The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-09 00:00:00

LAWRENCE HEYWORTrt, Esa., opt RAILWAX

REFORM

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIME.S

Sir,—l have not the report of Mr. Heyworth's speech
at the meeting on the subject of railway reform before
me; and I must, therefore, assume that he is correct in
stating.tin: his reply to my last letter, that he did not
make any observation to the effect that he thought the
legislature ought not to permit competing lines, such
as the two from this place to Southport. Whether he did
so or not, however, is not of much consequence, as the
whole tenor of his argument, both at the meeting and in
his communication to you, plainly point in that direction•
Farther than this I do not perceive that I am called upon
to make any very lengthened remarks on his letter, since
he has rather endeavoured to overpower me by invective,
than convince me by sound reasoning,--a course in which,
as I only endeavour to eliminate the truth for the benefit
of shareholders as well as the public, I must beg to
decline to follow him.

In saying, as Mr. Heyworth does, that the Lancaster and
Carlisle Company owe their present favourable condition
to non-extension, I apprehend he is quite as correct as he
is the reverse when he says it is also owing to an absence
of competition. It is true that as regards the traffic pro-
per to the line, so to speak, which is that between the
two towns, there is no competition, but without extrar
neous aid this traffic would never have sufficed to call so
expensive a line into existence at all ; and, therefore, when
we look at its means of sustenance we find that it IS
actually exposed to no small amount of rivalry. A large
amount of this sustenance is derived from the passenger
and goods traffic from Liverpool and London to Scotland,
at both of which places it comes into contact, indirectly,
with numerous competitors for the traffic which supports
it, in the shape of the different steam-ship companies and
the lines to the north on the east coast, so that it is not
correct to assume that the Lancaster and Carlisle Com-
pany are prosperous, ou account of their not being exposed
to competition. The true causes of their prosperity are.
that the directors (although a body of country gentlemen)
have conducted their affairs in a plain and businesslike
manner, closed their capital account on the completion of
the line, have avoided litigation and parliamentary ex-
penses, and above all, have strictly adhered to the princi-
ple of non-extension and non-amalgamation ; and I appeal
even to Mr. Heyworth himself to say whether, had the
directors of any of the great lines whioh are now so ruin-
ously depreciated in value followed a similar sound and
sensible system of management, their properties would be
in the deplorable position they are now in ?
I cannot, however, avoid again saying that Mr. Hey-
worth still violates the principles of free trade when he
urges that it is
.unprincipled to construct new and com-
peting lines, because the powers of those already le
existence are not exhausted. The Bank of England would
be quite capable of conducting the whole commercial
business cf the country, yet it is exposed to struggle with
innumerable competitors ; nor would it be beyond the
power of the Electric Telegraph Company to transmit all
our telegraphic despatches, yet the legislature has mac-
Honed many and successful rivals?

Nor is there any reason to be alarmed at the abstrac—
tion, as Mr. Hey worth terms it, of the large amount of
capital that would be required in the construction or
competing lines of railway. Capital will always flow into
those channels that appear to offer it the fairest promise
of profitable investment, and, therefore, so far from its
being abstracted in such a case, it is legitimately employed
as it would be in any other manner, either in the forma-
tion of steamships, banks, telegraphs, or such adventures.
And in such eases I:doubt not but that competition would
be attended with its usual beneficial results, for I have
yet to learn that railway business is so entirely different
in its nature from all other business, that the law of
wholesome competition conducted on business-like
principles, will not produce the same good with regard
to it as it does in all others. But I strenuously protest
against Mr. Hey worth's assuming, that because I urged
the desirability of competition in all instances, that,
therefore, I wished for an 'inprincipled competition. I
expressly stated that my opinion was in favour of com-
peting lines, conducted on sound and business-like
principles, and those principles I need hardly state are,
And can only be, those of the strictest honour and
integrity.

