The Express.
London, England, 1863-08-25 00:00:00

LONDON. CHATHAM, AND DOVER.

The directors report to the shareholders that the
traffic receipts during the pest half-year have been Betide&
tory, showing an hie-ream in the coaching of 45 per cent., and
is the goods of 40 per cent. over the corresponding period
of 1842, and that, notwithstanding the falling off in the
eiratineutel traffic, which was unusually large last year, is
consequence of the Exhibition. The directors, however.
regrets° ai.y that this macrame has not benefited the revenue,
in oonseijoance of the large amount which was necessarily
expend= in earning it. This was owing principally to the
facts that the company had no City terminus, that they had
to pay tope sums to the Brighton Company for running
Over their West-end line, and that having only a tempo-
rary goods terminus at Battersea, they were put to so tattle
so expense in carting goods to the City, as quite to absorb
any profit that might have been expected from that traffic.
The company have also been obliged to organise a large
establishment for the accommodation of the traffic win=
may be expected when the system is completed, arid • very
large aili!ittemal traffic may be carried on without increasing
the expense in anything like the same proportion. The
directors have sneeseded in effecting a ociiraiderable reduc-
tion in the expenditure, a subject to which they have given
their earnest attendee. The receipts on the metropolitan
extensiots have ale* been satisfactory considering their in-
eompleteneen ; for, although only opened for traffic between
Victoria and the Elephant and Castle, the receip= have
averaged above 901. • =lea week, for the six months. Since
the open ior to Beckenham, the receipts have averaged above
1.731. • mile • weak, and last week they reached nearly 1501.
The metropolitan extension was opened from Beckenham
to Victoria sad the Elephant and Cards on the Ist July
last. It was hoped that the Blackfriare station would have
been completed by the Ist September amt, but some un-
foreseen difficulties have arisen which will delay the opening
for ashen period. The bridge is being carried on with an
menu which leaves so doubt of its completion in the
awing of next year. The directors are informed that the
second line of rails from Faversham to Herne Bay, sod the
doable line from Herne Bay to Margate will be opened on
the 21.1 proximo, and the line to ilsoiapte is the following
mouth. Arrangements have been made at once to com-
mence the junction between the company's line at Earl-
street and the Farringdoo statiou of the Metropolitan Rail-
way, and to complete the same by Jane of next year.
The bill they introduced into parliament for improving the
approaches to Victoria station, and also for constructing •
line to Greenwich, has received the royal assent. The pro.
prietors will remember that the Brighton Company have
agreed to subscribe 120,0001. (being one-half of the coed
towards the construction of two additions] heed of railway
from Victoria station to the south side of the river, in-
eluding a new bridge over the Thames. Upon their com-
pletion the existing lines will be handed over to the Brighton
mpany, and the new lines will be devoted exclusively to
the traffic of this and the (heat Western Company. The
Great Western have agreed to contribute in the shape of
sent to the ooastracSon of the proposed lines, in proportion
to their user of them. 'rite board have given orders Inc
making the working surrey and peeper* the notice plans,
and no time will be lost in conimmicang Si. works. The
engineer has also been instructed to make the working sur-
vey and prepare the notice place for the construction of the
Greenwich line. This line will be made with capital raised
exehuively on the security of the line itself. By strums-
meets with the South Eastern Railway Company the board
have secured running powers over ,that company's line to
Blackheath and Woolwich, so that • large traffic
from those places, as well es feces Grerearrich
and Lewisham will be brought over the company's
railways and into their Vicrona and Blackfriars static=
The sha-nholders will remember that the directors intro-
duced a till into parliament last session for constructing a
line fr,ra their Metropolitan Extension at Herne-hill by
Streatham to Sutton and Epsom, the Brighton Company
promoting a line in the same direction. By agreement with
that company this company's bill wee withdrawn, Si.
Brighton consenting to arrangtineata for through booking,
without change of carriage, for traffic from Spawn and the
intermediate places. Mr. Hoiroyd having !missed the
office of aacretary to the company, the directors, with Si.
view of still securing the terriers of that gentleman, beg to
suggest to the proprietors that he should be elected to the
vacant seat at the board. The board have appointed Mr.
Johnson. late the acconatant of the company, to be secretary
la the place of Mr. Holroyd.

