The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-10 00:00:00

Palace and completion of the works, after the most care
ful examination of Sir 4ctsep:l Paxton and the account
ant, they have aecertahied that, in addition to the sum
of 63,5001. already borrowed from revenue, a further
urn of 70,0001. will be required, and will suffice to pa•
ail ascertained and estimated liabilities up to March next,
and finally close the capital account. The shareholders
;ire aware that a sum of 33,000/. remains to be expender
upon the Dulwich Wood estate under covenants of lease.
The necessity for taking this estate arose out of the inc
portaace of avoiding claims for compensation, and of
securing the application of the land to purposes strictly
compatible with the interests of the company. This
matter was fully explained to the shareholders in the
report which they adopted on the Bth Feb., 1855. Your
committee believe that after the West-end railway is
opened—which is expected to take place in the course of
next year—the Dulwich Wood estate, which consists of
67 acres of building land, will present such advantages
as a site for building that there will be no difficulty in
finding persons to make all the erections required, upon
terms that will advantageously relieve the company from
all liability, and probably yield an annual profit. The
Dulwich Wood estate is rented from Mr. Wytbes, and
the balance of 14,5001. due from him, and put down as
an asset not immediately realisable, remains in his hands
by agreement—which was explained to the shareholders
in the report already referred to, "as security for the
performance of the covenants to Dulwich College, for
which, as original lessee, he continued liable."
FUTURE REGULATION AND MANAGEMENT.
Your committee have given much consideration to this
subject, and they believe that the future success of the
company is entirely contingent upon it. While the
work of construction was incomplete, the directors na-
turally experienced great difficulty in organising a good
system of management. This difficulty is now removed ;
while the experience of the last twelve months will he
very valuable in devising arrangements fur the future.
Under the deed of settlement the directors are em-
powered to appoint a general manager, or managing
' director, which the committee found was already con-
templated, and they have advised that it shall be done
without delay, as they are convinced that no board
of directors, however able and zealous, can, unless aided
by such an executive officer, satisfactorily manage the
deteile of an enterprise of such magnitude. Indeed it is
not to be expected that a board, whose functions are de-
liberative rather than executive, should provide that unity
of conception, continuity of laborious application, and
promptness of decision and execution, which are essential
to success. To secure the efficiency of a managing
director, your committee recommend that he should be
required to reside near the Palace, and devote all his
time to its service ; that his remuneration should he
proportioned to the dividends paid on the original
1 shares, and that he should not be a member of the board.
The committee observe that the services of the directors
have hitherto been gratuitous, which they think is a very
honourable feature, hut they recommend that the direc-
; tors should be paid, as is customary in other companies.
Your committee thave carefully investigated the cur-
rent expenditure of the company, and are of opinion that
under a good system of management a considerable
saving might be effected, and they have especially called
the attention of the directors to the cost of the exhibi-
tors' department, in which they think there should be a
consolidation of offices and a reduction of expenditure.
This branch of the company's business has not been in a
sati-factory state, but your committee are glad to learn
that the directors are taking advantage of the close of
the Universal Exhibition in Paris, and are adopting ac-
tive measures to secure for exhibition in the Crystal Pa-
lace seine of the most interesting objects of art and in-
dustry, which have attracted so much attention in that
capital. Indeed the committee hope to see in the Crystal
Palace the gradual development of a permanent museum,
showing the natural as well as the artificial productions
of every part of the world.
POSITION AND PROSPECTX 011 THE CO3IPANT.
