The Express.
London, England, 1851-01-29 00:00:00

EAST LANCASRIRE RAILWAY.

The report of the directors of this company, to be
laid before the half-yearly general meeting of the share-
holders on Friday next, with the usual statement of accouuts,
affords the following particulars;
It appease that the total disbursements on capital account
during the half year ending 1860 amount to 129,322:. This
had been paid undor the heads ahown in the estimate for
completing the railway, and all expenditure on capital ac-
count had been confined substantially to the matters embraced
by that estimate. It is announced that several important
claims affecting the capital account have been closed since
the lest oruinary meeting ; whilst the Lancaster and Preston
shore account his been closed, and the anticipated roes of
8,271/ reduced to 3031. The principal matter. affecting the
capitol account still open are the claims of the Lancashire and
Yorkshire Railway Company, in respect of the joint stations
at Manchester and Liverpool; of the North Union proprietors
on the Preston station ace iunt ; and the demands of
the contractors (now under arbitration) on the Barnleyeon-
tract, nine miles; the Preston extensiou contract, 3J miles,
and for the erection of tie Preston station. This fail &d-
-lament of the station accounts had been impeded by the
.e,siteultv which the directors had experienced in getting the
joint stations divided; but tne mummy whs in amuse, or
removal, and the railway commissioners had, within the
present month, finally settled the appropriation of the Liver-
pool stations.
The general ue account shows a nett profit of 26,1451.,
after payment of all fixed charges for the past Leff year
and the directors propose that a dividend after the rate of
21 per cent, per annum should be declared on the ordinary
share capital of the company ; and the balance of 3,875/.
carried to the reserved fund, in oreer to provide fur any
future contingencies affecting traffic.
The report further atates that the per centage of ordinary
working expenses had been diminished ; and the general traffic
of the railway had upoa the whole met the expectations of the
board. The directors are of opinion that the resourois el the
line were gradually unfolding themselves, and that the main
difficulties in the way of is future improvement are in the
counts of removal. The gross receipts per mile per week
during the half year ending 1850 had been 481. 10s., against
421 lls in the corresponding half-year of 1849, and of 391 in
half.year ending June last. The negotiations opened with
the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Company by the directors, in
connexion with the London and North Western, the Mid-
land, and Lancashire and York,bire boards, has resulted in
an arrangement by which, if sanctioned by the proprietors,
the merchandise traffic of the canal will belong to' the
railway companies, on terms which will be explained at the
special meeting to be held on the 31st instant for taking this
subject into consideration. The existing works were in a
satisfactory state of repair. The directors call special atten-
tion to the necessity of completing the extension of the
branch from Newchurch to &amp. In order to avoid expen-
sive and fruitless litigation, the board has been from time to
time compelled to purchase the land required for the line, until
at length the whole of it is in the possession of the company,
at a cost of 14,1551 ; _ the powers of the act for constructing
this portion of the railway will expire in the month of July,
1853. The coat of completing this extension, exclusive of the
land, is estimated at 52,7001. Th. board have prepared for
introduction into parliament a bill to enable the company to
increase its borrowing powers and re-inane its forfeited shares;
and in which it is also proposed to take powers for the conso-
lidation of the shares into stock ; the better management of
the joint line and stations at Liverpool, and to impose a toff
on traffic using that line and stations; to increase the tolls
chargeable on the railway generally, except as to coal, twenty
per cent.; to raise the requisite capital for the redemption of
the filth shares, in June, 1855, in case the proprietors
shall then so determine; and for other minor
matters. The report states, that the directors attach
great importance to that part of the measure be which a
toll is proposed to be charged for the benefit of the joint
owners, on all traffic, using the joint line into Liverpool,
whether that traffic belongs to the Laces/Mire and York-
shire, the Eut Lancashire, or any other company. " The
Lancashire and Yorkshire Company are the owners of about
800 miles of railway as against your 79, and carry atlsast
two thirds of the traffic over the joint line at Liverpool.
This is a state of things so manifestly unfair to your com-
es
remedy the the dievil."reeten rely apes the justice of Parliament
The retiring directors, and who will be proposed for re-
election, are, Messrs. Ashton, Pielden, Kay, and Goodman.
The auditors report little more than the simple fact that
they have carefully examined the accounts and found them
to be correct. The increase in the receipts on the goods de-
partment during the half year was consequent, in a great
meseurs, upon the high rates now receivable on this walk.

DIABOLICAL MISCHIEF.—Rome miscreants last
Friday night pot stones between the points on Earl Oran-
villa's limo of railway betwixt tits ironworks and the canal,
which had the affect of throwing three out of the nine empty
waggons, which were being brought down by two men
shortly before daylight, off the rails. The men, who were
lightly injured, had the charge of the break', and !maths
&arrow's' escape of toeing their liter.—Stalordslure Adver-
tour.

COBRE COPPER COMPANY. -- A meeting of the
elsereholdere el this eampany wee held yesterday, when •
dividend of 31. per share was declared, amounting to
36,0001. from the balance of profits. The quantity of ore
raised to the 30th November last was 16,266 tom, which,
although lees than at the correspooding period of 184%,is
fully compensated bY the superiority of its quality. The
ore sold at public ticketing him fetched. fair price, and,
altogether the affairs of the company are matsatisfactory.The retiring members were reqsleeted. The dividend will
be geld oa and after the 25th febswtrg nut.
SPONTANEOUS Comanenotc.—A bale of oaten was
Le= into one et our histories the other day, and was Jai-
ly after discovered to be on fire The came of the
=kilt wea, that the bale was in part saturated with
011. It was undeabtedirsaturated with oil on ship-
load:raw voyage from New °deans. W. mention the
eirenmstaisse, that mason who Jake cotton, aid linseed sad
tilron New Orisaaa, may be careful, as they would
a the risk of burning ship and cargo, never to Now a
where by any fuestbffity it can by leaking mix
Irak liteceetee. New Orleans papers do will to notice this
661,Evseess Nay Advertiser.

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