The work of bringing the sea to Manchester is proceeding
rapidly. On Tuesday, the Ince section of the Ship Canal was opened to traffic, and there are, therefore, now no less than eleven miles of artificial water-way, or one-third of the whole, open to ocean-going steamers. The change that will be effected in the economy of the great inland city may be gauaed.by the fact that a steamer of some 7,000 tons burden is being built to trade to the port of Manchester, and that, in all probability, in a year or a year and a half's time from now, she will be actually taking in or discharging cargo at the Salford Docks. If the Canal attracts traffic, as it is pretty sure to do, it will not be long before we shall have ship-canals dug to all the great inland towns. This, from the point of view of the public, is greatly to be wished, as sea competition is the only satis- factory way of solving the railway-rates controversy. Parlia- ment finds it impossible both to protect the traders and to treat the Companies fairly, but efficient inland navigation will put an end to most of the hard cases complained of.
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