The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-28 00:00:00

NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY.

The following is the report of the directors, to be
submitted to the half-yearly meeting of the company, to be
heal at the Railway Station, at Stoke-upon-Trent, to-
MOITOW :

.• The traffic for the last half-year, and comparison with
that of the corresponding one in 18,11, shows a steauy
pruners& of the development of the uudertakintr. Tho
rintenue accounts fur the half-year show a net profit, after
paying the interest on the debt and the dividend on the
curial shares, of 211,2(41. Ihs. 3d., which warrants the dime.
tors in recommending a dividend of 3i. per share, together
with the payment of the income tax thereon, leaving a
balance of 3,3121. 2s. 3.1. to be carried to next hallyear's ac-
count. The works of the Ashbourne and Newcastle branches
are in an advanced state, awl they may both be expected to be
open at Midsummer neat. The directors are the more
anxious on this account, as independently of the summer
traffic over the homer, their expectations of a very exten-
sive mineral traffic over the latter branch, gains strength as
the period of opening approaches. Parties are already very
desirous to make contracts for coals from that direction, and
there appears every probability that a material addition to
the number of iror furnaces now at work will follow the
opening of that branch. Immediately after the last general
meeting, negotiations were entered into with the London
and North Western Company, and have been continued
almost up to the present tame, but the directors regret that
they cannot announce a satisfactory result. They lament
this, because their past experience satisfies them that not
only would the accommodation of the public, but the in-
terest of the shareholders of both concerns be greatly pro-
moted by their being worked under one direction sod man-
agement. But though the negotiations with the London
and North Western Company have hitherto failed to lead
to this cline conuesion, it will continue to be the most
anxious desire of the directors to cultivate friendly relations
with that company, and to facilitate, by every means in
their power, the accomplishment of one of the main object.
which the promoters of the North Staffordshire Railway
had in view in projecting the line, and the legislature in
sanctioning it—the establishing of the shortest, u well as
the most canvenient route between London rind IMemehes-
ter. During the progress of the negotiations, the directors,
with the assent of the London and North Waters
Company, gave notice of a biU, of which the object was
to assist in carrying out legally any arrangements upon
which the two boards should agree. This bill, the directors
arc still willing to proceed with, if it should be thought
desirable by both companies. Fur the purpose of protecting
the interest of this company, and securing the independence
of its position, the directors have caused lines to be sur-
veyed from the terminus at Colwich, across the rich mine-
ral
district of Caruock to the Great Western, and Oxford,
Worcester, and Wolverhamptonlines at Wednesbury and
Wolverhampton, and also from the terminus at Sandbach
Ito the Cheshire Junction line near Warrington. It is mat-
ter of thankfulness on the part of the director to state, that
although nearly three millions of passengers have been
conveyed on these lines since the opening, this has been
done without toes of life or limb. Pending the
negotiations with the London and North Western
Company, the proceedings before the arbitrator on
the different points remaining unsettled between 1
the two companies arising out of the agreement
with that company were suspended. The directors have 1
taken measures to resume these proceedings without further
delay. They are unable yet to report the passage of the 1
mails over the line, no:withstanding the efforts of the cum-1
party, assisted by the united support of the very populoes ,
districts between Macclesfield and Longton. They feel,
however, assured this is only a question of time, arid that
no long period can elapse before the course of postal corn-
, munication, instead of being conducted through the thinly
peopled country Letween Colwich and Cheadle in Cheshire, '
' and d' 'buted to the towns comprising a population of
nearly 200.000 souls, by gig posts, and in the 'dead of the
night, will be directed into the natural (hamlet which runs
through the*, towns. The directors cannot conclade their
report without reminding the shareholder; of the solidity of
their position, secured as the line is from encroachment, while
their capital is unencumbered by guarantees. In this respect
the condition of the North Staffonlshire company forms a
singular exception to that of almost every other railway
undertaking in the kingdom. When the directors consider
the steady increase of the traffic, notwithstanding the ma-
nifest obstructions thrown in its way—the fact that in all!
Blinder undertakings where, as in this, the local traMic is
secured from invasion, such increase hes continue) to the
present time—the rapid increase of the manufactures and
population along the line, and the remarkable fertility of
minerals in the district—they do not think they over-rate
its capabilities in affirming their belief that the day will
arrive, and at no distant period, when it may be expected
to take a far higher position among the railway enterprises
of the land."

SOUTH EaSTERN RAILWAT.-4rdio receipt. for
tho week *Ming Jan. 24, 1X62: 10,0624 lc 2d.; ditto
Jan. 2.i, : 9,2481. 9a. 9d. Int:ream in 1842,
8131. 11.. 64.