The Express.
London, England, 1853-08-25 00:00:00

RAILWAYS.

THE BATTLE OF THE GAUGES.
SOUTU DEVON RAILIVA

The ball-yearly meeting of this company was held
at the dike., Plymouth, on Tuesday, at half-pust one
o'clock. There was • large attendence of shareholders ;
THOMAS WOOLLCOMBS, Eq., the chairman, presided.
The reports appeared in the Express of Tuesday.
Thu CHAIRMAN arid that although no larger dividend
wore commended, the directors wore nut disposed to look
upon the general proopect of tbr affairs of the company as
of • discouraging character. lie moved that the report
I shoulki be adopted.
I Mr. W. Fox seconded the adoption of the report of the
directors.

Mr. T. GILL moved as an amendment, that the 10th, 11th,
and 12. h douses of the report of the directors be expunged.*
Mr. T. STEVENS seconded the amendment. lie called
the attention of the beard to the claims of the people of
Poiguton, Brixham, and Dartmouth, to a branch, and salt'
if something were not done to prevent it, the people of
that district would throw their Whatnot into the South
Western scale.

Mr. J. W. BOLLZU, Chairman of the Bristol and Exeter
Railway, in reply to Mr. Gill, denied that the Great
Wet ern had committed any act of aggression. The South
Western had formally given up the district. Although they
had obtained parliatuentuy powers, they had abandoned
the project, and refunded the shareholders their money, and
had, by a majority, di clued against carrying their railway
west of Dorchester. The one thing required to secure the
prosperity of the company and to develop the resources of
Plymouth was united counsels.
Mr. GILL maintained that his view of the egg ssss ion
being on the part of the Great Western was correct.

-The Catmint/ixin~~
replyto Mr.
Gill, quoting Ivan the minutia of the board and published
papers to show thot in many particulars Mr. Gill at one
time advocatid what he now opposes, and vice arse.
Some personalities were used during the discussionwhich
followed, which we shall not attempt to report, because we
think they ought not to have been indulged in.
In reply to the remarks of Mr. Stevens,
The CHAIRMAN said he believed there was a disposition
in the district of Brigham and Dartmouth to make an ef-
fort to serene the brancn thither next year. The South
Devon anted were quite ready to assist as they were
able. He further defended the arrangement as to the te-
legraph.
On putting the amendment, the numbers were—for, 1 ;
against, a The resolution fur adopting the report was
unanimously adopted.
The CHAIRMAN moved that dividends at the rate of 4s.
per share be paid.
Mr. Hamra said, with a sigh, he was sorry it was no
more. _ _

1 he resolution was thee adopted.
On the motion of Mr. W. PRANCZ, thanks were voted to
the chairman, who having briefly acknowledged, the meet-
ing separated.
-

• 10. The rejection of the South Devon and Tavistock Bill
by the committee of the House of Lords hes been too recent
to afford its promoters time to decide en the measures which
may be necessary to take in the next session of parliament,
but it is understood that the South Devon and Tavistock
Bill will be again introduced, and, the sunject in all its
bearings will be most carefully considered by the directors,
who will be anxious to forward any arrangement compatible
with tha fair interests of this company which may tend to
afford facilities to parties having a bona fide intention to
promote a great public improvement.
It. It will hardly be necessary to point out to the share-
. holders in this company that the aggressive policy of the
London and South Western Company, now again directed
towards this locality, is mutt inconsistent with the earnest
manuer in which the proprietors of that company are in-
vited by the recent report of their directors to support the
exclusive interests of Southampton. This aggressive policy
has obtained a certain measure of support in Plymouth, and
the divisions thus created have led to the diversion from
the port of Plymouth of a large portion .of the emigration
formerly carried on there, and for the time have partly
deprived it of the benefits arising from the arrival and
departure of Ocean steamers. The public interest has thus
been sacrificed, and although the railway traffic, as will be
seen from the accounts, has still increased from other
sources, there can be no doubt that the general commercial
interests of Plymouth have suffered. Can it he supposed
that the parties who, availing themselves of weakness,
caused by internal dissension, have been active in inflicting
this injury on the port of Plymouth, will now be sincere in
promoting any schemes whereby it may be enabled to
regain its loot advantages, or to rival that particular
locality in which the immediate interests of the South
Western Company are confessedly centralised ?
12. The directors hope that these considerations will
have due weight, and that all interests, which, it thoroughly
combined, would be irresistible, will become united in ex-

tending dims encouragement to 'the exertions of those who
are already deeply concerned in the welfare of Plymouth,
and whose views, in promoting any fresh undertaking, can,
therefore, only be directed to the advancement of its pros-
perity, and the improvement of its natural advantages.

