The Sun.
London, England, 1852-05-07 00:00:00

COMPETITION.

After all, it must be admitted that Competition bas
already done the civilized world great service, and ac-
complished more towards diffusing the benefits of in-
dustrial enterprise, than any single agency that could be
named. Competition has led to most of the splendid
mechanical inventions and improvements of the age.
It has stimulated the shipbuilder, the merchant, the
manufacturer, the machinist, tho tradesman, the shop-
keeper. In all departments of productive industry it
has been the moving power. It has developed the re-
sources of this and of other countries—the resources of
the soil, and the character and qualities of the men who
dwell upon it. It seems to be absolutely necessary for
the purpose of stimulating tbo growth and culture of
every individual. It is deeply rooted in man, leading
him ever to seek after and endearrour to realise some-
, and
thing better and higher than he has yet attained. Of
sympathie
Wco:operate with
course, man is much more than a competing being. That
is only one of his characteristics, and not the highest or
Isthtonbnefe:tsbtpeeirnredael
noblest. He has sensibilities,
tions, which draw him on to unite and
others in works for the common good.
individualism, there may, and there ought
But.e with each other
under any cir-
ficent co-operation for the general happiness.sha. Men
may
to
ostinct of Competition,
cuanmi tset
at on labour,es,therteo produce,
id übcee,
tahned
the fruits of corporate industry.
the opportunities for Competition, and, though mixed
with necessary evil, there will be the ultimate beneficial
results of CompetitilEl. EliZa Cook's Journal.

CoNsEmrTioN OF COKE ON ItaiLwAYs.—The in-
creased consumption of coke, and consequently of coal, from
which it is made, since the introduction of the railway sys-
tem, is truly remarkable, and still is not to be wondered et.
when we take into consideration the thousands of miles
es
of
iron way which girdle the land, the hundreds of locomotives
continually roaring and belching forth steam, and the number
of Passengers and quantity of merchandise daily
conveyedcrctlar
hundreds of miles to their destination. From a trade n
recently received, we find that in one house alone in
trade
New-
castle-on-Tyne, that of Messrs. Straker and
has more than doubled in the past three YLorsve,
- eaards; of 40,000 L
nightly pay-bills, wages, &c., amount to uw
for carriage of
per annum, and they pay in railway dues,heirmake of coke is
coke, upwards of 60,0001. a year.
T they expect to raise
their fort-
, upwards of 200,000 tons per annum, and
000,000 tons of coals.
from melt collieries this year
These coals are principally from
thdistrict of Durham, are
Bitch-
burn Collieries, in the Auckland district
coal, and the coke pro-
ducedknown generally as a productive g
41juuetBrancepeth and
appreciated for railway purposes, free
from it is highly
boiler tubes remaining unin-
jured.—Mixing sulphur, and of high
clinker on the fire bars, and the evaporative power, leaving no
jured.-2/fixing Journal.

