The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-07 00:00:00

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

GREAT WESTERN AND BRENTFORD.

The first general meeting of this company was held
yesterday at Brentford ; Viscount Villiers in the chair.
Mr. C. ELEY, the secretary, read the report, which
stated that the act of incorporation reeeived the Ro3 al
assent on the 14th of August last. The directors con-
tinue to feel unabated confidence in the merits of the un-
dertaking. The evidence adduced before Parliament
established the advantages the line will afford to the
coal trade of South Wales, to the manufacturing dis-
tricts, and to the whole of the goods traffic upon the
broad gauge system, which system has been from time to
time extended until it now embraces Plymouth and Pen-
zance in the south-west, Milford Haven in the west ;
Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Birkenhead in the
north-west, and makes it apparent that the line forming
a link so much needed between this system and the river
Thames cannot fail to be remunerative to the proprietors.
An agreement has been entered into with the Great
Western Railway Company, which the directors believe
will be mutually advantageous, as it is founded on a
principle calculated to develope the traffic on both lines
without imposing onerous obligations upon either. The
project has met with so much favour generally that
the directors are placed in a position to enable them to
commence operations immediately. The vast amount
of traffic that will be brought to the town of Brent-
ford will greatly increase the trade and commerce of
the locality. The strictest economy has been observed
in obtaining the act of incorporation, and the share-
holders may rest assured that all future proceedings will
be conducted with the same regard to their interest. The
capital account showed that 11,5641. had been received
from all sources, and 4,1471. expended, leaving a balance
of 7,4171., including 6,7501. deposited with the Account-
ant-General.

The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
congratulated the shareholders on their successful appli-
cation to Parliament in the last session. The opposition
to the bill had enabled them to prove that the project
was based on a solid and real foundation. It was grati-
fying to allude to the favour and support which the un-
dertaking had received, and he could assure them that
the directors would not undertake any obligation which
they did not see their way to discharge. With regard
to the traffic they might fairly expect, he stated that at
present 50,000 tons of coal per annum were conveyed
from the Great Western Railway to the Thames, and at
Pd. per ton would produce 18,5001. per annum, 130,000
tons of other minerals and merchandise, at ls. 3d. per
ton, would amount to 8,1251. The profits on the ter-
minal accommodation of 180,000 tons at 3d. per ton
would amount to 2,2501 ; the profits on goods landed from
the trucks for vessels in the docks, and vice versa, would
produce, at 3d. per ton, 2,2501. ; and the passenger traf-
fic, 7001., making a total of 15,0001. Out of this would
have to be deducted 4,7501. for working expenses,
1,5001. interest at i per cent. on 30,0001. borrowed
capital, leaving 8,8501. to pay a dividend at the rate of
about 10 per cent, on the 90,0001. capital. That estimate
of profit was founded on the present traffic between
Bull's-bridge and the Thames at Brentford, but it was
the opinion of confident persons that the coal traffic
would increase to 240,000 tons, and the merchandise and
minerals to 200,000 tons. He thought upon the whole
they stood a fair chance of having a remunerative divi-
dend. The undertaking, when in operation, would confer
great benefit on the town and neighbourhood, and it was
hoped that the inhabitants would give them all the sup-
port they could in carrying out the undertaking. Tne
most friendly relations existed between them and the
Great Western Company, and it was believed that the
arrangement between the two companies would have
the effect of developing the traffic, and be mutually
beneficial to both parties.
Mr. DAVY seconded the motion, and at considerable
length exp'ained the advantages that would be derived
from the coal traffic of South Wales ; and with a view to
show that it could be brought by railway at a profit, he
stated that the Great Northern Railway conveyed coal
from the north to London, a distance of 300 miles, and
successfully competed with water carriage of 400 miles.
The distance the Great Western Railway Company would
have to convey the coals, from Wales to Brentford, was
200 miles, but by water carriage the distance was 700
miles ; he thought therefore that if the Great Northern
could successfully compete with water carriage there
could be no doubt that the Great Western could do so
with profit. The Brentford line would be 41 miles in
length, and be of considerable advantage to the Great
Western Company.
Resolutions were passed adopting the report, re-elect-
ins, the retiring directors, appointing Mr. W. Moat and
Mr. G. Wyatt auditors of the company ; and fixing the
salary of the secretary at 1501. per annum, the remune-
ration of the auditors 10/, each, and appropriating 500/.
to cover the expenses of the directors.

A vote of th.anks to the chairman concluded the pro-
ceedings.

BEDADE AND LEYBURN.

The opening of this line of railway, in the North Rid-
ing of Yorkshire, for passenger traffic, which was fixed
for yesterday (Thursday), has been postponed for a sh( rt
time. The precise cause of the postponement has not
been made known to the public.

RAILWAY AMALGAMATION.

( From the Times City Article.)

