The Express.
London, England, 1847-01-30 00:00:00

fiteturers, and traders of the whole town were involved is
this question. They would all admit how much the railways
had extended the traffic and trade of the town, and were
anxious enough that the system should be still further devel-
oped; hut he was also an advocate for competition. Itcould
not be denied that very many of the trades of the town had
been fostered, if not altogether created, by low rates of
freightage; raw materials were brought into the town, there
manufactured, and afterwards again shipped from their sea-
ports. Merchants would bear him out in the assertion that
a little addition to the rates of freightage would completely
throw them out of the foreign market (or certain descriptions
of goods ; already the cost of couveyance of heavy goods to
the coast was actually greater than the cost of carriage across
the Atlantic The speaker next adverted to the probabi-
lity of on amicable arrangement taking place between
the London and North Western and (heat Western
oompanies, consequent on which those two powerful
interests would divide the plunder between them, to the
great injury of the carrying, trailing, and manufacturing
community. With a prospect of such a monopoly, it bshoved
the public to interfsre ; and, after mature consideration, it
had been considered that the best plan would be, for the
canal proprietors to keep their canals open ; and that appli-
cation for assistance should he made to government which
would undoubtedly assist them They were anxious onlyto
cornet railway abuses; and to erect this, they must have their
hands strengthened by a combined movement on the part of
the trading and manufacturing interest. Many g• ntlemeu,
like himself, were anxious that the efficiency of railways
should nut be injured ; but unless the directors of tho-e esta-
blishments weremade fully sensiblethat the public possessed
other means for the transmission of their merchandise than
by raihrne, they would be ton apt to contult private interest
instead eithe public gond. Mr. Lloyd concluded by mos ing
so a resolution" that the serious attention of the government
should be directedto thefuet of the enormous amalgamation of
[ railway companies with each other, which are, in the opi-
nion of this meeting, matters of grass importance, not only
to merchant., traders, and manufactur• rs, but to the public
at large, inasmuch as such amalgamations tend to creme an
absolute monopoly, by placing under the absolute control of
the tow individual; composing the directorsof a railway com-
pany, the only existing means of transport, both of passen-
gers and goo&, and without the possibility of competition."
This resolution was unanimously caroled, as was also one
moved by W. Blewea, Esq., and seconded by S. Irillock,
Esq., to the r fleet that it was expedient that strenuous exer-
tions should be made to maintain the canals of the United
Kingdom, and to prevent canal companies amalgamating
with railway companies, in all cases where the particular
canal forms a link in the eh sin of canal communication.
Subsequent resolutions were carried, condemnatory of the
inequality of the tolls levied by canal etmpanies, any recom-
mending an uniform and reduced rate of tolls; further re-
commending to the attention of the canal proprietor. the
consideration of the hest means by which the traffic
and transit on their linos might he improved. The last
resolution, moved by F. Clarke, EA., was, "That great dis-
appointment as regards want of punctuality, low, and da-
mage of goods carried on railways, having been experienced;
this meeting considers it essentially import:cut to the inte-
rests of the merchants, traders, and manufacturers of the
kingdom, that canal communication for the carriage of heavy
goods should be maintained," and the meeting further
pfettgeil its. If to encourage the employment of water in pre-
ference to railway carriage for such purpose. A petition to
parliament was adopted, embodying the spirit of the reso-
lutions.