Manchester was 35 miles inland from the Liverpool harbor. The greatest textile manufacturing center in the world, it suffered acutely during the American Civil War from the stoppage of cotton shipments. The city was prostrated, its industries seemingly ruined. After the war, there was a period of revival, but it was presently found that the industry was bearing an impossible toll by reason of its inland location. Either the industry must be moved away to the seaports or the sea be brought to Manchester.
Manchester, getting this idea firmly into its head, organized its Ship Canal company, and set about digging the great canal. The corporation found the expense much greater than had been anticipated, and the city of Manchester took $25,000,000 of stock in the company. To the present time, something over $50,000,000 has been invested in the canal and in the development of the Manchester dock and warehouse district. The city nominates 11 of the 21 directors of the company. 