ANOTHER ENGLISH SHIP CANAL SCHEME

This is just one of a series of around fifty old newspaper articles that I have been reading. I have been researching from old newspapers and magazines the last 200 years or so of the inland waterways. With particular interest in the issues of the day that were effecting the canals. The most active periods for evaluation and change, has always been just prior, during and shortly after the two world wars. It should be remembered that between the wars the ownership of some of the canals changed hands as the railway companies bought up the waterways to get reduce competition. What is not clear is the effect this early form of asset stripping had on the viability of the inland waterways. Its good to take a look back at what people were saying and doing in the past. Most surprising of all are some of the problems that beset the canals back then - are still prevalent today. Reading old newspapers can throw up some rather interesting stories. Here is what we would call today a public interest story.

Caveat: Some of the articles are difficult to read and even using modern electronic  scanning and text conversion methods. The odd punctuation, word or character may have been transcribed in error. 

The Mercury
Wednesday 30 January 1889

ANOTHER ENGLISH SHIP CANAL SCHEME

The determination of inland towns in England to get into direct water communication with the sea is still being manifested. A company has been registered at Somerset House for the, purpose of obtaining Parliamentary sanction to a scheme for establishing an improved waterway between Sheffield and the South Yorkshire colliery field and the sea. It is proposed to obtain powers to acquire the following undertakings with the docks, harbours, works, and rights connected therewith. The navigation of the river Don, from Tinsley, in the parish of Sheffield, in the West Riding of York, to a place called Wilaich House, in the parish of Denaby on Don, in the same country.

The Dearne and Dove Canal, commencing from the River Don Navigation, in the parish of Wath-upon-Dearne, and terminating at or near Barnsley, in the parish of Silkstone by a junction with the Barnsley Canal. The Stainforth and Keadby Canal, commencing  from the River Don navigation, at or near Stainforth, in the west riding of the county of York, to the River Trent, at or near Keadby in the county of Lincoln. The Sheffield Canal, commencing in the parish of Sheffield, and terminating by a junction with the River Don Navigation at Tinsley. The initial capital is to be £30,000.