. White, Dumfries, Co., Ltd., My thanks are also due to Messrs. Chorlton & Knowles and Messrs. Wilson & Hudson, of Manchester, for their care and attention in reproducing the various plans and photographs. B. T. L. CONTENTS. CHAPTER PACE I. Navigable Rivers of England The Mersey and Irwell The Mersey Bar - i II. English Canals History of the Bridgewater Canal - - n III. Canalised Rivers and Ship Canals : English and Foreign The Manchester Ship Canal 26 IV. History of the Liverpool Docks Origin of the Dock and Town Dues Their Oppres- sive Character The Liverpool Toll Bar - 38 V. Early Attempts to Make a Ship Canal to Manchester - 54 VI. 1882. Daniel Adamson Heads the Ship Canal Movement Meeting at his House Provisional Committee Appointed Resolution of the City Council Scheme Adopted Subscriptions Opinions of the Press Thorough Organisation - 76 VII. 1883. Chronicle of Events Hostile Criticism Mishap on Standing Orders Lord Redesdale Sketch of the Lords Committee at Work Bill Thrown Out Manchester in Earnest Local Meetings - - 113 VIII. 1883. Ship Canal Bill in the Commons Speech of Mr. Pember and other Counsel Summary of Evidence by the Ship Canal Company By the Opponents Decision of the Committee Clauses- - 141 IX. 1883. Ship Canal Bill in the Lords Effort to Wreck it on Standing Orders Lord Winmarleigh Rescues the Bill Speeches of Counsel Evidence by Promoters and Opponents Unfavourable Decision - - 167 X. 1884. Manchester Thoroughly Roused Events of the Year Action of the City Council Of the Chamber of Commerce Public Meetings Odd Incidents Con- nected with the Parliamentary Fight Demonstration at Pomona Gardens Opinions of the Press Liverpool Uneasy Bill Rejected Corporation Aid Determination to Apply Next Year - 189 XI. 1884. History of the Parliamentary Bill in the Lords Counsel's Speeches Evidence Pro and Con Captain Eads of New Orleans The Duke of Richmond no Friend Incidents in the House Bill to Proceed - - - 211 xii CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE XII. 1884. Parliamentary Proceedings in the House of Commons Evidence of Witnesses A Race for Time Case Curtailed Liverpool and the Dock Board give Pledges not to Oppose a Changed Route Unfavourable Decision - - 238 XIII. 1885. The Ship Canal Bill Recast on Mr. Lyster's Lines Liverpool Views With- drawal from Pledge not to Oppose Bill Bill Passed in the Commons Public Rejoicings Preparatory Steps to Raise the Capital - - 250 XIV.
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