EAST KENT RAILWAY.

The first general meeting of the proprietors of this
railway was held reatvrder at the London Tavern, Bishops-
gate street.

' The Right Hon. S. R. LUBHINOTON took the chair, pro.
' !ens., and moved that Lord Sondes be elected a director and
chairman of the company, which was agreed to unani-
mously, and his lordship having taken his seat as chairman,
presided over the meeting during the remaining buoiness.
The following report was then read by Mr. HOLROYD, the
secretary
The directors have great pleasure at this the first
general meeting of the company, in congratulating the pro-
prietors on the pining of the set by which the important
district of East Kent will at length be supplied with that
railway ee
accommodation of which ie has bn so lng d-
•
rimed. The South Eastern Railway Company o
havineg
offered an unexampled but ineffectual opposition to the bill
on standing orders, were unable in committee to contend
against the weight of the just claims of the promoters, and
therefore withdrew their opposition upon the East Kent
Railway Company substituting facilitation clauses for the
running powers over their lines as originally inserted in the
bill. The directors have also the pleasure to inform the share-
holders, that in pursuance of the directions of the com-
mittee in the House of Lords to whom the South Eastern
Company's &rood and Maidstone Bill was referred, before
which the directors appeared in protection of your interests,
an undertaking has been given by the South Eastern Rail-
way Company under their common seal, sad recorded in
the House of Lords, that they will not in any future ses-
sion offer any opposition to the passing of any bill that may
be introduced into parliament for the purpose of authorising
the construnion of a line of railway from Canterbury to
Dover. The directors have great satisfaction in stating
that the careful examination of the traffic now existing be-
tween Strood and Canterbury which the proceedings in
parliament rendered neeemary, leave no doubt that the
receipts of the East Kent Railway will be such as to yield a
highly satisfactory dividend on the capital expended inde-
pendently of the certain sources of increase. The traffic
that will flow over the East Kent line from the lines of the
South Eastern Railway Company, as well as that which has
been so long diverted from its natural channel, and now
pima by the circuitous route of Reigate and Ashford, to
Canterbury, Ramsgate, and Margate, will doubtless be
vary considerable, and when account is taken of the
Impulse that will be given to those latter places, by
bringing them upwards of twenty miles nearer to the metro-
polis, and by increased facilities of railway communication,
it may be safely anticipated that this line will prove as In•
mummifies as any in the country, and will ultimately be-
fore long tarry a very large portion of the continental
traffic. The directors are determined to lose no time in
commencing all the heaviest portions of the works for which
the permanent surveys are already advancing, and they
have little doubt but that ie • few months considerable pro-
gress will be manifest. 'Their object will be so to proceed
with the works as to produce • return at the earliest pm-
sible period, and they see no reason why the line should
not be open for traffic in less than two years. The bridge
across the Medway will be commeaced forthwith, the act re-
quiring that the foundations of the opening passage shall be
completed in twelve months, and the foundations of the
bridge within eighteen months. In consequence of the
opposition offered by the South Eastern Company parlia-
mentary expenses incurred have been unneceaaanly
creased, bat the directors congratulate the shareholders on
the fact that the whole expenses incurred up to the present
time, so far as they have been able to ascertain them, with
the exception of land valuations which form • charge on the
purchase of the land, do not exceed the sum of 22,00 W.,
which sum includes a considerable sum paid for the ex-
penses of former sessions."
The report having been unanimously adopted,
Alderman Salomens was elected a director and deputy-
chairman.

