Britain at Work
A Pictorial Description of Our National Industries

BARGE LIFE. The Grand Junction communicates with North and East London by means of the Regent’s Canal, and entering the Thames at Limehouse; but it also joins the royal river again about eleven miles west of London, through the Brent at Brentwood. As it passes on to the north-west it throws out branches to Aylesbury and to Bucking- ham, and loses itself finally in the Union, leading to Leicester, and the Birmingham, which not only leads to the metropolis of the Midlands but to a number of other canals. Among these are the Ox- — ford, the Birmingham and Worcester, the Birmingham and Coventry, and the Grand Trunk, which onward wends Photo: Cassell & Co.t Ltd A FAMILIAR CANAL SCENE. its way to the Bridgwater Canal and to Li verpool. From the Mersey the Liverpool and Leeds Canal takes its way, and at Leeds joins the Aire and Calder, which communicates with the Ouse and Hull. These two, therefore, form a waterway across northern England, just as the Grand Junction, Birmingham and Grand Trunk form a north-westerly, and the Grand Junction, Union, and the rivers Soar and Trent form a northerly navigable line through the country. Suggestions have been made that electric wires should be stretched above the canals, and electric motors being fitted to the barges, they should travel somewhat after the fashion of electric tram-cars, empowered through the wires overhead ; but though this system would quicken the pace on stretches of water free from locks, it would not obviate the delay occasioned by passing through these necessary works. It would seem that travel on our inland waterways must be comparatively slow; but that is no reason for their neglect. They carry much heavy freight now, and could convey more, especially if a uniform gauge of lock and canal could be adopted. Canals have been known to the world from the earliest ages, but their great ex- tension in England did not occur until the latter half of the eighteenth century. The need for more efficient communication between various parts of the country became keenly realised, and the development was largely clue to the skill of James Brindley and the energy of the Duke of Bridgwater. It was about that time that the greater part, at least, of the English canal system came into exist- ence. For a hundred years or more the patient horse and the long and heavy boat have formed a picture in the peaceful country-side; and in spite of all changes the barge still glides on quietly and uncon- cernedly, forming with its master and mistress a feature in the many-sided life of Oki England. F. M. Holmes.