The Express.
London, England, 1853-09-13 00:00:00

CALEDONIAN RAILWAY.

The report by the directors to thehalf-yearly general
meeting at the company, to be held at Glasgow, With Sep-
tember, as follows:
The roretthe for the half year to 31st July, 1853, is not
Inferior to that of the preceding six months, but the addi-
tional number of miles run, advanced rate of wages, and
higher prices of materials, have considerably augmented
the working charges. On a comparison, however, with the
**responding period of 18.52, the per claime of expendi-
bare is very little Increased. The Nuance for division is
47,2341. 11.. 2d.; of this the preference stock dividend
Woes, 15,618/. 15s. 75. ; leaving 31,5851, 15e. 7d. ; out of
which tha directors fee mound payment of a dividend oa
the ordinary stock at the rate of 2 per cent. per annum,
31,0201. 10'.; carrying over to next account, 565/. 51. 7d.
The reduction of the passenger fares on the Greenock line
has fully realised the expectations of the directory, the
drawings having exceeded by 3,5001 those of the cone.
spending six months of lest year; and this notwithstanding
some imperfections in the steamboat service in connexion
with the :rain., which it is intended shall be remedied next
lemon. list on the whole the experiment has been suer
cessfal. A good deal of siding and other accommodation
has been provided, but much remains to be done to meet
the requirements of the growing traffic, end it has been
bond afteseery to sanction a further expenditure of about I
45,000/. fir terminal and other important stations. The
most eonsiderable of thole immediately to be executed will
ke atCarstairs Junction, when the traffic converges from
all point., and where the want of adequate accommodation
has long been seriously felt. The directors have been
scrupuluu.ly careful to avoid any expense that could be
spared, with due regard to the trade, and they believe
ambleg has been incurred or ordered which will not con-
duce to the better and more economical working
of the raiiway. Additional plant has been placed
upon the line at a cent of 26,000/., and more is being
supplied as fast as it can be turned out; but the traffic
*trews so rapidly that the greatest exertions are required
to keep p.ce with it. The original goods agency contract
having terminated on the 31st of July, a five years' cartage
Mffeement has been entered into with Mews. Pickford and
o. of L'ndon, and Mr. George Gordon, of Glasgow. The
arrangement is calculated to effect a considerable saving of
expense, and it promises generally to work well. All the
renewal. of debentures during the lialf.year have been
effected at 3i per cent. By the settlement of the disputes
with the Dundee and Perth, and the Glasgow General Ter-
minus Companies, are terminated all law suits which have
been eendimi between the Caledonian and ether rail-
ray companies. The instructions of the general meet-
ing of the 15th of June last are being carried out
the msnagement and working of the Caledonian and
Edinburgh and Glasgow railways being now in the hands
of one set of officers, directed by • joint committee of the
two boards. The traffic is thus regulated fairly in terms of
the agreement; and the experience already gained war-
rants every confidence in the alliance, as a beneficial mea-
sure for both concerns. The Haymarket Junction at the
Edinburgh end has been nearly completed, and the Edin-
burgh and Glasgow Company mean to proceed at once with
the coesecting branch at Oissgow. One station at either