The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-06 00:00:00

RAIL WAY TRAFFIC IN 1854.

It appears from the published traffic returns of rail-
ways in the United Kingdom for the year 1854 that
they amounted to 18,541,8551. on 7,300 miles of rail-
way, being at the rate of 2,6041. per mile. In addition
to the published returns, there were receipts upon 792
miles of railway amounting to about 3,458,6701.,
which, with the above sum of 18,541,8551., makes
a total of 20,000,5251., as the traffic receipts for
railways in the United Kingdom in 1854- The
length of line open for traffic at the end of the
year was about 8,028 miles, the traffic receipts
on the whole being at the rate of 2,4911.
I The cost of construction amounted to 273,760,0001.,
being at the rate of 32,0201. per mile. The total receipts
on 7,700 miles in 1853 amounted to 17,920,5301., show-
ing an increase in favour of 1851 c.f 2,079,9951,, or above
11 per cent. This is a very satisfactory result, and
would have been attended with more beneficial conse-
quences to the shareholders had not the outlay of capi-
tal also increased, the increase of capital having been
about 10,000,000/. during the year. The working ex-
penses, rates; and taxes amount to about 47 per cent.
of the whole, or 9,100,000 f., leaving 10,600,0001. for
dividends on preference shares and loans and divi-
dends on the ordinary capital. The profit on the working
would yield a dividend on the outlay of about 31 per
cent., which shows an impravement on the average of
former years. The average for 1853 was a trifle snore
than 31 per cent., and in 1852 about 31 per cent.
The increase of the traffic has been satisfactory
and progressive. In 1843 it amounted to 500,8741.
over the preceding year ; in 1844 to 768,3371. ; in
1845 to 1,058,8421. ; in 1816 to 1,020,6501.; in 1847
to 1,285,797/. ; in 1348 to 1,109,335/. ; in 1849 to
980,8081.; in 1850 to 1,744,161/. ; in 1851 to 1,809,923/. ; in
1852 to 520,402/. ; in 1853 to 2,040,2201. ; and in 1854
to 2,079,9951. ever the preceding year. Should the
traffic continue to increase, and the expenditure on
capital account be restricted to providing the neces-
sary accommodation for the increasing traffic, the po-
sition of railway property must gradually improve.
The published traffic returns of railways in 1848
amounted to 4,843,0001., yielding an average receipt
of 3,045/. per mile ; and in 1854 to 18,541,0001., yield;
ing an average receipt of 2,6041. per mile. The capital
expended on those lines up to July, 1843, amounted to
57,635,1001., and in 1854 on the lines in question to
255,610,0001., showing an increase in the annual
traffic of 13,698,0001., and in the capital expended of
197,974,9001. The mileage has increased during that
period from 2,000 miles to 8,000 miles, and the average
cost per reile remained about the same, varying from
34,0001. to 35,0001. per mile.

THE VALOROUS AT SEBASTOPOL.

An officer of her Majesty's steamer Valorous, Capt.
Buckle (son of Admiral Buckle, of Bath), gives the fol-
lowing description of the engagement with the Russiaa
steamer, which lately came out of Sebastopol :—" Oa
the afternoon of the Gth ult. we were at anchor in a bay
called Kamiesh (which is about four miles to the south-
ward of Sebastopol, and just inside Chersonese Point),
with our boats out, getting bread from a transport. At
2 p.m. two large Russian steamers came suddenly out of
the harbour Sebastopol, and commenced a heavy fire of
shot and shell on two small French steamers at
anchor in a creek about two miles distant from us),
which were landing provisions for the camp.
We luckily had our steam up, and slipped our
cable, and ran for them, iu hopes of cutting them
off before they could get inside the forts. They
stood on for some time to meet us, and when we were
about a thousand yards from them we exchanged several
shot and shell ; they, finding us closing them, up helm
and ran full speed for the harbour ; we followed them to
within eight hundred yards of the batteries, where we
were evidently not expected ; and, luchy indeed it was
for us, as nearly all the shot and shell which were
fired were discharged from five heavy batteries at the
same time. They all tell over us. Had wo been two
hundred yards further hut, our small craft must hay been
sunk. The Russian steamers got into pert, and we made
the best of our way out, having perfectly succeeded, in
driving the enemy in, he being two cowardly to stand
out and engage us in proper style, which, if be had
done, we have all the vanity to think that he would have
been astern of us now, with the Union Jack flouting
over the Russian ensign. Now, we ought to be truly
thankful that, amidst the shower of shot and shell on
both sides of us, not a life was lost, nor a man on boitrd
our vessel touched. The damage done to the ship is very
small ; a part of the main rigging (two foremost shrouit9)
was also cut through, as also were several ropes, and en le
shot went through the jack in the ensign. The ship'.'
side is struck in a few places by shell and rifle bullets..
Our captain behaved (as he always does) in the most
gallant manner possible, being on the paddle-box the
whole time. This is the fifth time we have been in
action with the batteries (in the Baltic four times, and
here once), and have experienced no casualties. We are
one of the guard ships off the mouth of the hirhour of
Sebastopol, looking out for the enemy coming out, as
well as for fire ships."—Bath, Chronicle.

MR. OLIVER'S BANN nurrcv.—Yesterday (Friday)
afternoon, at one o'clock, a bitting took place at the
Bankruptcy Court, Liverpool, b3fore Mr. ComnaisSioner
Stevens, at which it was understood au appficatiol would
be made by Mr. Evans to sea aside the already ex pressed
adju,iicatiou of Mr. Edward Oliver's bankruptcy.. There
was a largo number of merchants and others pre ent, all
of whom appeared to be (leeply interested in the pro-
ceedings they expected to take place ; but, totwith•
standing their desire to hear the arguments on bo th sides,
the court was cleared, and the point at issue was die-
cussed with closed doors,
The horse of a captain of the 10th Cuirassier a, quar-
tered at Provins, ran away with him last w‘ei 4. with
.such rapidity that he could not pull it in. Thy' animal
dashed against the window of a shop, and k illed its
rider by forcing his head against the woodworl L. The
an imal in its course knocked down a little girl of sevea
years of age, and killed her instantaneously.
.rs
(o,Tcr.