Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Thursday 1 December 1881
In the matter of the complaint made by the Denaby Main Colliery Company against the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway Company that coal sent from Denaby to Hull by canal, and which competed in the market with coal sent from other collieries was unduly prejudiced by the system of charging an uniform canal toll irrespective of the distance traversed, the Railway Commissioners yesterday gave judgment in favour of the Denaby Main Company.
In the 28 miles of canal between Denaby and Keadby there are but seven locks, while in the 14 miles between Denaby and Sheffield there are 17 locks, and 15 in the 12 miles between Denaby and Barnsley.
The Commissioners did not consider it reasonable to charge thirteen-pence toll from Denaby and only a halfpenny more from collieries higher up in the more difficult sections of the canal.
They considered that Denaby was entitled to relief, and that a difference of twopence or three half-pence would be a reasonable one.