The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-02-19 00:00:00

HALESOWEN AND BROMSGROVE

RAILWAY.

A large and ixffluential meeting was held at
the Public Office, in the borough of Halesowen,
on Monday last, at four o'clock, to take into
consideration the best means to be adopted for
the purpose of obtaining the above railway. It
will be in the recollection of our readers that
some time ago it was decided that a railway
should be made for Halesowen and Bromsgrove
through Halesowen. The time has nearly
elapsed, and the Great Western Railway Com-
pany are now asking for an extension of time.
Mr. 0. P. Dnnn, High Bailiff, occupied the
chair. There were also present :—Archdeacon
Hone, W. Hayes, Esq., E. Moore, Esq., W.
Oldershaw, Esq., E. R. Phillips, Esq., Alfred
Barre, Esq., Messrs. G. J. Hodgetts, T. Taylor,
Weston, Graham, Hackett, Am, Ac.

The Chairman read the notice calling the
meeting. He said that personally he did not
know much about the arrangements of the Rail-
way Company, but was anxious to do so, and
called upon
Mr. W. Hayes, who said that the right to
make the railway was .ranted by the Act. of
1865, and the Act limited the power to three
years, with option of appeal. The company had
given notice asking for an extension of time to
make that portion between Halesowen and
James Bridge, and abandon that part of the
line leading to Bromsgrove. His agents, he
said, were the same as the company's, and they
! had written him a letter, from which it appeared
' that if eight or ten thousand pounds could be
subscribed by the inhabitants the line would be
made' and the shareholders would not be called
upon for any money until the line was in work-
ing order. The letter further stated that the
contractor will undertake the constrnuction of
the line, and be satisfied with the ap,reetnent of
responsible parties to purchase the shares when
the line is opened. * ha,,,e so far
made arrangements that you can assure the in-
habitants that responsible parties are willing to
come forward. With respect to the
value of the shares, you are probably aware that
in the Act of Parliament the Midland and Great
Western Railway Companies agreed to work the
line for half the gross proceeds, and further to
allow to the Halesowen Company, in calculating
the proportion of tolls, four miles in addition to
he six Nt hich they will receive. • * * Thus
you will see that the lialeaowen line will. for

practical purposes—though only a line of six
mile); in length— obtain the sante proportion of
the traffic as though it were a branch of ten
miles ; and gentlemen of experience eay that I
this is a most liberal offer." After reading the
above Mr. Hayes said he, for one, should do all I
he could to obtain the railway in question. He I
thought it very desirable for the inhabitants of i
lialesowen that they should have a railway direct
from the town. Although they had a railway
within a mile and a half they all knew the in-
convenience attending that. He did not think
tiny shutild let the company get out of the
agreement without an effort, and if they asked
for an extension of time thought they should
oppose it.
Dr. Moore said if there was one thing they
wanted in Halesowen more than another, it was
railway accommodation (applause). If the
Midland Company had carried out their arrange-
ments for making a railway between Dudley and
I alesowen, it would have been most important
to the interests of that neighbourhood. It did
look to him that having railways all round the
country, as if they were benighted. tie thought
it was a very liberal offer that had been made,
and he was sorry there was not a larger com-
pany of owners of property and manufacturers
Present. He thought it very important to get
the railway, if they only got a tram-road to Old
1 Hill. Every inhabitant ought to see the import-
I anee of getting a railroad to Halesowen, and he
I could not help but think that when the matter
I was well ventilated and bJearne generally knowo,
that a great number of sharen would be taken
up. He was willing to take few shares himself,
and he had no doubt others would do the same.
He then moved the following resoktion : "That
this meeting is of opinion that the offer me&
by the Halesowen and Bromserove Railway
Company is a liberal one, and that measures be
taken to obtain a sufficient number of shine-
holders to realise the required sum of £B,OOO or
£10,000." Mr. Moore further remarked thaL ii
the railway was obtained he hoped the company
would not follow the example of the Stoarbridge
Extension and Worcester Railwa.;a, who pro-
vided such disgraceful accommodation for the
passengers. He bad seen on several occasions
poor persons standing on the platfin tu without
any covering, which Lie coasidered a disgrace to
them.

Archdeacou Hotio said he coincided with the
remarks made by Mr. Moore, and Le thought it
they had the railway, it would be beneficial to
the neighbourhood.

. The Ciwianan Litenput the resolution, which
was carried u,diaLuously.

A vote of tho.:f.:s oth Chaiefuun, closed the
proceedings.