PRESERVATION OF THE CRYPT OF GERRARD'S HALL.
—At the last meeting of the British Archeological Associa-
tion, a communication was read from Mr. J. W. Butter-
worth, urging the society to transmit a remonstrance to the
City authorities against the demolition of the ancient and
beautiful crypt of Gerrard 's Hall. The chairman, Mr. T. J.
Pettigrew, said that, ardent as was the desire manifested by
the members of the association on the subject, he feared the
preservation of the crypt was impossible ; the City architect,
and surveyor, had exerted all their skill, but without
effect, to prevent its downfall. He understood that in conse-
quence of the site of the crypt being some feet above the
level of the neighbouring ground, its removal became neces-
sary, in order to carry out the City alterations and improve-
ments. Therefore, he entertained no hope that any remon-
strance now would stay the hand of destruction. Mr. C.
Egan said that, in London, a city celebrated for able archi-
tects and talented engineers, surely some scientific
espiriet
would be found capable of devising a mode wherebyitthh
im.
of street might be deflected, and consonantly' t ~'7
Z.°, Assuredly
he from the route originally P
Citysug authorities could
suthpeeyrawbloeu.ldfind
the enlightened citizens of London woulalangnnoesntteestmnioffpnlearwt the
eodu. l
d H per-
petrationbyea
therefore hoped that Mr. Butterwol's
adopted, being satisfied that if th
That the
only be induced to re consider thweerrne
not in
. ......
that the engineering difficulties
3e-vpzprtohse, d
AblypMr.,, and
:c, atliiA:c•solicaliartraioani be requested
and D ic
Mr' A.
sDtinegivesdbisucruys,sion inr. wwh.'
Nhv. , After
anWhite,
le andne h
el n, t3eirre.
Egan, 1 Petti-
grew,
s n"
sg,r,ceown,dteodokbpyari‘tiri.t wLaaswurlet
to take such steps as they may deem desirable, for the
council of the h .
pre-
servation _intact of the ancient crypt of Gerrar„ British
n having beenA rchni
!tit °.llllb
ell'un.hraneedimmo;°tuißsniheumatism by Holloway's Ointmenot
[ADvErtzisEm ENT.] —A Lioutenant
This officer, who is in the Dutch array, states thfaatnDlideoalpigoiwlolsoa.n7ss
Pills and Ointment have cured him of rheumatism, which ap-
peared to be incurable, as neither sea bathing, vapour baths,
nor preparations vaunted as sure remedies, did him any good,
and the treatment of the d
ot', after several months' trial,
was without success. At
this juncture he commenced taking
these pills, and rubbing the ointment into the complaining'
parts twice a day, which
ettihs ecitusataiellmcuernetd
eanhimbine tvheeuechouedrseforof
six weeks. The truth of
by Mr. J. 13. Stratman, of Bois-de-Duc.—Sold by all Drug-
gists, and at professor Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand,

NS7ITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS?
On Tuesday, James M. Rendle, Esq., President, in the
Chair, the discussion was renewed on the papers by Mr.
BraithwOe Poole (Assoc. Inst. C.E.), and Capt. Huish,
(Assoc. lost. C.E.), on the " Economy of Railways" and
on " Railway Accidents," and was continued throughout
the evening.
The principal points in the working of railway
traffic were carefully discussed, and the modifications,
which had been by degrees introduced, were noticed.
The necessity for a certain amount of uniformity of con-
struction of the rolling stock, as far as accordance be-
tween the centres of the buffers of all carriages likely
to be brought together to make up the trains, was ad-
mitted; but any attempt to enforce complete uniformity
was strongly deprecated.
The proposition for dividing the railway kingdom into
four parts, and amalgamating the rolling stcck for each
division, was contended to be impracticable and impolitic.
The question as to she prudence of railway companies
becoming manufecnarers of engines and carriages, and
even as was once contemplated by the London and
North-Western Railway, rolling their own rails was
also strongly argued; and it was contended that such an
application of the funds of a railway company was not
prudent or advantageous ; as repeated instances
had been sltewn that companies could not com-
pete with individuals in economy of manufacture.
Still, however, there were many good authorities
who contended that a 3 long 43 a railway company did
execute its own repairs it would be found economical to
fill up the time of the men and employ the tools in
making a few engines ; and only purchasing the stock
required for the new lines, or branches.
The greater care exercised in the purchase of mate-
rials, and in the manufacture of certain parts, such as
axles and wheels, was shewn to have produced excellent
results; only four iron wheels and two wooden wheels,
had broken under passenger carriages in four years on
the London and North-Western Railway, where the
wooden were rapidly superseding the iron wheels.
Some curious results of manufacturing locomotive en-
gines were given, and it was shewn, that one great firm,
the goodness of whose productions was generally ad-
mitted, had actually incurred a heavy loss in building
engines since 1848; having, however, previously to
that time manufactured with profit. How much more
likely would a railway company be to make heavy losses
than a manufacturer who could devote his whole atten-
tion and energy to the economical conducting of his
establishment.
It was admitted that the maintenance of way,
making gas for the stations and shops, and
a few other matters might be legitimately retained in
the hands of the railway
companies; but it was con-
tended that the main objects to be attained would
eventually be, the leasing tne working, as well as the
maintenance of stock, of all lines by individual con-
tractors, and then, that ca2ital accounts would be closed,
and the shareholders would ascertain their actual po-
sition.

