'into, tapped, or sold, within the town of Paisley and liberties thereof, in the county of Renfrew, for improving the Navigation of the River Cart, and for other Purposes.' The magistrates and town council of the burgh of Paisley, are appointed trustees for carrying this act into execution, with power to borrow any sum of money, for this purpose, on security of the duties hereby authorized to be collected. In the 27th of the reign of his late Majesty, another act was obtained, entitled, ' An Act for enabling the Magistrates and Town Council of Paisley, to improve the Navigation of the River Cart, and to make a navigable Cut or Canal across the Turnpike Road, leading from Glasgow to Greenock,' in the preamble of which it is stated to be impassable, excepting for small boats, in spring tides. By this act, power is given to the parties mentioned in the title, to deepen the river from Snedda Bridge, and make a side cut for the purpose of passing Inchinnan Bridge, so that vessels drawing 7 feet, may, in ordinary spring tides, navigate the whole length. The canal not to be more than nine hundred yards in length; to be 7 feet deep, and 54 feet in width.
TONNAGE RATES.
| Goods, Wares, Merchandize, or other Things, (except Coal) | 8d per Ton. |
| Coal | 5d ditto. |
For any Article carried no higher than Knockford, half Toll only to be paid.
EXEMPTION FROM TOLL.
All Goods not brought into the navigable Cut, or past the Mouth of the Black Cart River, which falls into this Navigation, near Inchinnan.
Dung, Lime, Marl, or other Manure, belonging to any Owner or Occupier of Lands, within Five Miles of the River, is also free of Toll.
Commissioners are appointed to carry the act into execution, and are empowered to lessen the duties, and particularly that on coals, so soon as the money is borrowed for the purposes of this act; the power for which is vested in the magistrates and town council, who may take up the sum of £3,000 on the security of the tolls and duties granted by the act.
As the burgh of Paisley, by its successful manufactures, has become a place of considerable population, the navigation of the Cart, from the tideway of the Clyde, is of the first importance;
