1756
Page 5 of 23.
B: Introduction.
INTRODUCTION
It was the received Opinion of many, That, because the Act of Parliament obtained in the Year 1730 for making the River Stroudwater Navigable, from the River Severn at or near Framiload to Wallbridge, was the laid aside, and has for so many Years been totally neglected, the Execution thereof was impracticable, or at least would be attended with so great an Expence and Inconvenience as to render it inexpedient. But it is hoped the following Scheme (which is the Consequence of a Subscription some Time since opened, to defray the Expence of a fresh Survey and Calculation) will remove former Prejudices, and convince the Publick that the making Navigable the Stroudwater River is an expedient Undertaking, that it will be attended with no great Difficulty in the Execution, with very little Inconvenience or Detriment to Private Properties, and with the least Expence, considering the extensive Advantages of it, of almost any Scheme hitherto published.
The general Advantage of Inland Navigation, besides the Perservation of Publick Roads, may be placed in this light: That, as Human Industry arises from the mutual Wants of Mankind, and their mutual Abilities to supply them, Commerce is nothing else but the Interchange of one Man's Labour for that of another, and this Interchange implies Carriage; and, consequently, that every Method and regulation for the promoting and facilitating of Carriage must be considered as promoting and extending Industry in all its Branches, for, was there no Communication by Carriage, every Place must be contented with its natural Produce and Ability, whereby we should be deprived of many of the Comforts and Conveniences of Life, nay, I may say of many of the Necessaries of it.
That, as every Man desires to get as much as he can for his own Labour, the cheaper his own Goods are carried out, the more he can get in Exchange for them; and, the cheaper any Goods are brought in to him, the more he can use and consume. Thus larger Quantities may be mutually made and consumed, and Industry increase, in Proportion as the Communication is opened, and the Carriage rendered cheap,
B
