The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-08 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES,

HOLBORN VALLEY IMPROVEMENT.

The Select Committee of the House of Commons
to whom the above bill was referred met yesterday
for the first time. The committee consisted of Sir
David (chairman), Mr. Howard, Colonel
North,ayd I)na
i 1112r.Bdasnks Stanhope, and Mr. Blake.
Col:Mr. Scott, Q.C., the Recorder, and the
nr. HopembnSergeant of the city of London, appeared
on behalf of the Corporation of London, who are
promoters of the bill. There were 13 petitioners
against the bill, but the greater part of them were
unrepresented by counsel.
Mr, Hope Scott, Q.C., in opening the case for the
promoters, said that was a bill to authorise the Cor-
poration of London to construct a viaduct over the
Holborn-valley
provementsconnectedwith therewith, and was only to
carry out the provisions of a previous act of Parlia-
ment which was passed lest session for the regula •
tion of the coal and wine duties. Those duties were
to be continued for ten years longer, and, after de-
fraying existing charges, it was stipulated that the
first charge on those continued duties were to be
applied to the raising of a viaduct over the Holborn-
valley to Ely-court. The scheme they had in view
was, as money was to be provided for this object out
of the 4d. coal dues, that this work should be carried
out under the authority of the Corporation of Lon-
don. Having referred to a map, the learned counsel
said it was intended to commence the viaduct near
the Old Bailey, and to be continued over the
Holborn-valley. It was also intended to form a
new street in continuaticn of that already in pro.
grees from Farringdon•rmd to the new metropolitan
meat market. There was to be another new street
from near St. Sepulchre's Church, and terminating
also in Farringdoh-street. There was also to be an
improvement near West-street. There would also
be a raising of the road between Farringdon-street
and Farringdon-road, commencing near Newcastle-
street for a length of about 270 feet, up to a summit
at the crossing of the new street to the new metro-
politan meat market. It was proposed to stop up,
either wholly or partially, the following streets :
Snowhill, Field-lane, Great SAffion-hill, between
Holborn-hill and Charles-street, and the southern
end of King-street and Fly-place. The increase of
the traffic in this direction caused the Corporation
to seek some improvements, and they offered prizes
for the best plans, to effect that object. He found
that 18 were sent in, some of them proceeding by
the east, and some by the west, but the Corporation
of London had selected one which had received the
public approbation. The main feature of the
scheme was the construction of a viaduct between
Skinner-street and Holborn, and removing the
houses on both sides, which he believed would make
one of the finest streets in London. It would be 80
feet wide, with a gradient of not less than 1 in 94;
but varying to lin 264. The roadway approached
more to the south than to the north, as a better
gradient would be secured. There would be one or
two arches near Farringdon-street, with a head•
way of 21 feet, which would open a view to St.
Sepulchre's Church. There would be access from
the footpath to the roadway by steps, which would
be about 25 feet. The Corporation would also en-
deavour to comply with the intentions of Parlia-
ment in the erection of houses for the working men
who might be deprived of their houses by this im-
provement, There would be means of access
for carts and waggons on the east by a
communication with the high level road
in Skinner-street near Angel-court, by a
street 60 feet wide, and with a gradient
of lin 45. The estimates have been prepared in
this way, one including the alteration of Shoe-lane
and the other excluding it. The estimate for the
viaduct between Holborn and Skinner-street and
between Hatton-garden and Sc. Sepulchre's Church
was £900,340; the estimated returns from the re-
sale of property was £551,630, making the net cost
£3.18,710. To which must be added, for the con-
struction of the viaduct, £75,882, making the total
net coat £421,392. With the widening of Shoe-
lane to the extent of 40 feet the estimated cost was
£127,938 ; to that there would be a credited return
of £58,455, making the net cost of the property
£69,483 ; to this must be added the cost of construc-
tion, £6,500, making the total net cost £75,983, So
that, including the cost of widening Shoe lane and
the entire works in connection with this scheme,
the total estimate was £500,575, To effect these
objects the fourpenny coal duties were appropriated
to them as the source of their expenditure, and he
believed, from the evidence that would be given by
the City Chamberlain, they should prove that these
coal dues would be sufficient to meet this expendi-
ture; but even if there should be a deficiency, which
they did net apprehend, it would be a very small
one, and the Corporation of London would be able
to make it up from other sources. The learned
counsel then referred to the petitions which had
been presented against the bill, amongst which was
that of Mr. Charles Meeking, whose property would
be required. He objected to the powers of the City
Improvement Act, and he required a notice of two
years before giving up the property. But while he
wished to keep the corporation out of possession of
the property for two years, he wanted the corpora-
tion to be compelled to complete the work within
five years. There was no question of public prin-
ciple to discuss, as the whole was a matter of detail.

