The Express.
London, England, 1851-09-15 00:00:00

SOUTII-EASTEILN RAILWAY.

The report of the directors to be presented at the
half-yearly meeting to be held on Thursday next states
that the receipts of the South-Eastern Railway Company
for the half-year ending on the 31st July, 1861, have been
341,924/. 10s. Bd. ; and the working expenses, km the
amount charged uu the fund fur the reproduction of rolling
stock, 138,899/. 12s. 11d., in which amount is included •
sum of 5,6801. 14s. 3d. to be added to the fund for the re-
newal of permanent way. The rates and government duty
amount to 26,980/. 0-. 11d. ; and the rents of the Green-
wich, Canterbury and Whitstable, and lteading, Guildford,
and Reigate railways to 43,3021. 100.; which sums, in addi-
tion to the interest on the mortgage debt and guaranteed
stock of the company, and a provision for bad debts of
I,ollol.—make a total deduction :rum the gross earnings of
253,139.. 19s ; log, together with the amount at the
credit of profit and loss atter providing for the last dividend,
an available balance 01 97,10.1/. sa. Bd.
A COMFAILATIVII STATEMIINT OF Paamaxor.n. TRAI7IC
on different portions of the South-Eastern Railway for the
Ralf-years ending on the 31st July, 18.30, and the 31st July,
1851, shows the following results:
Main Line and liranclies.-48.50: Passengers, 636,895;
140,8211.03.10 d. 1861: Passengers, 740,376 ; 175,0131.14..03.
Increase: I'assengen, 103,481; 34,1:121. 13s. lid.
North Kent Line.-1c1.30 : Passengers, 1,016,067*
60,9211. 2s. 7d. 18.11: l'assengers, 1,363,966 ; 58,5311.145.4 d.
Increase, 1147199 ; 7,5191.11 a. 9d.
Greenwich 19reikels.-1830 Perwessen, 12236.71114
25 5 491.06.7411. 18511 Passenge rs, 1,160,798; 24,16 a. 175.6 d.
Decrease: Passengers, 75,918; 1,3811. 3s. 2d.
Reading, Guildford, said Reigate Line.-18.50: Passen-
gers, 70,537; 7,6991. 10s. 11d. 1851: l'as*ngers, 100,471 ;
8,843/. .3s. 3d. increase: Passengers, 23,914; 1,1481.

