The Sun.
London, England, 1852-02-13 00:00:00

pared, and after consulting with the Town Clerk, Soli-
citor, and Rernembrancer, we approved of the notice,
end ordered the same to be duly inserted in the Gazette
and papers accordingly. We also directed the plane and
models of the contemplated measure to he laid before us
at our next meeting, and that the question of appointing
competent engineers should be then considered, and we
requested the architect in the mean time to examine the
plan and estimate prepared by Mr. Pearson.
" That at our subsequent meeting, the Rernembrancer
reported that the notices had been duly inserted in the
Gazette and newspapers, as directed by us. The City
architect was heard on his proceedings under the order
of the previous meeting; and Mr. Pearson having at-
tended, with Mr. Stevens, jun., his surveyor, laid before
us plans and sections in explanation of his general plan,
and Mr. Stevens was heard as to the gradients embraced
in the proposed measure, and stated that there was no
difficulty in connecting the proposed lino with the other
railways to the north of the Thamee.
"That your committee having heard Mr. Pearson
generally on his plan, it was resolved that the same was
desirable, if, upon further inquiry, it should appear that
no practical objection existed to the execution of the
, work, and that the cost could b 3 amply- provi led for.
And in order to fully satisfy ourselves and to afford the
necessary information to the Court, 'AC further revolved
that it should be referred to Mr. Banning, the City's
architect, with some gentlemen to he thereafter named,
to consider as to the practicability and cost of the plans
proposed by Mr. Pearson, with power to make and re-
ceive any suggestions they might think calculated to
improve the plan, and to report to us thereon. It was
further resolved, that Mr. J. W. Higgine be one of the
psi-lice to be associated with the City architect in the
inquiry; and Mat Mr. J. Walker bo the engineer to be
in like manner associated; and we requested E. Ilarri-
eon, Esq., dei_uty, our chairman, with Mr. Bunning, to
pat themselves in communication with those gentlemen
forthwith, and request that they
next meeting. would attend us at our
That rt our meeting on 21st November last we were
attended by Mr. Walker and Mr. Bunning, who were
both heard, and the latter laid before us a communica-
tion from Mr. Higgins, in reply to the reference to him,
when_ wo
" Resolved—That the consideration of the subjects be
adjourned to Monday, 15th December. to receive and
consider the reports from Mr. Banning, Mr. Walker and
Mr. Higgins respectively. ,
" That your committee met on the 15th December
accordingly, and received reports from those gentlemen,
copies of which are hereunto annexed for the informa-
tion of the Court, and are respectively marked A, B,
and C. We were also on that occasion attended by Mr.
Pearson as the projector of the plan, who laid before us
a statement from Mr. Stevens in explanation of the same,
and' particularly with reference to the cost of the pro-
jected measure, After hearing all the parties, and fur-
ther considering the subject, we referred it to Mr. Wal-
ker to report to us how far it would be practicable to
connect the proposed trunk railway with the Great Nor-
thern, the Great Western, and the Eastern Counties
Railways; and it was also referred to Mr. Higgins and
Mr. Bunning to consider and report as to the cost in re-
spect of the property involved in any mode which Mr.
Walker mieht agree to be practicable in an engineering
point of view, for connecting the present railways with
the proposed trunk line. We also authorised Mr. Hig-
gins and Mr. Banning to give Mr. Pearson any informa-
tion respecting these reports which in their discretion
they might think proper to communicate.
" That at a meeting on the 19th December we di-
rected Mr. Walker to be informed that we wished to have
his report on the 29th December, when we would meet
to receive) it.
" Having then heard Mr. Pearson upon his plan, who
in addition read a statement in respect of the informa-
tion he was desirous of having as to the estimates of Mr.
Bunning and Mr. Higgins, and having also beard these
gentlemen upon the subject, we resolved that they should
be requested to give Mr. Pearson the amount of
their estimates with respect to the property to the south
of the lino marked on the plan referred to in Mr. Pear-
son's statement.
"That your committee accordingly met on the 29th
December, when we received a report from Mr. Walker
upon their last reference, accompanied with a map and
four sections in explanation of it, we also received copies
of the reports of Mr. Bunning and Mr. Higgins to Mr.
Pearson, giving him their estimates, as directed, and
beard each of the gentlemen respectively upon the sub-
ject of their report, and we resolved to discharge the
reference to Mr. Higgins and Mr. Bunning as to the cost
of the several communications with the other railways,
as some of the lines were purely hypothetical, and we
did not feel justified in incurring, for the present, the
expense of such a survey, having satisfied ourselves of
the practicability of the communication.
"Having thus detailed our various proceedings, it now
remains for us to allude to the reports of Mr. Walker,
Mr. Higgins, and Mr. Bunning, as well as to the state-
ment of Mr. Stevens, all of which we have caused to be
hereunto annexed, for the more full and complete infor-
mation of this honourable court.
" And your committee beg further to report to your
Honourable Court the;, having, as before stated, deter-
mined that Mr. Pearson's plan was desirable, if no prac-
tical objection existed to its completion, the expense being
amply provided for, we subsequently considered Mr.
