The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-19 00:00:00

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE-.

THE WAR OFFICE AND THE LAILWAYS.

The fellowieg circular bai been issued to every rail-
way in the United lie-,gdom:—
" War-office, April 5, 1852
" Sir,—The Secretary at War having had under his
consideration the subject of the fares at present paid by
the public for the conveyance of troops by railway—viz.,
2d. per mile for each officer, and Id. per mile for each
soldier, and being of opinion that rates more favourable
to the public may now be fairly expected for such con-
veyance, eoNsideriog the large number of the military
who use the railway.. at small trouble and inconvenience
to the companies,-the managers being previously warned
of the exact numbers about to be forwarded, and consi-
dering the very general reduction that has taken place
in passengers' fares, especially in the case of excursion
trains, I am directed to request that you will • bring the
subject before the board of directors, for the purpose of
ascertaining whether they would be willing to enter into
an agreement with the Secretary at War for placing
the cheree fur the conveyance etf troops, especially when
moving in large bodies, on a more favourable scale, pro-
portionate to those usually charged to passengers by
excursion trains=

4"lshe following rates are those which the Secretary
at War would propose, and which are not lower than
what the public have, he considers, an equitable right to
expect for a serv!co of this description:—
F.r officers proceeding singly or with a body of
troops less than 50 in number=-lid. a mile each.
" For soldiers proceeding singly or in less numberis
than 50-41 d. a mile.
"For their wives or widows-41. a mile each.
"For officers proceeding with a body of troop of 50
men and upwards-11 a mile each.
_ __"For soldiers proce,d.ng in bodies of fifty men and
upward 4, d. a mita each, a day's notice being given to
the e,hapAoy.
"For their wives, if proceeding with them, 1 31. a
mile each.

" S )Idiers' children under three years of age to be
convey' d free.
"Above three and under twelve years of age, at half
the foregoing rates. Above twelve, at full fare as charge-
able fur their parents.
, " The amount of luggage to be conveyed free of charge
to remain as at present, viz, :—For every officer, one
hundred weight; for each soldier, soldier's wife, or
widow, one half-hundred weight.
" Thr, Secretary at War is anxious to obtain as early
as possible the d-cision of the various railway companies
on the proposition now submitted to their consideration
before the annual removal of the troops takes place.
" I cm, Sir, your obedient servant,
(Signed) "B HAwEs."

YoItK- AND NORTH MIDLAND.--It appears that the
long pending snit between Messrs. Crawshaw, railway
contractors, of York, and the above company has been
.at length broukht to a termination. The action was
commenciel in October, 1847, and in November, 1849,
was referred to the Recorder of London, who concluded
his investigation about the-end of October, 1851. The
sum sought to be recovered by the plaintiff's, for con-
tract work done un the York and Scarborough branch
railway, amounted to 142,5601, and the amount 0: the
award, to be paid on or before the Ist of May, is
34,1761., being 100,3841. less than the claim. The com-
pany will have to pay the costs, which it is believed will
be very heavy.
CORNWALL.—The report of the directors of this,com-
pany, to be submitted to the shareholders on Wednes-
day, states that the warrant of this railway department
of the Board of Trade has bean obtained tor abandoning
the branches and reducing the capital from 1,600,000/.
to 1,125,0001, which they believe will be more than
ample to complete the main line from Plymouth to
Falmouth. The 251. shares are converted into 20/.
shares, thus reducing the liability of the shareholders
one-filth, while full credit is given for all peat payments,
equal to 3/. 15s. on each 20/. share. It is- proposed
the proprietors who have more sharer:thin- they can
conveniently hold should have the opportunity to lessen
their ltahilitiea, byrforteiting one-fourth of their shares,
on paying the call now made of 15s. per share on the
remaining three-fourths. The directors- believe that
further calls to the amount of 101. 10s.' per share will
suffice, with the borrowing powers of the company, to
complete the works and provide the working stook. ' It
is proposed to make a single line, but to provide turf&
ciept land, and construct bridges and tnnuels for -a
doable line. The experience of the West. Cornwall, now.
in course of construction; proves that_ the works can be
completed for the present estimate. Full confidence is
placed in the friendly feeling and liberality of the land-
owners along the line. The traffic already realised on the
West Cornwall Railway confirms tke
made for the Cornwall Railway that estimates of traffic
the latter will yield
a return on the outlay of at least 4i per cent: The di-
rectors congratulate the shareholders on the prospect
now opened of Dialling the line at a small cost, and com-
pleting a continuous line of railway from London to
Falmouth and Penzence;
READING, GIIILDFoRD, AND REIGATE.—The land-
owners and inhabitants of the districts adjoining this
railway have just presented a memorial to the President
of the Board of Trade, setting forth that the company
obtained their Bill from Parliament on the express
ground of furnishing accommodation to the inhabitants
of the west of England, particularly of Bristol,- Exeter,
and Plymouth, so as to enable them to proceed direct to
Dover, Folkstone, and other places on the south-eastern
coast, and ultimately to Paris, Brussels, and the conti-
nent, without being obliged to go round by London;
that since the completion of the line no such communi-
cation as the public were led to expect has been afforded,
but a spirit of hostility to other companies who will not
accede to their terms appears to have actuated the direc-
tors in violation of their original engagement, and to
the sacrifice of the public interest; that no proper ar-
rangements has been made to meet the trains upon the
Great-Westero and South-Western railways, but, on the
contrary, alterations of time have been made, apparently
with u;, other object than to force those companies to a
cancetaten, and thus the convenience of the public has
been sacrificed to the dissensions of the respective
managers. The memorialists represent that this conduct
is a breech of faith on the part et the directors, inasmuch
as they have not continued their line-into the station of
the Great Western at Reading, thereby entailing the re-
meval of luggage and passengers to a distance
,of a
quarter of a mile by road, and causing serious public
uneecessary loss and expense. The memorialists call
upon the Railway Board to exert its authority iu com-
pelling the directors to fulfil the conditions upon which
they obtained their Act, and if the Railway Board pos-
sess no such power, they then call upon the board to
apply to Parliament to have additional power vested in
the beard for such purpose. .- - -