The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-02-18 00:00:00

Yours, &0.,
NOT "MITLTUAIL IN PARVO," BUT
"ALTER EGO."

THE PORTLAND RAILWAY.

SlB,—i am again called upon to use my pen, and I
only wish I had been called upon to do so in 2. to
my last letter, wherein I boldly challenged the teen
members of the Town Council to refute or gain ay any
argument therein advanced in support of the vast
amoniit of the public property which must, and will,
suffer for ever,' should Mr. Devenish's, and the other
six supporters of bin scheme, be carried into operation,
namely, a railroad from Weymouth to Portland. One
thing must be certain, Mr. Editor, that by their enemas
in not replying, they, to a m-n, publicly admit all my
observations to be true. I have in the meantime been
much &mimed by reading no less than three epistles;
and although one only has appeared through themedium
of a "Penny Mouthpiece," so called by "Not one of
the Nineteen," yet the ther two appeared in papers,
one of which, it most be admitted, although coating 3d.,
falls very short of the circulation of my "Mouth-piece,"
the Telegram; and although as "One of the Nine-
teen" says.—" I have not the pleasure of an acquaint-
ance, Sic.," yet he will pardon my assuring him his
letter was most ably adapted for the columns in which
it appeared; and he might, in saying his say, be abiding
his master's bidding, for, after all, his comments are no
answers te my letter, and therefore I am not disposed
to go over the same ground again. Sufficient has
already appeared in the -letters of "Venus," " Argus,"
"Looker-On," "Observer," Re., to convince all Wey-
mouth of the soundness and justice of every remark
therein ecmtaincd. Hence I decline answering "One of
the Nineteen." heping he will not be displeased or dis-
appointed. To the letter of "Enquirer." which ap-
peared in the Dorset Express. February 4th, all I can
compliment him on is, that if be be a Portlander, he
deserves credit for Standing forward in behalf of the
future prosperity of the island, and I can assure him,
and every individual there, that I cordially join them,
heart and hand, in wishing every success to the honest
and industrious classes of an island, which is so formed
by nature as only te require the art of man to raise it
in point of strength as a future national safeguard to
England's " wooden walls." second to no place in the
world ; and, in conclusion, would assure him that
"Devenish's XXX." had no hand in "assisting me in
composing he styles my 'wonderful letter.'" But
for his ino rmation, as well as the readers of his "won-
derful p duction," and highly intellectual remarks, as
I enjoy and like a glass of good beer. I prefer that cold
Baxter to that of Devenish's XXX. As for "Vox
Populi," I hardly know what to say in reply to his
friendly epistle; only he forgets his own "non-
musical" remarks when he speaks of the vast amount of
" nonsense which has been brought to bear upon the
new projected railway scheme, with a view of rendering
Its formation of non-effect by arguments evidently in
favour of the future prosperity of Weymouth, and
adverse to the interests of Portland;" and I can assure
him, as I have said to " Euquirer," that no man wishes
better towards Portland than does "John Jenkins
Rolls," One thing I like in "Vox Populi," he is not
so unchaeitable as to fancy that Devenish's XXX, was
the came of inspiring my writing the contents of a
letter which must convince the three correspondents that
they have fallen very short in wisdom, or ability, in not
confuting anything advanced by me, and I would re-
commend 'them to try Devenish's XXX. to advance their
progress when again they appear either in a "Peony
Mouth-piece," or a threepenny journal.
In conelusion, I will give you the following informa-
tion for the foil benefitbof " Not one of the Nineteen,"
"Enquirer," and "Vof Populi," and to the inhabitants
of both Weymouth and Portland. I would advise them
to go "slick-a-head," as Jonathan says, and take as
many abates as they can afford. All I wish them is
good look,in their speculations, for "Enquirer" may
rely on it that there is no inure a "gold mine" to be
discovered in Portland for its railway, than there is a
coal mine; and I sin afraid the only " mine" they will
, fall into liken "too late," is that they, like me, gave
way too leach to " nonsensical" letter writing, whilst
using thei'h!_apico, les of prejudice.",
I Ebar at . Ward's estimate of the cost of the
railway finui We mouth to Portland is' £BO.OOO. This
is, remember, the engineer's estimate. The lowest
expense of working any line in the United Kingdom is
33i per cent, on the capital. We will say 20 per cent.
only on the Portland Railway, and 5 per cent, for the
shareholders, making 25 per cent, on the £BO,OOO. This
will be £20,000 annually to clear the expenses; andahould
this railway command and have every passenger that
ever travelled hetweeu Weymouth and Portland any one
year, and should even all the stone raised annually be
carried at the tariff which appeared in the Southern
limes of last week, the company must lose over £lOO
per week. This must be a very great inducement to
Portlanders and Weyinosithians to speculate in the
+scheme. Your readers may form an eqnal estimate
from these sums to the profitable speculation of the
Great Western steamers between Weymouth and the
Channel Islands; and all taunt acknowledge how plucky
these steamers have been kept afloat so long, especially
when they brought to mind the reckless experiment of
the Cherbourg traffic from the port, which, like the
railroad to Portland was to produce such happy results
to the town. In taking adieu of my three " brother
chips" who bark only but do not bite, I hope they will
forgive slimy courteous remarks, for I can assure them
I mean no more harm than they meant, when indulging
in what I dare say, Mr. Editor, they considered both
complimentary, flattering, and in good humour. -ooe
thing I could wish is, an act of charity to she poor
over-taxed butchers and market gardeners—that a rail-
way or trammed could be made to run through the.
"market-house," and thus resort to the custom of cheap
standing in tne open streets—then they would not be
compelled to "stick it on so thick" upon all they sell,
and to pay 2s. for a cramped-up stall, and not room
enough to swing a eat. As for the town crier, I must
offee him toy public apology in bringing his name so
freqUently before the public. Being good-natured,
like myself, he will, I hope, forgive. One who wishes
he may long live to ring his bell, and announce a trip
to Dilworth, Swanage, the Breakwater, and a visit to
H.M.S. Britannia, by the Prince steamer,