The discussion, which had taken a commercial turn
instead et entering, into the question of railway eco-
nomy, or of railway accidents, occupied the whole time
of the meeting, to the exclusion of any other subject.
Mr. Ebenezer Goddard, Assoc. Inst. C.E. (of
Ipswich) exhibited in the library, a small portable
asbestos gas stove, for heating apartments, of great sim-
plicity and portability, the apparatus being contained in
a box 12 inches, ! 9 inches, and 3i inches deep; also a
protected gas burner of novel construction, for gas cook-
ing stoves, in which the holes were not liable to be
choked up by any means.
At the monthly ballot the following candidates were
duly elected:—Major-General W. M`Neill, U.S., and J.
Sims, as members; Colonel Colt, U.S., Capt. R. Fitz-
Roy, RN., and Messrs. Brogden, jun., J. Forrest, 11.
O'llagen, and R. A. Robinson, as Associates.
It was announced from the chair, that the President's
Annual Conversizione would be held on Tuesday even-
ing, May 25, for which the co-operation of the members
and others was requested, so that an interesting collec-
tion of models of engineering constructions and machi-
nery, and of specimens of works of art, might be made;
and the meeting was adjourned until Tuesday, May 11,
when the following paper would be read, " Observations
on Artificial Hydraulic, or Portland Cement; with an
account of the testing of the brick beam erected at
the Great Exhibition," by M. G. F. White, Assoc.
Inst. C.E.

PARIS AND STRASBURG
RAILWAY.

A general meeting, ordinary and extraordinary, of
the shanuolders of this company was held on April 29,
at Paris, in Herf.i. Great Roots, Rue do 13 Victoire;
Count Eugene do ::-.4gur, the President, occupied the
chair, and near lina were seated the following direc-
ters:—Baron J. de Rothschild, Baron d'Harvey, M.
Jayr, M. Perdonnet. M. Bagnieres, M. Roux, M. Da-
bochet, 21. A. do Rothschild, jun., M. Touchard, M.
Rainguerlot, M. E. Chevandier, M. Blaque-Belair, M.
Fol, and M. Marcuard.

The meeting being declared duly constituted, M.
Bossange, the seq. 2Lary, proceeded to read the report:—
This document ,fives a most satisfactory account of
the state of the tindertakiny. It commences by pointing
out the favourable nature of the concession, as out of the
258,000,000 which the Strasburg Railway will have cost,
when completely terminated, the State will have contri-
buted not le,s that 120,000,000, which the company can
never be called on to repay. The main line and the
branch line of Saarbruck will both ba opened to the
public during the present year. On Juno 15, the trains
from Paris will arrive at Forbach, on the Prussian fron-
tier, without quitting the rail, and on the 15th of August
following the whole line from Paris to Strasburg will be
open to the public. To arrive at that result, the greatest
exertions had been required on the part of the company,
and it had even made an offer to the Government to in-
terfere, and aid it in urging on the works more rapidly.
The offer had been ;accepted, and it was owing to the
active co-operation thus afforded that all the main
line and the branch line to Saarbruck would be at
work during part of the fine season of the present
year—a result which must lead to a material augmen- ,
tation in the receipts. The report then enters at
length into the state of the works, and mentions that
all the stations and goods' yards are terminated, with
the exception of the station at Nancy and the terminus
at Strasburg. This last-named and most important
work, which had been undertaken by the company for
the account of the State, would not be terminated before
the spring of 1853; but the works would be sufficiently
advanced on August 15 to allow a portion of it to be
used for the goods' service, whilst a temporary construc-
tion would suffice fr passengers. The Nancy station
would be also finished in the spring of 1853, the build-
ing which had been prepared for the service of the
branch line to Saarbruck being sufficient for the ge-
neral service until that period. The report next
touches on the branch-lines of Rheims and Saar-
Bruck; the former, which was of most difficult exe-
cution, on account of its including a tunnel of
2,900 metres in length, would be terminated about
the end of next year, additional surveys having
reduced the incline from 9 to 6 millimetres per metre.
As to the branch line of Saarbruck, the section from
Metz to St. Avoid had been opened in July last, as pro-
mised, and that from St. Avoid to Furbach in tho No-
vember following, although only promised for the spring
of the present year. The results of the working of this
latter section had been exceedingly striking, particularly
in its effects on the other parts of the line. Thus, during
the first seven months of 1851, the transport of goods on
the section from Neeey a a
le!z was only 1,800 tons per
month; from August to November, it had risen to 7,300
tons per month, and since November, notwithstanding
the bad season, had reached 10,300 tons per month. Theb
gross receipts of this branch line, notwithstanding the
unfavourable, condition in which it was worked for the
heavy trains service wee net yet organiz'd, would not be
less than 14,400 f. per Kilometre and
per annum, for all
the period comprised between the opening of the For-
bach section and its junction with the main line.
now in progress,
The station of Metz would be finished somewhat be-
fore the end of 1852; and
the layin
down of the
second rail between
-- anNcy
and Metz,
would he terminatedabout the end of August. The
report tam entersinto details to show the increase in
the traffic during
the past year, and next states what
augmentation had
been effected in the working and sta-
tionary stock, to
meet the requirements of the service.
. Company, It also mentions that the treaty into last year with the
Strasburg to Bale Company, for working the section
between Sarrebourg
`Ollll Strasburg, had
turned out most
populations being accustomed
favourably, not only tbe.
communications—the greatobject •
which
by it to railway corn
__,.
c having accrues
financial
bad been in view—but a slight P,'
oti'
resatts of th
to
both companies. The iven as follow: working
of the line at the end of 1851 are g
Receipts, comprising those of the pre- F. c.
121,476,657 54
ceding years ... "• 108,193,301 85
Expenses of the same period ••• "

