The Express.
London, England, 1863-02-24 00:00:00

LONDON, CHATHAM, AND DOTHR,

The directors, in their report, state that the
traffic returns for the past half-year show an increase d 84
per cent. over the rude= for the corresponding period of
1861. This may be considered as highly satisfactory, as,
although • great portion et the =armee is due to the coati.
neutal traffic and that arising from the International Exbi-
' bition, yet the company are still labouring under the dised-
muitagesof having no City station, and • vary inconsiderable
goods traffic owing to the inconvenient position of the pre-
, sent goods station. Both these disadvantages will be re-
moved in the course of the summer by the 000rpleticei of the
line to Blackfriara, and the opening of a very commod'bes
statics en the river at that point, both for goods end
passengers. The working expenses appear large, and
are, no doubt, capable of reduction, and to this point the
directors are giving their earnest attention ; but it must be
remembered that the peculiar mature of the company's
traffic requires the maintemmee of • large staff, not oulr in
this country but also on the Cootinent, the coot of which
will not be much hicreast.:2l the considerable accession• of
traffic whisk rev be ex at the reamer of m the
become more fully dove oped. The directors have concluded
an arrangement with the Beath Eastern Company as regards
the continental troffer, by which the efficiency of the service
will be materially improved and the advantages to the public
proportionately Increased. At the same time many heavy
expenses will be avoided which were necessarily incurred no
long as no mutual arraogements for the conduct of the
traffic had been agreed upon by the two companies. With
respect to the metropolitan extensioos, the directors have
made arrangements with the contractors, Moors.
Peto, Bette, and Crampton, for the completion,
in the month of July next, of the whole
of the line and stations between Beckenham and Battersea,
as well as the workshops, engine sheds, and assorting
Mathes ; in September next, of the hoe and stations between
the Elephant sod Castle and illacktriars- bridge, including
the goods and passenger stations on the river; and in May
of belt year, of the line to Earlatreet, ineloding the station
there and the bridge OM the Thames. The line between
Batteries and the Elephant and Castle was completed and
opened for traffic on the 6th October last, and as far es can
be judged at present the expectations formed of the train
seem likely do be realised, Arrangements are in p
with the Great Northern and Metropolitan &diva=
panies for completing the Bak between Mari-slant and the
Metropolitan Railway, and the necessary powers for =try-
ing out such arrangements as may be agreed upon are ton-
Weed in • bill which the company are preanotiog in the
presort sari= of parliament. The past moons of the
Metropolitan Railway has confirmed the dire.-
tors is their opinion of the expediency of tom-
piste( this link at the earliest paellas period.
The =prisms of last summer has shown that the present
approaches to the Victoria station are insufficient to accom-
modate even the existing traffic, and when that of the Great
Western Company is brought over them it will be difficult
to work the lines with perfect efbciency. With the view
of remedying this evil the directors have introduced a bill
into parliament for power to lay down additional lines of
rails on the eastern side of the present lines, and also to
construct another bridge over the Thames adjacent to the
exiting bridge. With the mare oiled the London,
Brighton, and South Coast Company are seeking fir similar
powees.MTlibue cot mu upon
a the
also western sided
power in ease eb zi
nut
construct • line from the south-end of the proposed
new bridge passing over the South Western Railway to a
junction with their Metropolitan Extension at the Wands.
worth-road, so as to avoid the objectionable inaction at
Freest existing at Stewart's-lane, and the steep gridlents
by which it is approached in both directions. The directors
have also introduced bills into parliament for powers to
construct a line from Newington by Peckham to Greenwich
and Woolwich, and also a line from Herne-bill by Streatham
to Sutton and Epaom, so that thane populous districts may
'be brought into connexion with the Victoria and Black-
friars stations, and also the stations on the Metropolitan
Railway. By that portion of the former line which lies
between Newington and Peckham the company's moms to
the High Level station at the Crystal Palace will be Mate-
rially improved. It is proposd that both lines shall be con-
structed upon capital to be raised on the security of
libeled& serried over than. so &I not to be • burden either
to the metropolitan extensions or the original undertaking.
There are several bills before parliament affecting the corn-
pears interests which will require the attention of the
Wad. The capital account of the line from Bickley to
Dover showed that 3,726,551/. bad been received, and
3,589,7301. expeoded, Irvin • balance of 136,8211. The
expenditure co the metropolitan extensions amounted to
3,004.635/. The revenue of throe extensions amounted to
3,2901., and the expenditure to 2,9531., leaving a balance of
SR 1. The revenue ailment oo the main lime showed
that 138,7541. had been received, and 111,1781. expended,
including 28,8241. for steamboat expanse, leaving •
of 27,576/.

