The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-03 00:00:00

stokers. That there was urgent need for some care-
ful examination into the matter by parties of dis-
erection and independence is abundantly proved by
at the e
trheep omr te, t
rwohpioclhi t taenl
rauisl
wt ha
ya t
di ni s
tsroi
climited
sac
lin
schemes
proposed would in the aggregate have extended
over 174 miles, involving the raising of a capital of
nearly £33,000,000 in shares, and of £11,000,000.
These miles, too, were not to be laid down in quiet
or out-of-the-way localities, but were to run through
the very heart of the city and to interfere, " during
the construction of the proposed works, with many
important public thoroughfares." The committee
appear to have discharged their difficult task with
prudence and intelligence. They have had a due
regard to the public convenience by sanctioning the
admission of many railway schemes to the conside-
ration of the Lower House, while they have pro-
tected the interests of property in refusing their
sanction to those which, from various reasons, would
cause unnecessary interference with business with
no commensurate good. The bills which are not
to be proceeded with during this session are nine
in number, and among them we perceive the Ox-
ford-street and City project, which caused so much
alarm among our West• end shopkeepers. This and
Victoria Station, and Thames Embankment, were
to have been worked on the pneumatic principle,
hitherto untried as applied to railway passenger
carriages, and the committee justly think such lines
bad places for experimenting. As other lines of the
inner circuit will tend. to relieve the traffic in these
parte, there is also less reason for adopting these
schemes. Three of the rejected plans require the
construction of bridges across the Thames, one of
them a ;sigh level bridge, and therefore our ship.
ping has certainly gained by their delay. We are
glad to find that the committee approve of the
utilising of the Thames Tunnel, as we have long
ago recommended. The railways north and
south of the Thames can be better connected
by such means than by the formidable
high level bridge which was part of the
pr)ject of the Metropolitan Grand Union, and
which was to be thrown over the river below Lon-
don Bridge. The report points out that there are
already several means of connecting the several
railways, and therefore such a plan has not any
urgent necessity to recommend it. With regard to
the approved schemes the committee very strongly
approve of the method of making new streets at the
same time as the underground railways. This has
many advantages without additional expense,
greater security and speed being among them. The
committee advise that the Hammersmith, Midland,
North Western, and Charing Cross Junction shall
he allowed to proceed on condition that the new
streets which form part of their plan shall be con-
structed contemporaneously with the railway.
This company proposes to form three new streets,
one of them being, as the report says, " of a very
important character." It is to be a continuation of
Tottenham-court-road from Oxford-street down to
St. Martin's-lane, thertby cutting straight through
S'.`,Giles, and providing what is now much needed,
a direct and respectable highway from the North-
Wrest district to Charing-cross. This will be a great
advantage to the traffic of this busy neighbourhood,
and we hope may be carried out. The question of
providing the labouring classes with some means of
obtaining better dwellings has also occupied the
attention of the committee, who appear to have
discharged their arduous office with good sense and
moderation.