The Express.
London, England, 1863-07-24 00:00:00

LONDON, BRIGHTON: AND SOUTH COAST
RAILWAY.

The report of the directors of this company
to the meeting on Tuesday next, and the accounts for the
half-year ending June 30, 1863. subjoined, show the follow-
ing results :—The amount of capital raised on June 30,
1863, is 11,016,2141., coosistior of ordinary stock and
shares, 4,883,163/. ; preferential stock, 3.339,0001. ; wort-
gage debt, 1,663,3751. ; debenture stook, 1,128,6761.
The amount of capital expended during the half-year is
462 8801. The reduction in the rate of interest oil the mort-
gage debt still continues, sod the amount of debenture stock
issued has reached 1,128,676/. The loans falling due at 44
and 5 per cent. have been paid off and replaced by debenture
stock, and the average rate has been further reduced from
41. Os. 11d., as last reported, to 41. Os. Bd. per cost. The
rose revenue has been 462,8151., showing ao incresee of
17,9341. over the corresponding half-year. The general re-
ceipts, and more particularly those from suburbi.2 traffic,
are progremiug satiefectorily. The unfavourable weather
during Whitsuntide and the Epsom race week considerably
dimiotshed the receipts, and but for this loss a much larger
addition would have been presented. Tb. traffic since the
middle of Juue, while it is in excess of that of 1861, has
shown some diminution as compared with last year, this
having been the period when the Exhibition of 1862 attracted
the largest number of visitors to Loodoo. The expenditure
has been increased by considerable repairs to the locomotive
stock, necessitated by the hens', traffic of last autumn, •
charge which always falls on the first half of the year, nod
• further outlay has wise° from the cost of working the
Croydon and Belbam. and the West London Extension linen.
Beyond this the sum of 4,0001. has been placed to the debit
of revenue on sccouot of sums paid for compensation in re-
spect of accidents. and this account will, as in 1862, be
again balanced on the 31st of December. It must also be
burue in mind that, as compared with the corresponding
half-year, revenue has had to bear the charge for interest on
additional capital, amounting to 454,823/. The West Lon-
don Extension line was opened for traffic on the let of March,
and a system of through booking of passengers and goods
has already been commenced in connexion with the Northern
Railway Companies. The present short trial affords eatie-
factory proof that the expectations of the directors as regard.
the advantages of opening this commuoication will he fully
realised. The line from Pulborough to Arundel Sad Little.
hampton is completed, and will be ready for traffic on the
Ist of August. The distance between London and Chichester
and Portsmouth will be shortened by about ten miles, and
the West Coast traffic will be forwarded direct from Three
Bridges, instead of passing through Brighton as at present.
The powers greeted to the company of °smug and working
stoaniboata have been put in operation, and since the Ist
July the service between Newhaven and Dieppe bas been
perforrued by vessels belonging to this company and the
Western Railway Company of France. The new paddle-
steamier Alexandra is now on the station, and both as regards
speed and accommodation is everything which can be
desired. The amount of this company's capital invested in
the steamers now plying on this route does not exceed
15,0001. The works on the South London line are proceed.
ieg satisfactorily, and the bill promoted by the company for
deviating that tine to the Blue Anchor-road. Bermoodaey,
and for extending it up to London-bridge, including an im-
proved enlargement of that terminus, has received the royal
assent. The contract for the arching necessary for the en-
largement of the station has already been let, and the re-
mainder of the works wall be forthwith
proceeded with. lo
the last report the directors explained in detail the bills
which they had deposited in parliament for the live from
Peckham through Mitcham to Sutton. for the extension
from Leatherbead to Dorking, for the New Croydon local
line, sod for the widening of the bridge over the Thames
and the Hoe leading to the Victoria station. The whole of
these applications have been attended with success: A reso-
lution will be submitted to the meeting for sanctioning the
arrangements concluded with the Bognor Railway Company,
io respect of their short branch from this company's Ports-
mouth line to that waterlog place. A special meeting has
been conveoed to be held immediately after the termieittioss
of the ordinary meeting, for the purpose of cresting the
capital required for the lines and works now authorised or
in progress. The net amount at the credit of the revenue
accent is 120,9874. out of which the directors reoommead
the payment of • dividend of 2i per cent. fur the half-year,
amounting to 119,730/., and leaving • balance of 1,2371. to
the credit of the current half-year.