§ MR. HERBERT GARDNER (Essex, Saffron Walden)asked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether he can inform the House as to the number of canals in the United Kingdom whose navigation is now under the control, direct or indirect, of Railway Companies; and, how many canals are independent of the control of Railway Companies?
§ THE PRESIDENT (Mr. MUNDELLA) (Sheffield, Brightside)The number of canals, including canal navigations, now under the control of Railway Companies is 39, with an aggregate length of 1,436 miles. There are also 40 other canals with an aggregate length of 1,592 miles; but how far any of these navigations are indirectly under the control of Railway Companies I am unable to state. In the Appendix to the Report of the Select Committee on Canals in 1883, at pages 215 and 217, will be found a statement of the names and lengths of the canals and canal navigations under the control of Railway Companies and the respective periods when they came under the control of those Companies.