The Express.
London, England, 1852-08-20 00:00:00

RAILWAY MEETINGS.

SHREWSBURY AND ABERYSTWITH
RAILWAY.
A meeting of manufacturers and merchants inte-
rested in the formation of a line of railway from Shrews-
bury, through the centre of Wales, to Aherystwith, was
held, at the Royal Hotel, at Birmingham, yesterday, Wil-
liam Scholefleld, Esq., M.P., in the chair. A deputation,
consisting of Mr. Edward Watkins, Mr. John Bethel' (of
London), Mr. Henry Toutal (of Manchester), and other
gentlemen concerned in the promotion of the railway,
attended.

11r. 6CnocnnsLo the chairman, took a rapid glance
at the necessities that existed for this line of rail-
way, and dilated on the advantages that would result from
it, both in social and oontonercial points of view. It would
be the means (he said) of opening an interesting country,
now difficult of access ; places sleeping in a district at pre-
sent almost inaccessible would, by the agency of this rail-
way, be peopled with new life; a part of the country now
visited only by the wealthy would be placed within the
reach of the tens of thousands of industrious artisans of the
district, and would give to them a glimpse of sea coast,
with all its accompanying healthy influences; for this
reuon and for the large advantages which the line offered
in a commercial point of view, he regarded the Shrewsbury
and Aberystwith railway as most deserving of encourage.
went by the people of Birmingham and the surrounding
district.

Mr. WATKINS entered into au elaborate exposition of the
circumstances under which this railway was projected, and
of the probabilities it presented for being successful as
a commercial enterertse. The promoters of this railway
had it in view to make a cheap line in the midst of dear
lines, and to make it pay as well as those dear lines con-
structed through popalous districts. The Shrewsbury and
Aberystwith line would go through the centre of Wales in
a district which for nearly one hundred square miles had
not a single yard of railway. The landowners had offered
the land at agricultural prices. They would be satisfied
with level crowing., and had offered to assist by
every means in their p.wer in the promotion of
the undertaking. Already the land (or upwards of
fifty miles of the line have been provisionally purchased at
a price not exceeding 5501. per mile, whereas he did not
know of any railway existing, even one passing through an
agricultural district, where there were no buildings, where
the oust of the land had been leas than 3,0001. on the mile.
Mr. Brassey, the eminent contractor, had declared that th.
line could be made at a cost not exceeding 10,0001. a mile ;
it was very likely to be done cheaper, and he was one of
thou who believed that cheap railways would yet be made
in districts in this country (u i t America) which needed
them, and they would be found to pay those who embarked
their capital in them. The difficulties of getting to Abe-
rystwith had hitherto been such as almest to make
the district like unto a sealed book, though it
was one of the most beautiful and healthful places
in the country, and was just such a district
as should be opened to the enormous population of this
district. He believed that the line would be constructed
for 750,0001., whereas such lines as the Br ghton, which
cost ten millione, were paying their propr'etors,
it, like the projected Shrewsbury and Aberystwith railway,
being oae of those lines that owed a large portion of its
traffic to the fact of the facilities it presented for affording
health to its population. This new line would also be im-
portant in a commercial point of view, opening up, as it
would, the mineral fields of Central Wales. As this rail-
way was more for the advantage of the district than any
other, he hoped it would meet with the earnest and zealous
support of the residents in the neighbourhood, and little
fear need be entertained of an opposition in parliament.
Mr. Joust Brruett, of London, and Mr. TOOTAL, of
Manchester, afterwards addreas.d the meeting in support
of the project.
JoalPli °mitosis, Esq., of Birmingham, then moved,
and SAM/IL THORNTON, Esq., a magistrate of the bo-
rough, seconded, a resolution letting forth that this railway
would be of great advantage to the inhabitants of the town
and neighbourhood, not only in a commercial point of view,
hut more particularly as affording the shortest and easiest
access to the sea coast, the opportunity for which is so much
desired ; therefore, this project was considered as fully de-
serving of earnest support.
This was carried unanimously.
In moving a vote of thanks to the chairman, Mr.
WATKINS took occasion to remark that this line had the
zealous support of the London and North Western Com•
pany, but this was in no spirit of rivalry, and the Shrews-
bury and Aberystwitb Company invited the co-operation
of all the railway companies of the district.