The Sun.
London, England, 1852-08-28 00:00:00

RAILWAYS.

A report from Captain J. L. A. Simmons to the
Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade
and Foreign Plantations, with regard to such proceed-
ings that have taken place respecting railways in the
year 1851 as have come under the cognizance of the
department of her Majesty's Government entrusted
with the supervision of railways, has just been pub-
lished. These proceedings have principally taken
place under the more immediate supervision of the
late Board of Commissioners of Railways, whose
functions, by an Act of the last session (14th and 15th
'Victoria, chap. 64), were, from the 10th of October,
1851, transferred to their Lordships, We subjoin
the more important passage of this interesting
,docu-
ment
" The report (says the Gallant Officer) which I now
have the honour to submit to your Lordships is in con-
tinnati.on of the annual reports made by the Commis-
sioners of Railways, and is intended. to place before your
Lordships a record of the progressive development of the
railway system in the United Kingdom, and of such
matters connected therewith as appear to deserve espe-
cial attention, and more particularly of the proceedings
of the department with reference to the safety of the
public while travelling upon railways.
." INCREASE OF RAILWAY COMMUNICATION.
" The increase that has been made in the railway
communication of this country in the year 1351, has not
been so great as any of the preceding years since 1844;
commencing from that period, there was a rapidly pro-
gressive increase in the number of miles opened during
each successive year. This increase reached its mixi-
mum in 1848, in whioh year 1,182 miles of railway were
added to those previously opened for the conveyance of
passengers. The yearly progress has duce 1848 been
as rapidly diminishing, the number of miles opened the
lest year having only amounted to 269, of which 174
were in England, nine in Scotland, and 86 in Ireland.
" The whole extent of the railway communication
open for traffic in the United Kingdom at the end of
1851 was 6,890 miles, which are distributed in the
different parts of the kingdom in the following proper,
tions

Miles.
... 5,306
... 960
... 624

In England and Walea ...
In Scotland...
In Ireland ...
Total miles open for public traffic
in the United Kingdom... ... 6,890
st The principal communications by railway which
have been opened during the past year have been that
part of the South Wales and Forest of Dean Railway
which extends from Gloucester to the left bank of the
river Wye, opposite Chepstow (27 miles), and the Vale
of Neath Railway, from Merthyr Tydvil to the South
Wales Railway, near Neath (19 miles). The bridge
across the Wye, which is a work of considerable magni-
tude, is not, however, yet completed. When this bridge
shall have been completed and opened for traffic Swansea
and an impoitant part of South Wales will be brought
into connexion with the general railway system of
England.
" I have also to observe, that a very important line cf
communication has been opened during the past year in
Ireland by the completion of the Midland Great Western
Railway from Mullingar to Galway (76 miles), thus
connecting that important port on the west of Ireland
with Dublin. The speedy completion of this railway is
in a great measure to be attributed to the advances of
money which the company have received from the Int-
periel Treasury, under an Act passed in the year 1849
(121 end 13th of Victoria, cap. 62), by which half a
million sterling was authorized to be advanced from the
Consolidated Fund on mortgage towards making the
portion of this railway which extends from Athlone to
Galway."
[An elaborate table is then given, showing that at the
end of 1851 there were 5,101 miles of railway, the con-
struction of which had been authorised by Parliament,
which still remained to be completed. It appears from
this table that the length of lino authorized to be opened
at the and of 1843, and during subsequent years, was
11,991 miles, projected railways to the extent of 326
miles having been abandoned under the authority of
Parliament. 2,036 miles of this communication were
opened previously to December 1843, 204 miles during
1844, 296 miles during 1845, 606 miles during 1846,
803 miles during 1847, 1,182 miles dining 1848, 869
mites during 1849, 625 miles during 1850, and 269 miles
during 1851.]

" gappear-s, however, that a very considerable por-
tion of these lines will never be constructed, in conse-
quence of tho lapse of the powers conferred upon the
companies. A table compiled from the various Acts of
Parliament conferring powers upon the companies, and
from returns presented to Parliament, shows that the
powers, both for the compulsory purchase of the neces-
sary lands and for the construction of the works, had
ceased without having been exercised with respect to
645 miles, and that the powers for the compulsory pur-
chase of lands had been allowed to expire previous to
the end of 1850 (to which date the returns had
l: !en made) to a further extent of 571 miles, reducing
the number of miles of railway not now open
for traffic, for making which the powers were in force at
the end of 1850 from 5,101 to 3,885.

. .
" From examination of the various Acts authorizing
the construction of railways, and of the warrants issued
by the Commissioners of Railways under the Exten-
sion of Time Act; which was passed in 1847 (11th Vic-
toria, chap. 3), it appears that the power for the com-
pulsory purchase of the necessary lands have been al-
lowed to expire during the year 1851 to a further extent
of 2,418 miles.
other powers necessary to enable the companies
land has not bee:early
.:` The
proceedwith the construction of these 2,418 miles,
.
however, are still in force, so that if the land had been
Parliament. If this
or could be
rtPtlrchased, the companies might still con-
with respect ltowa" ; the probability, however, is that
the whole of these railways, the
not remain more
mile:Yw
which full Parliamenta '5OO
constructed under existing Acts of
therefore ne.„r --hPeurchased, and that the railways will
than 01 80, it would appear that there do
of Parliament, it appear that about
miles for the construction of
powers are now in existence;
and as the 12,317
authorized by Parliament,
only 326 abandoned by
6,890 have been openedere
without the direct
i tayn do
f without 1 rli
Parliament of the capital
the authority
3,600 miles have been abandonedi
empowered
hrehave
redaction
obfyPtahreliaammehnotr,
been presented
,4 whichFr
"Frain
hme
tchoemlpaat
latest
et sr
ea
true r
nu ns
construction. d to raise for their
to Parliament relative to the capital of railw
end of 1850 • ay companies
it appears, that at the railway companies
.
had raised, either by shares or loans, a sum equal to
240,270,74 a, and that they retained powers to raise a
further sum of 122,431,9001. It appears, also, that at
the same date there were 6,621 miles of railway commu-
nication open, 867 miles in coarse of construction, and
4,472 not then commenced. This sum of 122,431,9001.
would, therefore, represent what remained of the capital
authorised to be raised by Act of Parliament to complete
the 867 miles in courEa of construction, and the 4,472
miles not then commenced. But, as it appears by what
has Preceded that 3,600 miles, the construction of which
has been sanctioned by Parliament, have not been, and
, y never be, constructed under existing Acts
owrProbabl—
K"ualllent itreasonably be inferred that of this
, may