Walker's report of December 15, 1851, and are of opinion
that such report does not show any practical engineering
difficlty in its execution; tut, on the contrary, that it is
capable of completion with only the ordinary difficulties
attending such a lino through a crowded part of the
town, and where so many streets and thoroughfares are
to be interfersd with; but as the surmounting of these
difficulties will afford facilities for improving many of the
streets and communication, they may, in the result, be
rather a recommendation to the plan than an objection.
Mr. Walker, in his report, specifying distinctly all the
work} to be done, estimates the amount, upon a conside-
ration orthe details, at 750,0001.
"As to the cost of the execution, Mr. Higgins and Mr.
Banning, having been in consraunicatton with Mr. Walker
upon the hasty and general survey which the limited
time allowed them only permitted them to make, state in
their reports that they had estimated the amount under
compulsory dealings in the total (detailed or apportioned
estimates being impracticable) not to exceed 1,673,000/.
after deducting the estimated value for surplus properties,
the market sites and building frontages, and sites round
the passenger stetion and the intended streets, making,
together with the amount of 750,0001. before reported by
Mr. Walker, the sum of 2,423,000/.
" Mr. John H. Stevens, the engineer and surveyor
employed by Mr. Pearson, 'in a report to that gentle-
man, dated 15th December, 1851, states his estimate of
the cost of construction at 800,0001., including the entire
cost of excavating the ground for four double linee, with
sidings, the viaduct over Farringdon-street, the raising
of Holborn Valley, the alteration and reconstruction of
sewers, the completion of the connexion of all side
streets with the main line of road, and the completion of
the four lines of railway and their stations, including all
contingencies; and further estimates the balance of loss
between the purchase of the whole property required,
and the sale of the surplus at less than 700,0601, in-
cluding the sums for trade compensation and the con-
tingent loss between buying and selling surplus property,
not required to be taken for the purposes of the under-
taking, making together the sum of 1,500,0001.
" In addition to the practicability of the trunk line,
inasmuch as the ultimate profit of that line, as well as
its benefit to the public and the city of London, must in
a great measure depend upon the-other Imes to the north
of the river Thames having access to it, we referred it
to Mr. Walker to report to us the general practicability
of communication between these several lines of railway,
and we received from him the report, which we consi-
dered sufficient to ,how the reasonable practicability of
the junction of the trunk line with the Great Western,
the North-Western, the Great Northern, the Eastern
Counties Hailwaye, and the Dock Junction, by means of
several lines, some. in existence, others projected, and
others alternative, in-none of which, however, are there
any unusual engineering difficullies to prevent their exe-
cution.

We are, therefore, of opinion that the trunk lino
and the communicating lines are practicuble, and with-
out expressing any opinion whether the corporation of
London would or could with propriety embark in any
railway scheme, which we consider to be purely a ques-
tion for this Honourable Court, and not within our pro.
vince, we do not see any objection to the trunk line only
being carried to the proposed terminus, provided it is
to be executed with the consent and the approbation of
the corporation; and we consider that it would be moat
desirable to secure, if possible, to the public and the Cor-
poration of London, the great benefits whichprwovilelma:niste
from such a terminus, and the street improvements
which will be the necessary consequences
beyond that foran
of the
any risk
struction of the line may be secured without con-
being incurred by the corporation
there will be an adequate return."
Mr. Deputy HARRISON then moved that the considera-
tion of the report be postponed, and that the report and
appendices be printed and circulated
bers of the Court. amongst the mem_
Me. H. L. TAYLOR said he had
objection to the
printiag of the document just read 110
ond the reports of
Messrs. Walker, Bannina,
printing the vie
k; and Higgins, but ho objected
to the idea of
and opinions of the
projector, who had alreadytwspslayed his talents on the
subject sufficiently totthhee ju lic. It would be nothing
less than identifying
that ingenious ourt with the speculations of
gen:lei:nail, and he should therefore move
an amendment to the effect of excluding from the mo-
tion the statements, opinions,projector.
and explanations of the
Alderman SIDNEY said if the Court should determine
to print the re
they were bound to and the appendices of the engineers,
nh
to
print the observations of the pro-
jector.—(Hear,kssional ear.) It would be found that the pro-
remarkable tr
men engaged_ upon the occasion entertained very
half a trillion to
of opinion, varying, itnhdoeuesda,nfdroimn
theirto two million four hundred
estimatei of the probable expense.—(Hear, hear,
and loud cries of " No, no," ald laughter.) It would be
recollected, too, that the esti,-,ato was confined to the
junction with ono railroad, whereas upon the introduc-
tion of the plan the junction with four was contemplated,
a project which would have swelled the most moderate
esimato to upwards of six millions.—(Laughter, End
cries of "Oh" and " Hear.") If the Court would print
would be able to understand the the docaments they
magnitude of the plaa, and coull not be charged with
injustice or prejudice.--(Hear, hear.)
Mr. WILLIAM JONES said it would be en act of great
unfairness not to publish the whole of the documents
upon which the committee had founded the report which
had been just read to the Court. It was a subject
which generally aff.cted the constituency, and upon
which every member of the corporation ought to be
fully in formed.—(Hear,hear.)
Mr. Deputy LOTT said the documentar matter in-
cluded the able and persuasive address ofy .Mr. Charles
Pearson, and he would ask the Court whether they had
ewer yet done such a thing as print the evidence of their
of his own form
own officer upon a Scheme Eng.—(near,
bear, and laughter, and cries of c; 011:") Ile would bay