The following gentlemen were also re-elected memben of
the direction :—The Right Hon. S. R. Lushington, Thomas
R. Crampton, Charles J. Hilton, Chu. M. Lushinttton, John
Scott, W. Beholetield, M.P., Henry Tootal, B. Twopenny,
Meted Wilson, Esqrs., and Sir John M Tylden.
Mr. F. Bradly Hum and Mr. J. E. Colman were elected
auditors.

Resolution were carried, granting 6001. to the directors
for their past services, and 1,0001. a year for their future
services, 3001. a year as the secretary's salary.
Thanks were then voted to the chairman and the other
members of the board, and a similar compliment having
been paid to the solicitors, Messrs. Fresh&ld and Co., the
meeting separated.

MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD, AND LINCOLN-

SHIRE RAILWAY.

increase, while the passenger traffic is progressing satis-
fucterily. The comparison of working expenses shows en
increase in dn• present half-year of 3,5491. Bs. Ild., but
of this awn an excess of 1,396/. 10s. Ild. appears uuder the
head or maintenaeee of way, and has been incurred in
carrying out the rtnewals of the line, referred to in the
last report. The trAttic at the new dock at Grimsby ex-
hibits a gradual improvement, but the directors, fur the
various reasons stated in their last report, tear that it wilt
be some time before • return will be obtained, cow-
mensurate with the large outlay. There is no doubt
that a much larger truffle might already have been secured
between the port of Grimsby sod the continental ports, if
the company had been able to arrange for a more extended
packet service, and as this traffic would have passed over
the whole length of the line, it would have proved very re-
munerative. The value of the merchandise traffic to and
front Grimsby station in the first half-year of 18.52, was
6,0371.25. 7a., against 12,6221. 2s. 7d., in the same period of
the present year, which may be regarded, to some extent,
as an index to the future; and the directors continue
equally aaaguine of the ultimate prosperity of this port.
At the same time the directors have pleasure in remarking
that the traffic of the company to and from hull has also
' increased. The coal traffic shows an apparent falling off
of 3,0911., but this is accounted for by the repeated strikes
of the colliers for advance of wages, and in consequence of
several of the pits Ming inundated by floods ; alai by the
loss of the Great Northern traffic over the Leverton branch,
which, in the corresponding period of 18.52, amounted to
3,9751.; yet, notwithstanding these drawbacks, there is an
increase In the local coal traffic of 884/. But ;his is by no
means satisfactory to the iree!ur!, looking at the natural
resources of the line, and the large awl increasing demands
of the different districts through which it passes. The
directors, however, have the pleasure to announce, that

arrangements of • very satisfactory character 'have
been concluded with some of the enalowners, and pits
are now being sunk, which will ensure a large supply of
coal. Tee traffic of the canals shoes a considerable in-
crease, as, although the profits do not appear greater than
in the corresponding period of last year, it must be remem-
bered that in that period a sum of 2,0001. was received fur
supply of water to the corporation of Manchester, which
has been made up frum ordinary sources of revenue. The
directors have succeeded in their applications to parliament
in the present session for power to capitalise the debenture
debt, for the consolidation of the Manchester and Lincoln
Union shares, and for obtaining a shorter and less expen-
sive access to the town If Barnsley than that authorised by
the act of 1846. A resolution will be proposed to the share-
holders to consolidate the Manchester and Lincoln Litton
shares, is accordance with the above power.. Mr. Ailport
has resigned his appointment as general manager of the
company, which the directors extremely regret. The di-
rectors have also to report that Mr. Stable
having resigned, Mr. Joseph Guy has been appointed
to succeed him as law clerk to the company.
The question of the traffic arrangements of the company,
both present and prospective, has had the particular atten-
tion of the board during the past half-year, and negotiations
have been in progress with other companies. with • view to
improving the position of this company', undertaking.
These negotiations the directors regret to say have not
been attended with any successful results ; but the special
attention of the board, with that of the committee of con-
sultation, continues to be directed to this important sub-
ject. The directors have been able to reduce the interest
upon the bonds which have fallen out during the belt-year
from 5 per cent. to rates ranging between 3f and 41 per
cent., and thus, although a larger amount bas been bur-
rowed than in he corresponding period of last year, the
total interest is less. The whole of the interest upon the
debenture debt has been this half-year charged to revenue.
In the corresponding period of last year 6,1831. was
charged to capital in respect of unproductive works. The
directors recommend that one half-year's dividend be paid
upon the 6!. preference shares, which will leave a balance
of 3,5301. 15e. to be curled to the next account."