'rho Chairman wanted to know what was to be
done with the traffic going east and west while all
all this wag+ going on.
Mr. Hope Scott, Q.C., said that would be a ques-
tion rather for the surveyor than him ; but if he
would Sallow him to make a suggestion, they in-
tended to open a new street before they closed up
the main artery.

Mr. Haywood, Surveyor to the Commissioners of
Sewers for the city of London, said his attention
had been drawn to the traffic of the streets of the
City, and h engaged by the committee
to investigate the pla
ns which were sent in, and
carefully considered the whole of them. Holborn-
bille had be
at the present time had a gradient ranging
from 1 in 12 to 1 in 17. In Skinner street the
gradient varied from 1 in 20 to 1 in 24. The scheme
he proposed to remedy the present evil was ex-
plained by him by reference to a plan. Amongst
the most prominent was the viaduct, which would
require the whole of the property on both sides of
the way to be taken down ;from St. Sepulchre's
Church to Hatton-garden. Farringdon-street
would also be crossed by a bridge, and new streets
would be formed in connexion with the viaduct.
He then went into a public, explanation of the
scheme as detailed by Mr. Hope Scott in his open.
ing ddress.
Atter hearing further evidence,
The room was cleared, and the committee delibe-
rated with closed doors, and upon the readmission
of the public,
The Chairman stated that the committee were of
opinion that the preamble of the bill was proved.
The clauses will he taken into consideration to-
day.

ATTEMPT TO Una A TRAIN.--The up
train on the North Devon Railway on Monday
night had a narrow escape from an accident, which, had it
occurred, would probablyhave had very serious results.
On arriving about a quarto' of a mile beyond Yeoford the
obstruction on the
driver of the engine saw inmail
line, into
which, before speed could ae reduced, the train ran. There
a
were ono or two severe jilts, but the train passed 'safely,
and
have was
e bieri causedmemediat by a wooden gate, which had been un-
ely
pulls] up. The obstruction was found
to
hung and placed across tie rails, and upon it a heap oaf
large stones had been pile 6 The wheel of the engine had
scattered the stones and ctt through tha gate, the impetus
sufficing to keep the train )11 the metals. There was ano-
ther gate close by across tle line. While the train was
stopped Geo. Nott, a labotrer in the employ of Mr. James
Daw, farmer, of Stokey Crediton, Caine up to Jas.
Stanbury, the fireman, ant inquired the reason the train
was stopped. Stansbury hewing suspicion, laid hold of Nott,
but he resisted very violenlY, and drew a knife from his
pocket, at the same time eking him (Stanbury) if he was
going to kill him. Tho pisotter was taken on to Crediton
and on his way to the polio station he said he was guiity,
and expressed his sorrow Sr what he had done. There was
no obstruction on the lice 10 minutes before the train came
up. On Tuesday he was arought before Mr. J. Silifant,
at the Court-house, and, liter hearing the evidence of the
engineer and the fireman f the train, he was committed for
trial at the nod aesizea.—.l'l,ymouth raper.