To enable the shareholders to appreciate the position
and prospects of the company, the committee submit the
following facts and considerations : The number of visi-
tors of all classes, exclusive of season-ticket holders, from
the opening on the 10th June, 1854, to the 30th June,
1855, was 1,322,008 ; and from the aspect of the returns
the numbs r for the current year to the 30th June, 1856,
which will contain three weeks less in the height of the
season than the previous year, may be estimated as about
1,200,0001. Twelve hundred thousand visitors of all
classes return, as nearly as possible, 63,0001. If to this
be added 23,5001. realised by the sale of season tickets,
we shall have the sum of 86,500/., which will represent
the annual force of attraction exerted by the palace on
the public, even under all the disadvantages of the un-
finished state of Vie works, the want of any defined plan We published on Satnrday a brief account of an acct
of management, and, above all, very imperfect means of dent se hick happened on this line on the previous even.
access. Tne 11. per head payable ty Messrs. Staples, ing, and regret to report that subsequent Inquiries have
the lessees of the refreshment department, gives about proved that the accident was of a far more serious cha-
-5,2001., and the rental for space will be about 5,0001., meter than was at first imagined. Although, fortu.
and miscellaneous revenue about 3,000/. The reve- nately, no life has been lost, it is stated that no less than
nue of the company from all sources thus appears to 28 persons were injured, some of them seriously, and
be about 100,0001. On the other hand, the future annual Mr. Allen so much se that it has been necessary to am-
expenditure is estimated as follows :—lnterest on deben- putate both his legs in order to save his life.
tures, &c, 7,5001.; on preference shares, 10,5001. ; ex- On Saturday an inquiry into the cause of this disas-
penses of staff, general management, maintenance of trous accident was instituted by the management, as-
gardens and park, music, &c., 45,0001. ; painting, re- sieted by Mr. Smiles, the secretary, and Mr. Brown, the
newals and repairs, 10,0001.;—say 73,0001. in all, leaving traffic superintendent of the line.
a balauce of 27,0001. to pay interest on such new William Heron having been called in, stating that Le
capital as may be required, and go towards a dividend had been in the service of the South-Eastern Railway
on the original stock. The present earnings of the Company eight years as an engine-driver, and had been
company are the profits realised by its attractions employed in driving the engines of the North Kent line
in a state of incompletion. Next year the prodigious ever since it had been opened. On Friday last he drove
system of fountains in the lower basins will throw their the train to which the accident happened with the No.
20,000 jets; arid not only offer, in combination with 42 engine. The train left Woolwich Arsenal for Lou-
those already opened, a sight of great beauty and meg• don at 526 p.m., and was due at the London-bridge ter-
niticence, but cannot fail to attract universal curiosity to minus at 6 p.m. They arrived at New-cross station at
witness the most wonderful and extensive system of the proper time, and on leaving it at 5.50 they ran at
ornamental waterworks that has ever been created. This their ordinary speed up to the Surrey Canal Junction.
must be a large source of additional profit. Your coin- The speed at which they were running when they ar-
rnittee are, moreover, of opinion that the inducements to r.ved at the spot where the accident happened was 20
visit the Crystal Palace may be greatly increased. Thus, miles an hour. In consequence of their being an ascent
two or more flower and fruit shows instead of one appear between New-cress and the Surrey Canal Junction, a
quite practicable ; the multifarious, beautiful, and into- train was not enabled to attain a greater speed fur that
resting objects within the building and in the grounds distance. The signals at the Surrey Junction were as
are capable of being placed mere prominently before the usual—namely, " Caution," or green light for the main
public mind, and a system of exhibitions rosy be gradu. line North Kent train, and a red light or "danger sig.