The following letter contains a suggestion the sound-
ness of which will be intuitively and uciversally recog-
nised. It is one, however, the benefits of which would
be for the community at large, who rarely contrive to
accomplish anything, while its opponents would com-
prise certain sections of society who, stimulated by per-
sonal motives, are always able to obstruct everything.
The principle of competition in railway affairs having
been avowedly abandoned as a mistake, an amalgama-
tion of all the lines is the obvious alternative. In its
absence the (railway system presents neither the advan-
tages to be derived from the stimulus of rivalry nor
those which on the continent are found to result from
the order and economy of Government centralisation ;
and so deplorable and ruinous is the consequent inco-
herence that in many intelligent minds it has been suf-
ficient to overcome the salutary repugnance to State
guidance. That such guidance in its immediate results
would have been far better than what has Leen witnessed
few will deny. But after a generation of dearly-bought
experience we should come to something better, and the
true end will then be accomplished by our own energies
in a far more satisfactory way. Among the certainties
of the future, railway amalgamation is, perhaps, one of
the strongest. It was the single grain that gave vitali y
to the Hudson mania, and, although broken and per-
verted by his ignorance and cupidity, it was not killed.
Ail that is to be feared is that the amount of ruin neces-
sary to stir the public to united action bas not }et
oc-
curred, and that, consequently, no individuals who
might at present take up the question would meet with
the extent of support requisite to enable them to face
the combined and unexampled hostility it would at once
awaken :

" Sir,—The question of how it happens that our railways
are n`paying speculations has been widely asked, and
various have been the attempted replies. Of late this in-
terrogatory has become a. daily cry, but still it has remained
unsatisfactorily answered. Every one admits that there
must be something wrong, every one deplores the ill-suc-
cess of what our judgment tells us ought to be productive
of the greatest prosperity to all concerned ; but as yet no
one has proposed an efficient remedy.
"On directing attention to the various lines which now
ramify into almost every corner of the kingdom we observe
that, with very few exceptions, they are in a state of com-
mercial 'decline, and that even among those which should
occupy the best position, jealousies and heartburnings are
at work which must, sootier or later, tell upon their for-
tunes, and drive one or more to destruction ; and that this
is not an exaggerated picture the fate of some of them, no
long time since, may be taken as evidence.
" But our feelings of astonishment and regret at the
failure of these great commercial enterprises in our own
country become deepened when we cast our eyes abroad.
We led the way to the construction of these iron roads ;
our engineers became the instructors of continental S tates,
and in most, if not in all instances, it was our capital which
brought these foreign lines into existence ; and yet, while
they are almost all of them in flourishing, or, at least satis-
factory condition, the statistics of our own lines prove to
us that from 100,000,0001 .to 150,000,0001. sterling have
been to a certain extent sacrificed through misapprehension
at the outset or mismanagement during their course.
" And what is the remedy ? What means should be
adopted to retrieve the past and give a brighter future to
our railway prospects ? One word will express it—a word
the signification of which was conveyed in many an ancient
fable, and which has been of infinite service to mankind
in old and modern times.

" That word is ' union.' Bring all the lines of the United
Kingdom under one management, create one railway stock,
and, this effected, we may regain much that has been so
heedlessly squandered, and may at length arrive at the
result we had long ago reason to aspire to, after an expen-
diture of some 300,000,0001. to 403,000,000/. sterling.—
I am, &c., " F. F."

SIR COLIN CAMPBELL'S VISIT TO

GLASGOW.

The following letter from the gallant Sir Colin Camp-
bell was read by the Lord Provost of Glaegow, on Tues-
day, at the meeting of the Clyde Trust :—" Eton, Dec.
2, 1855.--In answer to your communication of Nov. 30,
I beg through you to express to the Lord Provost.,
Magistrates, and Town Council of Glasgow the deep
sense of gratitude I entertain towards them for the dis-
tinguished honour they have proposed conferring on me,
and for the very flattering terms in which they have
made that proposal. At the same time, I must sta,`e
the regret I feel at being unable, during my short stay in
England, to visit the North, and to receive at the hands
of the citizens of Glasgow an honour which I shall ever
most highly esteem. You will oblige me by informing
the Lori Provost, Magistrates, and Council that I am
very shortly about to leave England again for the Cri-
mea, and that my whole time will be necessarily occupied
on business connected with my departure. But that,
should I be permitted to return once more to this coun-
n t o Glasgow,
e ur of
which an d
itsto
receive with pridesue ,
try, I shall consider it my first duty, as it will'be my
greatest a
andto
hasten
gratitude dow
the h
~n
most
citizens are so good as to deem me worthy.
--
obedient servant,l have the
honour to be, Sir, your
e
" C. CAMPBELL, Msjor-General."

There had been no material alteration in the rates of
exchange in Paris on Wednesday, the quotation being
still maintained, owing to continued purchases by
M'essrp. Rothschild of all the short bills on London, fcr
the purpose of remitting them against Australian gold.
All the letters allude to the heavy rates of interest paid
by the speculators during the monthly settlement just
concluded for carrying over their purchases to the next
account, and at the same time express fears as to the
serious reaction to be Ipprehended in case the political
reports in circulation should prove unfounded.