The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-11-09 00:00:00

Railing Intelligence.

RAILWAY COMPANIES' ASSOCIATION.

The era meeting of this aasociation was held on
Thursday et the Railway Cleering•house, Rwiton-equare
Mr. H. 8. Thompson in the chair.
Thirtyone directors, repromenting 18 railway coin.
penis's, were present. The committee appointed to
draw up the rules and regulations and deene the objects
of the Radwey Companiee' Association submitted the
following
___..__ .....

REPORT OF 00101117E11.
Your committee propse to dieeharge the duty
assigned to them by pointing out, In the 80 instance,
the (AuMU which have led to the formation of this 1114110.
elation; promedlng, secondly, to define Be principal
objects ; and concluding with the suggestion of seine
general rule. for its oonatitution and management. The
principal reason for the formation of the association is
the unsatisfactory position of all railway property. The
general opinion which prevails of its Insecurity has given
rise to an equally general feeling that something uhould
be attempted for its improvement, and the promoters of
this movement are of opinion that union and mutual
oomperstion afford the greatest probability of ammo.
Hitherto the principle of antagoniein has been too much
the rule in railway matters. The contest, which coin.
meneee before a Parliamentary committee in the effort
to obtain an Act of Incorporation, is continued In a sue.
°elision of struggles for the possession of disputed tratlio;
nor does the present state of railway affairs hold out
much pros-dee of change In this moped, unions it be pro.
duoed bythe application of loins hitherto untried remedy.
By the last Parliamentary returns the amount of capital
raised for railway purposes in the United Kingdom, to
the end of 1857, considerably exceeded £300,000,000
sterling. A large portion of the holders of this property
are women, minors, and men of smell fixed income.,
upon whom any considerable reduction of revenue in-
finite peculiar hardship*, and the amount of suffering
produced by the great deterioration of railway property
which has taken ;dam ouppliee an adequate motive for
an earnest and united endeavour, on the part of directors
of railways, to accomplish a niore Istisfactory result than
their divided and antagonistic force. have yet been able
to effect. It will have been gathered from the foregoing
remarks that the principal inducement to the promotion
of the association -is the hope of improving the condition
of railway property. In making this statement your
oonunittee wieh to guard against misconception, and to
express distinctly thee the improvement they anticipate
IN by no ineans limited to the question of dividend, but
applies to the judicious development and amelioration of
the railway system quite as much as to the increase of
net receipts.
The following are the proposed rules and regulations
of the maculation That all the railway °alumni's
In Great Britain be invited to join this animation. 2.
That each company be requested to appoint not exceed.
isig two directors to represent it at the general meetings
of the association. 3. That each company be at liberty
to appoint one of Its principal Akers to amoinpany its
deputation for the purpose of consultation. 4, That at
all meetings of the emanation the voting shall be by
companies, each company having one vote, to be given
by • director personally and not by proxy. IS. That all
expenses incurred be equally apportioned between the
companies composing the 'floatation. 8. That the mo-
ral meetings of the association be held 'timidity. 7.
That the business of the association be (militated by the
appointment of emitinittees, whose apeolflo functions shall
be hereafter defined. 8, That no limineal be transacted
without notice at a previous meeting, unless in a OW of
urgency, when a committee inay be appointed, who
shall afterwards report to the association, 9. That all
tinkers of the association and standing committees be
re.appointed annually. 10. That the meetings of the
association shall be hold in London, unless when decided
otherwise by the vote of 4 general meeting. 11. That
the association shall have a permanent offlos in London,
either at the clearing-house or in some other convenient
sitnation." . .

On the motion of the Chairman, seoonded by the
Man4uls of Chandos, the report of the committee was
unanimously received end wloptod,
Regointim' were pieced requeNting the Chairman to
continue his service. In promoting the object of this at.
ambition, and thanking him for hie ahlo coil impartial
conduct upon all °echelons, and voting the beet thanks
of tho meeting to Mr, Lumen for his pest Nerviove, mot
requesting him to All the post of honorary secretary until
a permanent meoretary be appointed,
The meeting then adjourned to Thurstley, the 9th of
December,