ally organised se as to he of substantial use, and promote nal" for the Bricklayers' Arms branch. The general
the realisation of important ideas in agriculture, menu- practice when a trains was approrching the Junction
factures, trade, education, and social progress ; and not and proceeding to Bricklayers Arms 1;y night was to
only attract visitors, but considerably increase the re• give three whistles and to show a white light on the
venue of the exhibitors' department. Your committee near side of the engine, awl when it approached
will only advert further to the great advantage that must by day with the same object to give three
arise from the completion of the West-end railway. whistles and hold out the left arm. For an
SPECIAL SUBJECTS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE. up London passenger train, and for which the
The recommendations of Mr. Fuller, Mr. Sotheby, green light was exhibited, it was not customary to
and others, may be divided under a few heads, of which whistle at all. On approaching the junction on Friday
the chief are—The immediate issue of life-tickets, with a night ho did not-- in accordance with the understood
view to a greae reduction of capital ; a method of Sun- custom—sound his whistle, and a "light engine," which
day opening, profitable to the company, and not con- had preceded the 5.50 train from London, hael crossed
' trary to law, and the change of the reserve day from over on to the Bricklayer's Arms branch just before the
Saturday to some other day, train which witness was driving arrived at the Surrey
The plans suggested by Mr. Fuller involving the re- Canal Junction, for he could see it going down the line
serration of Thursdays and Fridays for season and life- leading to the Bricklayers' Arms station. After his en-
ticket holders, the reduction of the charge for adrnissien gine had passed through the points at the junction, and
on Mondays to 6d., and the creation of various classes had proceeded a very short distance, he discovered that
of life-tickets with distinct privileges, the committee are the train was upon the wrong line—viz., on that leading
not prepared to recommend. The establishment of two to the Bricklayers' Arms branch, and, consequently, on
reserve days, your committee believe, would be very the same line as the " light engine" before them, which
detrimental ; and should the issue of life-tickets be de- was going at a slow pace, instead of being, as it ought to
terrnieed upon, it appears to them they should be so have been, upon the North Kent up-line of rails. The
regulated as not to sacrifice revenue without effecting a whole of the train had not got through the cross-way
proportionate reduction of capital. before he felt a sudden jerk, and it parted about the third
Your committee are unable at present to recommend or fourth carriage horn the engine, and the first part of
any plan for reducing the capital by the issue of life the train, consisting of engine and tender, safety car-
tickets in exchange for shares, as they are informed le- riage, guard's break, and an eight•wheeled carriage, ran
gal objections exist thereto; they, however, feel the jaw forward with considerable velocity, very nearly over-
portance of having the capital reduced if practicable, taking the light engine which was proceeding in advance
and they therefore recommend that the question of doing of them to the Bricklayers' Arms at diet). It was a clear
so by means of the issue of life tickets in exchange for night, and as the train passed the signalman's stage,
'hares should undergo full and mature deliberation, arid witness noticed the switchman on the stage, outside of
that any legal difficulties eheuld be removed as soon as his box, and observed his hand to be upon the handle of
possible.
the switches. The name of the switchman on duty at the
With reference to the question of Sunday opening, time was Beattie, and witness had no communication
your committee are fully alive to its importanee. They with him respecting the accident since it had taken
believe that a Sunday opening would be a great educe. place. The jerk felt when the train parted was a very
tional advantage to the public, but they could racme. severe one. The engine and the first part of the train
mend nothing which involved the risk of a forfeiture of reached the Blackditch bridge before it was stopped, but
tame company's charter. By that charter none is to be as soon as he could pull upthey returned to the spot where
"admitted on the Lord's Day in consideration of any the accident occurred, which was at the wall dividing the
money payment, whether made directly or indirectly, North Kent main line and theßricklayere' Arrnsbranch,
unless the express sanction of the Legislature shall hav and was about the length of a train composed of 15 or 16
been obtained ;" and the question of
what constitutes a carriages distant from the Surrey Canal switch-box. He
direct or indirect money payment depends upon the in- assisted toget outa man who wes severely injured, who
terpretation that might hegven to the 21st Geo. 111., was calhog out from a second•class carriage. After the
cap. 40. So uncertain is the application of this act that man had been extricated eeveraloftbepassongere who were
the directors of the Crystal P l•
Gce received in. 1854 an hurt were put into the portion of the train that was not
opinion of the present Solicitaoaa- eeneral advising them injured, and were conveyed to the Bricklayers' Arms
that even the admission of shareholders re was a
od osuubeth, "8
taenpd
should be
i
"subject of station, where Mr. Warrieer took charge of them.
bseaiindgheasbkeeldievheids
thatopinionaarsotsoe tflrieomcauthsee
am of opinion that it might endanger the o f Thethe accident,wituees,
e validity of the points being "set right" for the Bricklayers' Arms
mendvery serious
that n
charter." committee i
Your eons dsr that, under these branch, and that before the whole of the train hadpassed
circumstances, the eply c.eurse for those who are in fa- over they were changed to the main line, which would
f Sunday opening, is to adopt the regular oof •
your o c ns course cause a sudden jerk and be sufficient to throw
tutional means to obtain an alteration of the law. a train off the line.