KIDIT Comm RAILWAY.—The directors' report
that the traffic Marna for the last half -year are satisfactory,
showing an increase of 22i per cent. over the receipts of the
corresponding period of 186 L As appears by the engineer's
report the works between Heme Bay and Ramsgate sod
Margate are being pushed on with energy and there ia said
to be no doubt of their completion by the time re
fixed, namely, the let of September of this year. The di-
rectors understand that the Metropolitan Extension hoes of
the London, Chatham, and Dover company will be corn-
plated by the lame period, both to the Victoria-street and
Btackfriars stations, no that the traffic from those densely
populated districts will be brought upon the company :lime
immediately on its being opened. The directors learn with
eatidaction that arrangements are in program between the
London, Chatham, and Dover, and Great Northern Com-
panies, for completing the link betweea Blackfriare and the
Metropolitan Railway. By this comae/ion the whole of the
stations on the latter railway, including Kiog'soros' and
Paddington, will be brought Into cor muoteatieu with
Hernießsyt Maryiata, and Brsiegate.
Tree MID-MANT RAILWAY.—The report of the
directors states that they am not salad upon to appear
either as poemotes or opponents of any bill in the ensuing
nay were, however, unexpectedly compelled to
appear in committee during the last session to oppose the
attempt of a neighbouring company, which sought powers
to acquire this nodertaking, and which, moreover, appeared
es onenta to the hieing VII ol Übe London. Cha=
I and Dover Railway Clernpusy. That bill, beware', pared

int4l./kit,Vryirtee of it this undertaking will, on
the Int next, mist into the hands of that com-
pany, epee Wes Wielded by the act of 1802—via.. et
a rent eialh:o shaseat to the interest oar the debenture
debt of 0304, sad 41. per tent on the share capital of
81,15501- romans and capital accounts, certified by
' the auditors, are appended, and the balance remaining
to the credit of the revenue menet for the half-year end-
ing Deo. 31, 1882,iirommts in 9121. 9s. 106., which, with
the beams at 1484 17a. Bd. brought forward from the pre-
, trims harm,. gives a total sum of 1,0611. 7s. 6d. The
directors are neatly enabled to recommend that the
dividend for ths -yesr ending Dec. 31, 1802, be at the
rate of 31E omit. per annum, free of income tax, on the
ca share of the company, which will akeorb 967 L
17s. 3d, rag a bailees to the credit of the current half-
year of 1031. 10e. 14.
fioellfooES, MAIDSTONE AND TUNBRIDGE RAIL-
wAT.—The directors report that the traffic for the past
half-year has been satisfactory. The double line of rails
to Seveneeks is now completed, and the hoe will shortly
be banded over to the Louden, Chatham sad Dover
Comply, le be worked by that company under their
easement. Arrangements are in progress for rais-
ing the necessary capital for the construction of the
extension to Maidstone, the bill for which was obtained in
the last session of parliament, and it is hoped will he so far
completed es to admit of ths comrosecement of the works
early in the opting of this yam. On the opening of this
line
Bl= mansion of traffic may be expected.
SLEANOHD, AND MIDLAND COUNTIES
li•ri.war..—PThe report of the directors shows the total
earniagi for the halt-year ending 31st Dec. toilers been
10,5331. la 9d., beteg a slight imeseme es composed with
those of the oomespondieg pried is 186 L A rowan-
tioa ha asbesitted -to tbs perigee* to mama
the forilitan of certain share in the company,
which have already been declared forfeited by the board,
and to authorise the directors to dispose of the shame in
inch manses' as may be deemed desirable for the basal of
the compeny. From the dispomble balance of 3,0601.
6s. 4d., rushing to the credit of the revenue account, after
payment of the debenture interest and other charges, the
directors recommend the &dandies of a dividend of 3s. 3d.
par share, for the half-year ended the 31st Dee., 1862.