The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-11-29 00:00:00

London, November 6th,
PROPOSED BRXNCFI TO COVENTRY STREET

STOURBRIDUE.

Dear Sir,—You will remember that :when we met
the deputation from the Commissioners of Stourbridge,
it was decided that after the company's engineers had
prepared the plans and sections for the proposed line,
they should be glad if you sill submit them to the Cum-
misshmers at your convenience. You will observe that
comparative sections have been prepared.—
No I.—Showing the line from Sturbridge station to
High Street, to carry out the Parliamentary plan.
No 2.—From the north end of the Viaduct to Coventry

street.
No 3.—From the north cud of the Viaduct to High St.

Canal Goods . Station. •
I must say that the plans do not show so satisfactory a !
line as we expected, and as could be desired, besides, .
ending as it does in Coventry Street, it could not be ex-
tended hereafter, either eastward or westward, without
leaving the Coventry Street Station on a uitanch, or re-
moving the station to s point which might not be satis-
factory to the inhabitants ef Stourbridge. The Directors
would, however, like to hear the views of the Commis.
stoners on the subject.
I received is letter from Mr. Taylor, on the 19th ult,
asking what steps laud bees taken towards carrying out
the views of the Commissioners with regard to the
central railway station, to which I replied, stating that
plans had:been prepared in accordance with the arrange-
ments come to at the meeting in August Mat, and that
the matter had been fully considered, but that the line
as proposed, was not so satisfactory as could be desired
and that certain modifications were under consideration,
and that probably the Directors might hind it necessary
to ask a deputation to come to Paddington to confer with
there upon the subject, but as no doubt you will see him
I will not communicate with him again:until I hear front
you.
Yours faithfully,
J. tiatwasow.

J. Hansard,
The plan referred to in this letter were laid be-
fore your committee by Mr. Harwani, who at-
tended the meeting at your committee's request.
The plans also of the 1868 line, and of the line
of lust Sessions, were also laid before your coos'
mittee, when the following resolution was
unanimously passed, "That this committee
have heard with regret and disappointment that
the Great Western Railway Company do not
deem it advisable to carry out the arrangements
for a station in Coventry,Street as suggested at
a meeting held in August last, as they deem
that site, or the immediate neighbourhood the
most central and eligible for a station. That
the committee are strongly of opinion that noth-
ing short of a central station on the company's
main line, with a goods station at the bottom
of the town, will meet the urgent and oft re-
posted requirements of the town.
That the committee having had under their
consideration the deposited plan of last Session,
so far as relates to the towuship of Stourbridge,
are of opinion that the line laid down might be
so modified as to bring the central station
nearer to Coventry Street than is hereby con-
templated, and if the company are disposed to
take powers to construct such line during the
ensuing Session, the committee will use their
best endeavours to make provisional purchase
of the required property, as they undertook to
do in the proposed fra fch to Coventry Street.
That the deviation now proposed for this pur-
pose is marked generally liy the Town Surveyor
, on the plan now before the meeting.
That the clerk do telegraph to Mr. Grierson,
asking him to fix the very earliest day for the
deputation from the Commissioners to meet the
Directors.

Resolved :—That Messrs. W. J. Turney and
Henry Bißingham, be added to the deputation.
A copy of the above resolution was sent to the
company, through Mr.:Hayward.
In the meantime the railway comnany have
given notice for three railway s, viz :—One to
commence near the Stourbridge Passenger
titntion. passing through St. John's disttict, to
the Goods Station near the eastern end of the
canal basiu—with power to abandon the rail-
way authorised in 1868, and also the existing
railway and incline loading to the Goods Station.
Another railway commencing at the northern
end of the Viaduct, over the Stour. and ter-
minating at or near the point where Coventry
Street, Lower Lane (or Birmingham Street),
and the Cliff communicate with each other.
Another railway commencing at the northern
' end of the Viaduct, over the Stour, and termin-
ating at or near the High Street, Stourbridge,
where that street is crossed by the existing
railway.
It is not to be supposed that it is intended all
these railways should be constructed, but the
notice has bean made thus wide, so as to include
the one which should eventually be found to be
the most generally useful and convenient, and
its probable extension either westward or north-
ward.

The chairman of the Directors, Sir Daniel
Gooch, having appointed Wednesday last, as the
date when the Directors would see the depute.
tion at Paddington, the gentlemen appointed
proceeded to London, and held a conference
with Sir Daniel Gooch and the Directors, and
your committee have much pleasure in reporting
that the great necessity for a central passenger
station with a goods station at the bottom of the
town, was forcibly put by the chairman of the
Commissioners and the other members of the
deputation, and received from the chairman and
officers of the company the most attentive con.
sideration.

The deputatior: urged Coventry Street, or its
immediate neighbourhood, as the most conven-
ient site for the passenger station, as being
nearer the centre of the town, and the markets,
and also very convenient for the neighbouring
township of Wollaston.
. _

At the same time another line was pointed
out by the deputation, commencing at the pas•
scour station, but instead of passing over
Foster Street, take the direction of the east end
of Mount Street, Birmingham Street, and then
to Coventry Sireet. By this route it was con-
sidered valuable properties would be avoided,
and the lino, consequently, couldhe constructed
at much less cost.
The business was thus left with the Diree-
tors, who undertook at once to have the seg.
gested line levelled and surveyed for the pur-
-1 pose of ascertaining the posibility of carrying
out the views of the deputation.
Whether this line is adopted or not, your
committee are of opinion that the Directors of
the railway company are acting in good faith
towards the town, and that there is every tiros-
pact of the town possessing a central passenger
station, with a goods station at the bottom of
the town, which undoubtedly add to its pros-
perity and importance.
After some remarks from Mr. Hughes, the
clerk sketched out the route the two lines would

take, and remarked that the line suggested b;
the deputation was beset with some engineering
difficulties, and the one the 'company expressed
themselves finally in favour of was the line of
last session, only brought nearer to the town.
On the motion of Mr. '_Allsop, seconded by
Mr. Al'church, the report was adopted, and the
proceedings of the committe were approved of
by the Boazd.

STOURBRIDGE SCHOOL BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of this Board was
held in the Commissioners' Room, on Monday
evening last, there being present—Messrs. J.
McEwen (Chairman), Billingham, Stringer, Scott,
and Prescott.

The minutes of the lad meeting were read and
confirmed.

" DIAJou" WALKER.

Mr. Prescott drew the attention of the Chair-
man to the fact that in some instances Mr. James
Waiser's name was inserted in the minute book as
Ms.jor Walker, and at other times as Captain
Walker. There were other people who would see
the minute book after the Board.and they might
take these different names for different persons.
Mr. Scott was quite as much entitled to have J.P.,
M.A., and other " tom-foolery " added to his name
as Mr. Walker was to have Major Walker.
I The Chairman said perhaps it would be better
to insert the ehrietian name.

Mr. Prescott : People 'night think it was the
nick-name for a fool.

Ma. PRZSOOTT AND TEE CLERK.
Mr. Prescoit said there was notice given to him
of nine different motions which were tolbe brought
before the Board.