14s. 4d.
A similar statement of the Goons TRAFFIC for the same
periods shows au increase in the receipts of 7,921/. Os. Bd.
The total increase in traffic for the last half-year, as com-
pared with the corresponding half-year ending 31st July,
1850, is 52,7951. 4s. ltd.—the through traffic to and from
London and Folkstone and Dover and Ramsgate and Mar-
gate fur the half-year ending on the 31st July, 1850, was, to
and from Folkston and Dover, 51,477/. 12a. lid. ; 31st July,
1851, to and from Folkston and Dover, 74,971/. 18s. 2d.;
increase, 23,4941. ss. Bd.-31st July, 1850, to and from
Itamegate and alargate, 11,4141. 18s. 10d.; 31st July, 1851,
to and front Ramsgate and Margate 10,821/. 195. 2d.; de-
creole, 4V21. 19s. thl. ; making a total' increase of thruugh
traffic to the amount of 22,9011. is. It will be observed,
that the increase of through traffic to Folkston and Dover
last half-year, compared with the preceding half-year, is
23,1941. 4.. lid.
Since the first of May last a special service has
been performed daily betw en London and Paris
by tad trains in correspondence with the steam
ships of the South-Eastern and Continental Steam I'acket
Company, alternately by Fulkstone and Boulogne and by
Dover and Calais; the fanner journey being performed in
ekven hours, and the hitter in twelve hours, when no un-
usual delays take place at tits Custom-house. This service
gave so much satisfaction that a second tidal service—via.'
one by night—has been established since the let of August.
The directors had desired, from the time of the opening el
the French lines of railway, to establish a tidal service; and
they feel confident that the success which has attended it
will ensure its continuance and punctual performance by
their allies, the administrators of the Northern of Fraass
Railway. Every disposition consistent with the extent of
establishment and space at their disposal has been shown ky
the Board of Customs to facilitate the speedy examination
of baggage, both at Full:stone and Dover. At Dover the
Customs baggage examination room has been wholly inade-
quate for the purpose. and has given much ground fur COM. ,
plaint. In completina the company's terminus at Dover
the directors have provided a large and commodious exami-
nation room, which has been placed ut the disposal of
the 11- sad of Customs, and it will be immediately used
iar that purpose by the officers of the revenue. This will
tend to remove all ground of delay and complaint.
What is required, however, to facilitate the traffic between
Paris and Loudon, now conveyed in eleven hours, is, that
the baggage of the passengers making the express journey
from one capital to the other, without stoppage, should be
registered and placed in the control of the railway company
at Paris fur through transmission to London, thus, allowing
It to be moved in bulk, and with celerity, from the trains
at Boulogne and at CARD/ to the steam ships, and in like
manner to be landed and placed in the railway carriages at,
Folkstone and Dover, to be claimed in London only by the
owners when examined by the officers of the revenue. A
similar arrangement has for some time existed in regard to
the traffic from London to Paris; and It seemed to the
directors so irrational that the lit& facility should not exist
on this side of the water, that they, in conjunction with the
administrators of the Northern of France Railway, applied
to the Board of Customs and the Lords of the Treasury to
sanction arrangements for the examinution of baggage at
the London-bridge Terminus. The permission of the
Lords of the Treasury has at length been given to the
measure. This permission has, however, been given in a
restricted manner ; but the signatures of the most influ-
ential bankers and merchants of the City of London to a
petition to the First Lord of the Treasury for this facility
prove to the directors that the voice of the public
in its favour will ensure its continuance for the
express and mail traffic between London and Paris.
The railway from Tonnerre to Dijon opened in July, com-
pleting the railway communication from Paris to Chalons,
and redocing the tune occupied in the transit from London
to Marseilles from 61 hours to 49 hours, and enabling the
whole journey to be made by railway and steam-boat.
First- lass thrimah tickets betsieen London and Marseilles
arc now issued for 61. The amalgamation between the
Northern of Franco Railway and the Boulogne and Amiens
Railway Companies, which has been lately arranged, can-
not fail to be beneficial to the South-Eastern Company, It
is obviously the interest of the united company to forward
their traffic to London, both in passengers and merchandise,
by the must expeditious route.
The portion of the Tunbridge Wells and Ilastinp line
from Tunbridge Wells to Robertsbridge, 151 miles, was
opened for traffic on the Ist of September. This comprises
the most expansive section of the line. From Robertsbridge
to Whatlington, 4 miles, the tunnels, earthwork and brick-
work are complete, and a single line laid. From What-
lington by Battle to St. Leonards, a distance of 6 miles, the
earthwork is heavy, but 740,000 cube yards have already'
been moved-77,000 cube yards remaining to be moved. It
is expected that the whole line may be finished and opened
for traffic by the time fixed by the contract, viz., the middle
of November. It is satisfactory to the directors to be able
to announce that they have made terms with the directors
of the Brighton Company, to prevent competition for the
London and Hastings and St. Leenards' traffic. The per-
manent way and works of the company are in good order.
The Lord Warden Hotel at Dover it already completed,
and ready for occupation. Notice has been given to the
wardens of Dover harbour that all delay in its use, from
this time, must be at their risk, they having allowed the
area adjoining the hotel to be covered with masses of stone
and materials, far the convenience of the works of the pier
constructing by the Admiralty. The directors conceive
that they have reason to complain also of the wardens of
Dover harbour, in allowing the abstraction for that pier of
the shingle, the natural support of the company's terminus
and works at Dover, from eke beach in front of the hotel.
In the course of the half-year twenty new engines and forty
new carriages and waggons have been added to the com-
pany's working stock, at a cost of 65,4811. 17s. ld. ; of this
sum 38,0871. 2s. Bd. has been charged to capital account,
the balance, 27,3941. 14s. 541., has been provided from the
renewal fund. The South-Eastern Company are under
agreement with the Reading, Guildford and Reigate Com-
pany to apply to parliament in the ensuing session for leave
to amalgamate the two companies. Ihe effect of the
amalgamation would be, to relieve the South-Eastern Com-
pany of an annual payment of 3001. for the office expenses
of the Reading, Guildford and Reigate Company. The
Great Western Company are under pledge to parliament
to lay down narrow gauge lines between Oxford and
Basingstoke, which would, in effect, connect Reading with
the northern narrow gauge lines. The directors of the
South-Eastern Company have applied to the directors of the
Great Western Company to know what steps they have
taken, or are taking, to fulfil that pledge. The act of pan
liament authorising the construction of the Augustan
Branch Railway from Charlton to the Thames, was
last session, the works are proceeding rapidly. Tr.:-
crease shown in the goods traffic is gradual, but eatiehe-
tory; the continental goods trails between Folkestone and
Boulogne assumes every year IMO ineporteets. The ate-
blishment at Ashford already supports nearly three thousand
inhabitants, including the workmen and their families. A
church and schools are needed there, and the directors trot
the proprietors will sanction • reeessabie expenditure to
provide them.
During the half-year, 22,1111. 6e. U. had been received
of arrears of calls, 143,437 i. Bs. 4d. reniering due; and
while the directors have been meet unwilling to take pro-
wrap anew proprietors in orear, erect but think
thatT dr ettee affueded bee been pranged.
he disaless reanatond a dividend to be yor
the hut bailees of la per eleare, which, with the dividend
of lia per ohms hr the reorlag half-year, will make a
dividend fier the whole year at the rate of 3 per cent. per
annuls on the eassolidated meek et the
The direetas do not raped the istereet=thee him
plea is the antinental teak duriagthe viz mamba erase
on the 61st July as in say way el_ .. treeedlerry, sr to be at-
tributed eddy se the Gnat Unbar. On dr sentrary.
=
of near that the iheilitlee rah have been este.
will amen • *tin feethereredegnent a sentinental
tzar by the dualeareseet Itedway, eel win prove of per.
assent bloat to the einveifi—(illiped) Jeers ILo.
asses, Cbdifeene•--$lO. I.
The eseenet to the list of July shows that
tor lei bees esselvel. rid 9,911,301 i. ezganding—.
ngl.
en the mole Bee sad Briokleanee' Aste
i 5,1111,4111. albs XeetielLeet. Greenedijitemb.
sad Laois seeder I.3argesmat ; 106.9581. on the Whs.
SUM bartb•lNt Ma bomb ; 610,1331. on the lesenceive de-
serrest ; 1.1,11481. en the Maidstone branch; 11111,3971. ea
Us AMIN& to Canterbury, Rainegete, Margate, Whitstable