13,283,355 69

Surplus of recei)ta ••• 3
Deduct caution money of 50,000 f. Of 773,333 34
per cent. rente at 36f. 40c.... •

Stem disposable on Dec. 31 •-• ••• 12,510,022 35
Amongst the conditions of the concession was one which
interdicted any distribution of dividend until the whole of
the interest served on the portion of the capital paid-np
had been reimbursed. That restitution was
now nearly
effected. The sum paid since 1845 to December, 1852,
for interest had been 15,168,500 f., and the profits of the
waking and the funds arising from interest on sums in-
vested, 13,477,146 f., so that there remained to be re-
paid only 1,285,354 f. The report then touches on the
question of the junction line round Paris, the railway
discount bank, and the line uniting the Northern and
Strasburg Railways; and then proceeds at considerable
length to treat the question of the treaty lately passed
with the Government, by which, on certain conditions,
the length of the concession of the Strasburg Company
has been prolonged to 99 years, from November, 1855.
As the principal points of this treaty have been already
published, it is unnecessary to enter into the subject here
!*, any length. It may suffice to say that bhe Strasburg
Company_ ( ngkages to pay 10,000,000 f. to the company
tut° execute a line from Blesmes to Gray, and, in addi-
n:toexeoute a branch-line at its own expense, estimated
a,_tu about. 6,800,000 f. from Metz to Thionville, and to pro-
le g that breach-line afterwards to the French fron-
tier, shoal
lined ea their the
neighbouring Governments establish
obtains the proinut° communicate with it. In return it
and sation
to
make gitn of the concession, the dividendsauthori-
before the termination of the
main railway
ing down only one thebranchliae lines; and the faculty of lay-
Forbad], as long as ,_°f rails between Metz and
tne gross
section did not reach 18 receipts of that
The Strasburg Company, 4,0 s
00fr. per kilometre.
a matter of pm-
N Eves i).\ 1 *nbsi, in order to pre„retit
undue
------knelVanged that the tlray line ahouicti, _ epmpetition,
11 f ~,
' ,Y)'.Dy a ixed board, 0120-ii,;„: composed be
of
directorsadministered
.... - EtrAburg line. The report also allude of the
... t
\' ''.occasi ()lie ci by the heavier s to the expenses
rails employed by th
- I-7'4 *mg Company, the lighter ones specified o Stras-
Lthe Cahier
.. , 4' d e- b "-rt. found insufficient, and
~.... es sitrge., el-6 then applies
for leave to contract a loan to meet that and the other
xi a g

THE

expenses now imposed on _it)
: and which aro thus enu-
meratedF.