KaNT COAST RAILWAY.—The directors report
that the traffic on the opened portion of the line
between Faversham and Hens Ray has been most
satidactory, showing an Increase of 4021. over the cor-
responding half-year of 1813, or at the rate of 373
permit. The double line between Beene Hay and Margate
and the second line of radii between Favenham and Berne
Day will be opened on the lit proxhno, am originally eastern.
ed; but the diroctore re,prot wends that for may beyond
ooetrol the line to Ramsgate will not be completed by
the same period, but the directors anticipate that the delay
in opening this portion will not exceed a month. Upon the
eompletion of the rulsay to Margate and Ramsgate the
Imee to the London, Chatham, and Dover Com-
pany rouse into operation. The engineer reports that
during the past six mouths the works at all points hove
been carried on with great energy. On the first section
(Favenbam to Herne Bay) the second line of permanent
way has been laid sod the ballasting is in a forward state,
the only other work necessary to complete the double line
being the platform sod arrangements at Whitstable ; them
&moos tabbed. Between Herne Bay and Margate the
whole of the wenn are, complete, the 1 permanent way laid
and partially ballasted, and the stations are rapidly ap-
proaching completion. Oslo' to the repeated modifications
required by the enriceer to the Bowl of Trade in the plans
submitted to him for the sea wall at Ramage* the coo-
tractors have been seriously retarded at this point ; and as
the material required for the Ramsgate station ;trotted and
esplanade had to be obtained from the tunnel, the last.oamed
work was necessarily delayed until the arrangement, were
complete. From the time that the engineer was enabled to
give, the contractor, kid instructions in the matter they
have made the meat etrenuotis exertion; and would, it was
believed, hare finished the work by this time had it not
here for the difficul'v of obtaining men at this period of
the year. There still remains a coosielerable quantity of
chalk is the side, of the tunnel, to remove which and com-
plete subsequent operation of laying and ballasting the
.
neat
way will require some weeks. No difficulty is
ris opening the line as far as Narrate on the let
proximo. Unusual mottos to inspect the line havingbem
meet to the Board of Trade.

SET ia/OAKS, MAIDSTONE, AND TONBEIDOE RAIL-
wAT. —The directors report that the traffic during the past
half-year has been sitisfaeory. Thu total receipts for the
put year, being the first year of working, amount to 5,17 u/.,
betcg at the rate of rather more than 12/. per mile per week,
and this from the traffic only between Sevenoaks and the
west end of London. NVlen the City and goods termini of
the London, Chatham, and Dover Compeer are completed
a large secession of receipts may be expected, and these will
fie stAl further increased when the Lewisham sod Tonbridge
use of the South Resters is completed, by which a large
pwtiou of the traffic from Hastier., Toobridge, and
Toshrhige Walls will be brought over the company's
railway. Up to the present time the London, Chat.
ham, and Dover Company have worked the line et cost
price, but the double line haring been completed and
banded over to the London, Chatham, arid Dover Contrary
os the lot instant, that cornany will in future receive only
raper tent. of the gross receipts to cover all charges except
rater trod taxes end direction soil office expenses. A mango-
Inee'r ..rc is progress for commends; the junction lice with
theSunth Eastern Railway, so that it may be completed at the
same times' that compiny's line from Lewisham to Tor
bridge now in coarse of construction. The directors
farther repots that Mr. Hoiroyd has reeigned the office of
seeretary to the company, and in order to retain that
gentleman's valuable services beg to suggest to the pro.
orient" that he should he elected to fill the vacant neat at
the bawd. Immediately after the proceedings of the
genii meeting sr* concluded, the meeting will be made
special for the purpose of raising the sum of 96.000/, under
the powers of the Simenoaks Railway Act, 1862.

SuLTH K&NRINGTON MUNKUH.—During the weed
ending Assust ?2 the visitors hays been at follows :—On
Moods', To.weday, and Saturday (free days). opes from 10
e.m. tall 10 p.n.., 8,273. pre Wedsesday. Thursday, and
'silty (stacked.' days, admission to the path& fid.), open
frees 10 a.m. till 6 p.m., 1.043. Total, 9,316. From the
',swag of the Ifuseurn, 4,192.087.
ONAMIAL PA.L•Ci. OSZ SHILLING DAY. --
MONDAY, Ammar .14.—Adinisaya he psymeat, 6,416;
*Pe by snow timbals. 751 ; Was 7,167.