diency of chaneing the
As regards the expediency
her de thipe foll reserve Thomas Parker, the stoker of the same train
day from Saturday to any oty, y, owing quee- evidence to a similar effect. , g
would those classes from
tions naturally occur. W _ whom On being asked • • to the of
opinion as cause the acca
the season-ticket holders come be satisfied with the pro- dent,
posed chauge ?Is any other day as sTe.ll.lal.danPotted to their Witness said—My opinion is that the points were right
wishes and habits as Saturday We tai
R eason for the Bricklayers' Arras branch, or the engine would
ho hay
tickets are likely to be taken by those w e money have got off the road, and that they changed
were before
aristocrat gentry time whole and lessors for frequent visits—the are , of the train had passed through them. If the
professional, and mercantile classes. It is well known points had remained as they must have been when the
that Saturday is a favourite day with the aristocracy, engine and the first part of the train passed through them
and among professional arid mercantile risen the custom nothing would have happened more than the train run-
of closing business earlier on that day is exceedingly coin- rung on a wrong line, and being consequently compelled
mon. The statistics of' season ticket holder,' during the to shunt back on the proper line.
Robert Bertlin •
six months from April to September in the current year said—l was head guard of the North
Kent tr •
afford some interesting reatats_thno, it
appears that ea. train which left Woolwich for London last Friday
elusive of the two special days (the opening flower show eveningan taens(i9.6. The train consisted of an engine (No.
42) d and the concert) the average visits paid per month by
huetr (Driver Heron) and 13 carriages in point
Beason ticket holders has been 21,464, which is nearly of weight,
10din number—namely, the safety car-
equal to the whole number of persons holding such riage, sma
.secon , break, second class, a saloon eight
tickets. This conclusively shows that season tickets are wheel counting as three, a first and second class (teak)
not purchased to procure admission upon grand days also counting as three, an open third claee, a soarliamen-
only, but that the class of season ticket holders take a tary, another third class, a second break, ate a small
permanent interest in the attractions of the aaiecaa The ditto. After leaving New-cross we ran towards Lon-
averaee numberofspeed—namely, • season ticket holders who have visited ; don at our usual about 20 miles per
thei palace on days other than Saturdays, s has been, ex- hour. could see the signals at the Surrey Canal June-
c ,uding the day of the cone,- t 632—while excluding ssr , the tion when
we had got about half way. The up • signal
Queen's birth-day (which when I first
fell on Saturday) the number for London was against us saw it, but was
of season ticket holders visiting the alace on Saturdays afterwards turned to "All right." I did not hear the
has bean 2,206, or between three palace)
four times the driver whistle, and conclude, therefore, that he did not,
number on other deers. Time occupationsa f
it is only usual for the whistle to be sounded when gaged in retail trade and the habits of the workingo persons
classes e n-
' tahe danger signal is up too lung, and consequently
preclude the idea that they would visit the alace as causing the steam-to be shut off. I was the last car.
much on Saturdays as other days if the price were the • riage but -one—of- the train, and before my break had
same, and this was proved by the fact that on the Queen's arrived at the points I felt a jerking, as if something
birth day, Saturday, May 18, which was a fine day, and was off the line • in fact, so sudden and severe was the
when most shops were closed, the visitors amounted to first of the several erks which occurred that I was
only 10,201—a number often reached on other d. knockedin break. I had no chance of putting Jaye down my
without the help of a public holiday ; nor can it be said 'on bmy rea , consequence of the shock knocking me
that the reduction of price on that day was not well about so much. I can scarcely remember how I got out
known. of may break. When I got out and recovered myself I
The average number of persons who have paid ss. for
saw the Greenwich train coming up from Deptford, and
admission on Saturdays, during the six months ending eautioned the persons who were in the broken carriages
with September, has been 496, giving an average profit in the lead part of the train and on the line not to got
of 1241. If the sum paid by the season ticket holders, over the wall, as they night be run over. I then ran

.vith ample deduction on account of those who have
~mght,tickets for special days only, is added to the 53.
