The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-03-08 00:00:00

11:ocat anb '-'l.istrict )::)Tetus.

'nil!: PROPOSED RAILWAY FROM
STOURBRIDOE AND BEWDLEY.

An influential meeting of owners and rate-
plyers' ‘l,:s held in the Corn Exchange, on Wed-
ia.sday morning last, to move the adoption of
petitions in favour of the above proposed rah•
way. Amongst those tresent were Messrs. .1.
C. A. Scott, (J.P.,) J. Hughes, E. Stringer, B.
Wooldridge, D. Penney, J. B. Shepherd, It.
Brooinhail, It. Kelly, 1. Hand, D. Lovatt, B.
lliehards, Ureen, the Rev. 0. Magiunis, &e.,
&e.

On the motion of Mr. Stringer, seconded by
Mr. Kelly, Mr. Ilughes was elected to the chair.
The having read the requisition
calling the meetiug, said he would take that, the
first opportunity that hail been offered, to correct
a mistaken notion which appeared to be very
prevalent to the effect that the Commissioners
were desirous of opposing the bill. During the
previous week a meeting had been held in the
Corn Exchange, which most people supposed
had been convened for the purpose of opposing
the bill. Such however was not the case. So
fir as matters had gone up to the present
moment they had done nothing to retard the
progress of the bill. Ile explained to those
present that it was necessary for the Com-
missioners to take the position they had taken
so as to enable them, on behalf of the ratepayers
to watch the progress of the bill through Parlia-
ment and to get any such modifications in it
which they might think desirable for the good
of toe inhabitants. So far front opposing the
bill, he sincerely hoped it would pass, as he
thought the proposed railway would be of great
service to the town. There were now only three
or four serious oppositions to the bill ; which
arose from landowners through whose property
the proposed line would pass, and who seemed
to be of the opinion thst the inhabitants along
the route were not desirous of having the pro-
jected railwa). Ile believed that the Great
Western Railway were anxious to conciliate
these opponents by making all the modification%
iii the route within their power which would
make the line less objectionable to them, and,
that being the ease, he believed that when
mittens were fully explained they would with-
draw their opposition. There vi,s no improve-
ment but would inconvenience some on or
another. In looking at the opposition of the
f.,rl of Stamford, fie was much surprised to see
it stated iliat the t lie would injure the Whitting-
ii trona orks. tie mu: speaker) thought it
woe on the contrary, have an exsctly opposite
eld2et, dud prove of incalculable service to them,
flu tu the inhabitants of Kinver, as it would
greatly facilitate the carriage of coal and iron to
and from the said works. One of the reasons
welch the Commissioners had fur holding the
meeting of the previous week was to enable
them to compel the (treat Western Company to
build a bridge by Si. Johq.s School, which he
thought was a very necessary thing for them to
do. He felt certain that this little opposition
would gradually pass away. The engineers in
connection with the proposed railway were de-
termined to do everything they possibly could
to make the line convenient to the inhabitants
of the district through which it would pass. In
former days railways were made so that the
people of the town had to go to them ; but now
they were taken to the town, and not for the
town to have to go to them. A line of that
description which would open all the great coal
and iron district of South Wales could not but
be of the greatest service, as it would cause com-
petition in the above articles by the facilities for
carriage which it afforded, and, what would be
a great desideratum in these days of dear coal
and other articles, perhaps do something towards
reducing their cost. Luukiug, then, at all the
facilities which this line affords he though it
would be best for the inhabitants to give it their
support. He then moved the adoption of the
fullowiug resolution
"That this meeting. (of the owners and rate-
payers of the township of Stourbridge) hereby
approves of the railway from Stourbridge to
Ktdder.einster and Bewdley, projected by the
Great Western Railway Company, believing it
will be of the greatest advantage to the town of
Stourbridge and the district through which it is
proposed to pass, opening up a new and lucre
direct route between Birmingham, Staffordshire,
and the South Wales district...