To the St. Gray Company ... ...;
Expenses for the line from Metz to 'AI lion- - 800,000
vine ... ... ... ... •• • 6, 'l,OOO
10,000,000 f.
7.)
Expense if that line should be prolon,ged 5,00,,
Sum for the line round Paris ... ••• 1,000,0 t,
For the additional weight of rails .... 7,000,000

29,800,0001.
or, in round numbers, 30,000,000 fr. Of that sum
5,000,000 f. would not be required at present. The report
proposes to raise the sum required by an emission of de-
bentures of 500 f. each, at 5 per cent. interest, to be repaid
by annual drawings in 99 years, at' the rate of 650 f.
The holder of five shares of the Strasburgh
line will have a right to one debenture, 125 f. to be
paid on subscribing, 1251. on Decemoer 1, 1852, 1251.
on June 1, 1853, and 1251. on December 1, 1853. The
whole number of debentures is to be 60,000, of which
10,000 will be held in reserve, as not at present requi-
ring to be issued. The report concludes by summing
up the principal points mentioned in the course of the
statement, and declaring that the 'working of 240
kilom. (150 miles) of the main-line had given a return
of 9f per cent. on the capital expended on that length
of line.
This report was received with loud applause by the
meeting.
The report of the committee appointed to examine the
accounts of 1851 was then read, and the accounts ap-
proved of.
The treaty between the State and the company was
next carried by acclamation. The convention made with
the State for the execution of the junction railway round
Paris was also agreed to.
On the question of authorising the loan of 30 millions,
of which 25 millions would only be required at once,
A shareholder proposed that this latter sum should
be 20 millions.

This proposition was negatived, and the authorisation
to issue the debentures, as proposed by the Board, car-
ried by acclamation.
The Chairman then stated that the subscription to
the loan would be open at the office of the company from
the sth to the 15th of May.
A shareholder inquired when the first drawing would
take place?
The Chairman replied in August 1554. The interest
at five per cent. would run from the Ist of June next.
A Shareholder inquired whether there would be a
dividend next year?
The Chairman replied that there v,as every proba-
bility that their receipts would warrant that course. At
the next general meeting, the shareholders would decide
if the surplus receipts should be divides! or not.
The business of the day being over, the meeting was
about to terminate, when
The Chairman stated that the Board of Directors in-
tended, for the 15th of August next, when the whole
line to Strasburg would be opened, to send a free ticket
to that place and back to every shareholder who attended
the present meeting.
This announcement was received with loud cheering.
The proceedings then terminated.

MEXICO.
(From the New York Weekly Herald.)
A recent steamer brought four royal letters to Pre.
sident Arista. The first and second are from Queen
Victoria, and relate to the removal of Mr. Bankhead and
the appointment of Mr. Doyle as Minister to Mexico. The
third is dated at the palace of Madrid, January 15, 1852,
and is signed by Isabella 11., Queen of Spain. It informs
President Arista of the interesting fact that the young
Princess whom Isabel has lately been th e means of usher-
ing into the world, has received the name of Maria
Isabel Francisca Asia Cristina et Francisca de Paula.
The fourth letter is dated at the Tuileries, January 12,
1852, is signed by Louis Napoleon, said countersigned
by Targot. It is as follows.—

THE PRINCE LOUIS NAPOLEON, PRESIDENT OF THE
FRENCH REPUBLIC, TO TILE PRESIDENT OF THE
MEXICAN REPUBLIC, GREETING

Great and Good Friend,—The unjust and con-
stantly increasing hostility of the Legislative Assem-
bly, its repeated attempts at usurpation against
my authority, and the intrigues of the ancient
parties, menaced France with an anarchy which
might perhaps soon have extended over the
whole of Europe. I have already brought to your
knowledge the resolution which I thought it proper to
adopt of causing justice and the public safety to prevail
against an impuissant legality. The nation, when con-
sulted, responded spontaneously. The vote cast, with
almost entire unanimity, ratified the appeal which I
made to the people on the 2d of December, and while
empowering me to form a new constitution, conferred
upon me the Presidency for ten years. Such is the
event which, in establishing political unity, gives to
power the necessary strength to preserve social order
and secure stability. The exceptional measures
demanded by circumstances will not prevent the
country from receiving as speedily as possible insti-
tutions conformable to its political habits and its
new necessities. The government, moreover, will
consider it a point of honour to preserve peace,
and to make still more intimate the relations
which it now enjoys with Mexico. I take pleasure in
hoping that you will partake of the sentiments which
animate me, and I willingly seize this opportunity for
renewing to you 'the expression of my wishes for the
prosperity of Mexico. I pray God, my,great and good
friend, to preserve you in his holy guardianship.
Written at the Palace of the Tuileries, on the 12th of
January, in the year of Grace, 1852.
Your sincere friend,
Turgot. Lours NAPOLEON.

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