.ceipte, it will be seen that Saturdays at present pay
ceedirigly well, and your committee, looking to the
:ioancisl state of the company, deprecate dubious experi-
nents with a well-ascertained means of profit. If the
.:har.,re were made, there would not only be the risk of
lessening the profit o Saturdays, but ais.) of some other
lay which now pays -.yell and which bo unfavour•-
.bly affected by it. In concluding this subject, while
our committee are most de-irons of seeing the mass of
he people attracted to the Palace, they regard season-
ticket holders as a class which should receive every in-
•lucernent to multiply, because a large, influential, and
intelligent body of persons subscribing regularly, and
c msidering themselves as members of the Crystal Palace,
regarded as a permanent institution, will offer great ad-
vantages to the future management of the company.
Mr. Sotheby has suggested a ninth director, but in
the opinion of your committee much greater advantage
will result from a general manager than from an increase
in the board. Mr. Sotheby has also proposed that on
the retirement of three directors, only two should be
re-eligible ; but although great benefit may occasionally
result from the introduction of new directors, the com-
mittee forbear from recommending that any restriction
should be placed upon the free choice of the shareholders.
They see no objection to carrying out Mr. Sotheby's
proposal that the deed of settlement and charter of the
company should be printed and sold fur 6d. a copy, pro-
vided the general body of the shareholders expressed
such a desire ; but your committee disapprove of the
proposition to print periodically lists of shareholders,
which would not only entail considerable trouble and ex-
pense, but be liable to other serious objections.
There is one more question which was referred toyonr
committee, and that of the highest importance- -the
choice of new directors. They venture to submit to you
the names of Messrs. Samuel Beale, Alexander Conetan-
doe lonides, James Low, awl David Ogilvy, as proposed
by the directors.
In conclusion, your committee desire to state that,
from their first meeting with their directors up to the
conclusion of their labours, they have been met with
the greatest openness and desire to render assistance.
They have also received from Sir Joseph Paxton,
Mr. Grove, Mr. Fasson, and other officers of the com-
pany, every facility for their investigation ; and the nui-
versal wish has been not to conceal anything, but to
place your committee in full possession of information
upon every point.

(Signed) A. C. lONIDES,
HENRT J. SLACK,
WILLIAM J. ETCHES,
SAMUEL BEALE,
Crystal Palace, Svienham, JAMES Low.
Nov. 24,1855.

Since the adoption of the report by the committee,
they have received, through their chairman, the follow-
ing letter from Messrs. Fuller and Price :
" Sir,—We have perused the draft report, in which
we very much regret we cannot concur. The essential
feature of the reference to the committee was to
decide whether the capital could be reduced by the issue
of life tickets. The committee, however, have not agreed
to any plan for reducing the capital, and it would appear
that they are advised the company have not any power
by the issue of life tickets so to do ; if this be correct it
is to be lamented that the parliamentary notices given
for the ensuing session did not provide for this omission.
Neither have the committee suggested any other mode
of reducing the capital. The gentlemen proposed as
directors, however high their respectability, are all
pledged against the policy we advocate, and on that
ground are to us objectionable. We venture to state
that in cur opinion the report should refer to the ar-
rangement entered into with Sir John Paxton as to
the sale to him of a part of the Crystal Palace grounds,
which has not been communicated to the shareholders
notwithstanding the terms formed the subject of a reso-
lution previously to the last general meeting. We re-
quest that you will be so good as to have this letter
printed at the foot of your report, as showing the rea-
sons why we decline to sign the same.—We are, sir,
your obedient servants, (Signed) FRANCIS FULLER.

DAVID PRICE.
"A, C. lonide3, Eig., Chairman of the C9mrnittee
of the Crystal Palace Company."

THE ACCIDENT ON THE NORTH KENT

RAILWAY.