The key. Magiunis seconded the resolu-
tion, and, in doing so, said it was not necessary
to add much to a hat had been said by the looter
of it. bail, He might be permitted to say that
there could be no doubt about the desirability of
toe proposed railway. As to the aecond part of
the resolution, which referred to the advantages
of the proposed line he thought there could not
be a secouit opinion. No doubt, were they land-
owners through whose estates the line would
pass, they would take the beatmeans they could
iitive to protect their property. 'limy had their
rigets,andotoutitless, it would,in some instances,
ete a 6teat hardship to have a line running close
to their preserves. Itut he thought that after
ail the opposition would be imaginary rather
than real. In this small country of our it often
happened that town and country we're so close
togethei that it was impossible for either to live
separate lives. If this country was to maintaiu
its place in the march of civilisation, the
country would have to permit the encroachments
of the town, and the people would have to sup
press their private wrongs for the public good.
lie concluded by saying he had great pleasure
in moving the adoption of the resolution.
The Chairman, before putting the resolution
Called upon Mr. Supherd to a ldress those
present.
Mr. SMpherd, said if it would facilitate them
in arriving at a conclusion, he should he happy
to give them ell the infoimation on the subject
in his power. Ile explained that the preamble
of a bill always set forth that the projected line
was intended to be made in the interests of, and
at the express desire, of the in'uabitatits of the
o,striet through which it would pass. What was
meant by oppo!dug a railway bill was a denial of
that fact; but the oi.pusitiou which the Com-
missioners had taken admitted it. The opposi-
tiou which the others had taken denied that
fact; and stated that ttio inha'oitants did not
want the railway, and that it would not be for
their interests to have it. If those present
thought it desirable to have a railway they must
say so emphatic thy, so that when the hill came
befor.i the Howe of GiallllJllB they must know
that the railway wait I%lpin:a in their interest.
as that was the principal thing which they would
Lake notice of. Must of the inhabit:tuts along
the route would say that the railway was wanted.
They were invited, on that occasion, to give an
! opinion as to 10o:tiler the railway was wanted
(CrEs of " Yes, yea'.) Ho believed that if they
nil this, the gentlemen through whoa° land the
raitway would go —so tar from opposing the bid
—would give it their cordial support. The Earl

or :Amami' said the line win; not needed ; so
Ii d Mr. Foley. The bitter gentleman said that

.....
it would do his property a great deal of harm ;
aud that Wu preamble of the bill witi incapable
of oroof. It was in asserting the necessity for
toe railway that the nn.cting would be most pro-
fitably eiiiplo;ed. Tiny could say that they
cl sired that railway. He (Mr. Shepherd) had
110 doubt, that as far :Is Mr. Foley was concerned,
w,leit he became aware of the fact that they

A ./I el it he would ah,udon his opposition, aid
say he would protect himself as well as he c,,nld.
Mr. Shepherd afterwirds read the resolution,
and, on being put to the meeting by the chair-
-111,111, it was car,;ed unanimously.
Mr...Shephi thea re:t.l tie j)tttiOl which it
*a; r;,pos ;,i t;i piesi•nt to the it..uso of Com-
-111,113 and the Hiuse of Lords in favour of the
bill.

,
Mr. E. Stringer moved the second resolution,
eiiich Wari as follows:—" That the petition in
favour of the above railway, now read, be
lopted and signed, and it be sent to the lit.
11. m. Lord Lytteltou, for presentation to the
douse of Lords, aud to tho Hon. C. C. Lyttel-
tun, for p:eseitation to tho House of Commons.
Ile s;:oke of the ninny advent:gee which the
whole dithict would derive from the bill, and
c died Itoo tho ratepayers generdly to vigor-
),l4l). support. the r. ilw.y ellup my. He truAed

that- the.ol.position comin. g 11001 certain quarters
would be ineffectual, as to prevent the line from
being made was to sacrifice the interests of the
public.
Mr. Brocalhall seconded the adoption of the
res ilution, which was carried.
1.a.1 been raggest-,1 t
t.)
waiL :Aldo Aller6 W 11.) 11.1k1
tiled petitions againbt the bill, with a view of