WILTS & BERKS CANAL TRUST

We have the satisfaction this morning of announcing an important step towards the improvement of the means for conveying heavy traffic from the port of Bristol.

It is well known that for twenty years past the policy of the railway companies has been to obtain possession of the canals in their districts, or at any rate to acquire a controlling interest, so as to smother their competition. It has long been contended by Mr F.r Conder, CE and others that it is a mistake in their own interests, because it involves carrying by rail a quantity of heavy minerals and other traffic at rates which are not remunerative, while it interferes with the earning power of the railways in more profitable directions.The policy of the continental railways is different.

It was once deduced from figures that the Great Western Company only received three-tenths of a penny per ton for every ton of coal they carry in order to pay for a carriage of sixty miles ! At the same time it has been felt that the practical closing of canals has been a great detriment to mercantile interests, because it removes the only formidable competitor of the railways, and the Railway and Canal Traffic Act of 1888 contains clauses for the emancipation of the canal interest.

In order to follow these up and see what can be done with them, a number of gentlemen interested in the traffic between Bristol and London have bought the Wilts and Berks canal with the intention of entering into active competition with the Great Western Railway.

This leaves the Kennet and Avon canal at Semington, a few miles this side of Devizes, and passes through Melksham, Lacock, Wootton Bassett, Swindon, Shrivenham and Challow to the Thames at Abingdon. The Kennet and Avon canal, which joins the Thames and Reading, has the advantage of giving a distance of 23 miles less between London and Avonmouth, but against that has to be set 28 additional locks, as it ascends to a much greater height.

Swindon Advertiser - December 16th 1889