His continuance of my illustration of the rival drapers
is unfortunate, for where a draper opens a second shop in
the same street, it cannot be said that he is encountering
competition, for there can be no competition where there 4
are no competitors. and here, as there would be no com-
petitors, there could be no competition. And where
Jones sets up in the same :street as Robinson and
endeavours to take away his custom by underselling him,
it cannot be considered as a wholesome competition
conducted in a business-like manner, but rather, as
reckless folly ; but, if Jones sees an opening in the same-
street offering fair encouragement, either through the
extravagance or carelessness of Robinson in conducting his
business, or his ignorance of it, (and is not this the ease.
with the depreciated railways ?) he at once commences
for himself without at all troubling himself to inquire
whether Robinson's powers for supplying the neighbour-
hood were exhausted or not, whilst no one woul t think
of accusing him of being unprincipled for doing so.
In conclusion, I will briefly allude to Mr. Heyworth's
sneer at myself and those like me who put forth their
contributions anonymously. Were I commenting upon
Mr. Heyworth's veracity or honour, or upon any subject
jersonal between us, then he would undoubtedly be fully
ustified in calling upon me to lay aside my reserve, and
which I would then promptly do. But, when I are
arguing upon a matter on account of its great public,
importance, and endeavouring to promote the benefit or
the community at large, as wed as of those moreldirectly
interested, it is quite competent to me to appear un Icr
nom-deluerre or not, as may suit my pleasure, since their-
being written anonymously, can in no way affect either
the force of my arguments or the justice of my conclusions.
And when I remember that the public opinion of the
freest and greatest nations of the world is so ably
expounded by an anonymous, but unimpeachable press, I
am well content sir, to be numbered amongst its ranks.--1
am, sir, yours, &c., QUASIMODO-
Liverpool, Feb. 6, 1856.

NARROW ESCAPE OP TEE RECJRDER OF LorpoN.—On
Wednesday, in the New Court, a man named George
Tillon, was convicted of burglary, and untenced by the
Recorder to six years' penal servitude. The fellow, on
hearing the sentence, drew from big pocket a large lump
of coal, and threw it, with the greatest force and preci-
sion, at the head of the learned gentleman. Fortunately
the Recorder escaped the intended injury. The prisoners
are for the future to be searched before being placed in
the dock,

FOUR LIVES SAVED BY THE FIRE ESCAPE.-011 Wed-
nesday morning, shortly after five o'clock, a fire broke out
on the premises of Mr. Yates, boot and shoe-maker, No-
250, Whitechapel-road, London. A policeman sprang his
rattle, and after some time he succeeded in making the
residents, who were asleep in their beds, sensible of their
impending danger. The proprietor of the building, with
his wife and two children, made for one of the upper
windows, where they cried out for assistance. At that.
moment, Samuel Wood, the conductor, arrived with the•
Royal Society's fire-escape, and happily succeeded im
bringing down in safety the four occupants. The firemen,.
after some time, succeeded in getting the flames subdued,
but not until a great quantity of leather was destroyedi.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE

LIVERPOOL. FEBRtjALY ii.

WIND YESTERDAY—West South-west.

El IGEr WATER-4101*n., 1 13—Eveg. 1 35—Height, 20 ft. 5 in

ARRIVED.

Feb. 7.—Alice, St. MI haels—Sarah, Savanna. Feb. 9.—Hersllia.
Monte VI leo—Cluny, Honduras—Asiatic, Calcutta—Scotia, and
Ann polis, Baltimore—Lucy Thompson, and Aurora, New York--
Kennebec, and Horne, New Orleans Argentina, Demerara--
Antiiles, Singapore.