LANCASTER AND CARLISLE RAILWAY.

Statement of traffic account for the half year
ending July 31, 1853.-Disbursements : to Locomotive
power, for London and North Western Railway Com-
pany, 24,6901. 7s. 2d. ; inspectors' and tankraen's wages,
gas, water, &c., 2721. Bs. 100. ; total, 24,8621. 163. o),d.
Maintenance of way : wages of labourers, inspectors, &c.,
4,7961. 14s. lid. ; materials, sleepers, &a., 4161. 4s. 3d. ;
rails, 1,6001. ; repairs of tools, 901. 4s. Bd. ; maintenance of
Carlise Joint Station, 1441. 14s. 3d.; salary of resident en-
gineer, and clerk's wage., 3231. 15s. 6d. ; contingencies,
including locomotive power for ballasting, 2001. ; total,
7,6001. 13s. 7d. Station and building repairs, 731/. 6s. 8.1.
General charges: direction, 6711. 2s 6d. ; audit, 651. 13s. ;
salaries of secretary, accountant, and clerks, 6321 6s. 10d. ;
postage and postage stamps, 241. Bs. ; stationery, account
books, and advertising, 321. 13a. 10d. ; incidental expenses,
petty disbursements, &c., 1601. ss. 71d. ; total,
1,6761. Bs. 91d. ; law charges, 2251. ss. lid. Coach traffic
charges : clearing-house expenses, 6401. Os. 9d. ; superin-
tendents' salaries, 1051. ; salaries of audit clerks, booking
clerks, station masters, and wages of porters (exclusive of
Carlisle Joint Station), 1,0491. Ils. ; wages of guards and
ticket collectors, 6481. 15s. 3d. ; stores, clothing,
coal, gas, 3651. 10s. lid. ; hire of car-
riages, 2,8351. 10s. ; stationery, printing, and tickets,
2041. 14s. Old.; miscellaneous expenses, 831. 141. 91d.;
proportion of Carlisle joint station charges, salaries of super-
intendents, booking and parcel clerks, wages of porters,
police, gas, water, rate., taxes, &c., 6481. 15s. 10d.: total,
6,3811. 121 7d. Merchandise charges: Clearing,-house
ex-
peasea, 3171.115. 4d.; superintendence, 2711. 4s. 2d. ; wages
of clerks, porters, breakamen, &c., 2,432 g. 9s. Old.; stores,
clothing, stationery, and gas, 7371.65. 2d. ; mileage of wag-
goes, 2,3071. 155.; mileage of waggon covers, 1,6841. 465. 64.;
repairs and renewal of waggons, 1,3341. fls.; repairs and
renewal of waggon covers, 1731. 7s. 3d.; paid contractors
for collection and delivery of goods and haulage,
5111.25. Id.; miscellaneous charges, including compensation
and losses, 97/. 14s. Bd. ; total, 9,7671. 13s. lid. Police,
pointsmen, gatekeepers, and signalmen, exclusive of Car-
lisle joint station, 1,0641. 13s. lid. ; rates and taxes, exclu-
sive of Carlo lej snot station. 1,3071. 7a.; government duty,
1,8791. 9s. 4d. ; Electric Telegraph Company, 1831 155.;
total, 3.37 W. lls. 4d.: making the total of the whole ex-
penses, 55.581/. Is. 24. ; to balance, 85,3731. 2s. 31d. ; grand
total, 140,9.54/.35. bid.
Receipts :-By balms brought forward, 7,7111. Os. 51d. ;
cash for passengers, mails, and parcels, 72,6801. 2s. l 11. ;
cash for merchandise, live stock, minerals, &c.,
59,3161. 3s. 7id. ; interest and rents, 1,3171. 10s. 5d.; total,
140,9541. 3s. bid.