Financial.
Reading edition
The estimated cost of the barrage complete is £3,658,000, including compensations and other contingencies. A toll of ¾d. per ton on the shipping passing up and down will pay the interest on this sum. This ¾d. per ton additional toll will, it is estimated, be many times compensated for by reductions in the river and dock dues and other expenses, as below:—
Savings Effected by Dockisation. Per Annum.
£
Dredging in the river 200,000
Repairing banks, campsheds and groynes 10,100
Mudding in all docks 50,000
Cost of operating dock entrances and pumping 70,000
Saving in time of vessels ascending and descending the river 225,000
Saving in towage 20,000
” barging 185,000
” warping, buoying, lying off, etc. 20,000
” management of river 70,000
Total annual saving £850,100
This is equal to a reduction of 6·8d. per ton on the tonnage of shipping (30,000,000) entering and leaving the Port, or equal to 7½ times the interest on the cost of the barrage.
To the credit of the barrage must also be set the removal from the prospective future of enormous outlays contemplated for:—
£
Purchasing docks, estimated at 30,000,000
Improving ditto and dredging river 7,000,000
Cost of a water supply from Wales or other source 24,000,000
Total £61,000,000