- -
OUTPORTS.
Downs, Feb- B.—Arrivel—Spirit of the Deep, Canton.
Queenstown, Feb. B.—Arrived—Priscilla, Alauritlus,

MARITIAIE EXTRACTS,

Liverpool, Feb. 7.—The Alice, Jessie,arrtved here from S'•
Michaels, lost bowsprit, eutwater. &c., in ruining into St. Georzeg
Basin. —The Ocean Rover, on shore near Crosby Point, has beers,
lightened, and is expected off.—Blanch, for Surinam, has put back
with pumps choked.-7 he Ameri;an schooner Mayflower, from
Georgetown, S.C., for Boston, U.S., was abandoned at sea, Jan. 17.
Cap•airi Cook and one seaman brought here per Baticola, (torn. Nor
OrlPans.

intPolyTmeonuetrhifieJa(nno.
ty.—BaTtihiue
,Csto)l,tilmeabkuys,. ofshLeivehrapdooial,
ufrdin Eheer g
ninca.
cargo;
and it was expected would be condemned.
Cowei, Jan 7--The Sea Rover hats put Wok,
WhitAnven. Feb. I.—Burrells. from Liverpool for Corfu, put 10
here leaky, with cargo shittetl, and loss of jibboons and sails.
Pwlibeli, Feb. 7.—Tha Henry Pratt lies with her head to seaward,
or she could not have held together last night during the gale.—The
S trail Ann is not making more water than the pu rips can pooll)
tree. Endeavours will be made to get her off next tide, when,
with assistance from a steam tug. she will proceed to Lk e, pool.
Qu-enstown. 14b. 6.—lt has been blowing a heavey vile from
Sew, to W.S.W !for the last 24 hours.—The Alexander, from Mau-
sit. us, drove across the bows of the Simonds, from Callao, and efre'
tiny could be cleared the Alex odor loht main and mien mas• bs, an a
bowsprit, asti had her port-bow and quarter damaged.—The com-
missary and Windsor Castle, after being several hours in contectr
got clear without much injury.—The Tricolor drew her shore fasts,
but is riding out the g,le in safety.
Wexford, Feb. 6.—The Seee, of and for Cork from Cardiff, w"
wrecked near Greenore Point to diy. Crew saved.
Strarrer, Feb. he Eugenia, Waddtcombe, from Livertoo
to I)ordt, was totally lost last night at Po, t Patrick harbour, where,
she ha.l rp,n for shelter. One man saved, and seven drowned.
Ayr, Feb. s.—The Comm-rce. Davis, from Liverpool to this port,,
went on the Breast Rock of Girvan, Feb. 3, but was got off next'
morning, makin • five inch-s water per heti..
Plymouth, Fri). 7.—H.M. steam sloop Hecate (6), destroyed. °Ptl
the coast of A Erica, an America), Brigantine, named Cbadswo th. °
New York. She was fudy equipped for slaves. The crew escaped,
u U
set.nion. Deverue, hence at Beat,marts far Drogheda, with windlass
p

Eugenie, hence at 110 l head for Algiers. leaky,
The Trinity Yacht, from St. Michaels et Valenti*, In t ballast,
and under charge of she mate, having been blown out fiorn
St
ttieh ,els while discharging her ballast to load.
The Bianca, of Montrose. from Valparaiso to QuPenstown, with,
guano. was abandone4 on the 16th Jan. Crew arriv,d at Palma.
The Augus,,a, Jessie, trom Ca lao, is on shore at Lough swilly.

FOREIGN PORTS.
Taurus (s.s.), Lanzlands, hence at Constantinople.
Calpe (0...), hence at Genoa.
Albion sa led from Leghorn for Liverpool, Jan.
Castor Failed from Palermo tor Liverpool, ,fan.
Douro (5...), hence i i the Douro.
Elvine, hence at Travemunde.
no (s.s.), Virgen de la Junquera, and Tigre—all hence at
Barcelona.
Minho (a s.), sailed hrona Barcelona for Liverpool, Jan. 26.
Elwina, from Elsinore for the

Painted and Published by CHARLES WILLMER, of 21, Osferl
street, at his General Printing and Stationery Establishment, 19,
South John-street, Liverpool.
FEBRUARY e, ISM