The Sun.
London, England, 1852-05-14 00:00:00

RAILWAYS IN PORTUGAL.

A translation has recently been issued of the report
of the Commissioners appointed by the Government of
Portugal to consider the construction of railways in
that country. The Commissioners commence by point-
ing out that the political and social are quite as impor-
tant as the commercial bearings of the question, and
that it is to her course in this respect that Belgium owes
much cf the solid independence of her present position.
All Europe, it is added, even including Spain, is now
alive to the necessity of these works, and Portugal alone
is doing nothing. At the same time it is contended
that there is no country that could experience more be-
nefit from them or where they are so essential, since its
geographical position with regard to America and Eu-
rope should render it ono of the great points of com-
merce, while at present the cost of transit per ton for
goods is 4i. 6d, a league, and for passengers 2s. 6d. a league
apart from loss of time. Tho commissioners think "that
there is no one who does not see that a railway connect-
ing the south with the north of Europe, Lisbon
with Madrid, Paris, and Brussels, is a line loudly
called for by the state of progress, end one that would act
like an electric chain in galvanizing the inanimate body
of old Portugal." The cost of such an undertaking, that
is to say, from Lisbon to the frontier, with a single rail,
they estimate at about 1,400,0001., and, although it
might be urged that this would suffice for 400 leagues of
common roads, which are sadly wanted, such roads would
be comparatively ineffectual, and might take a genera-
tion to complete, at the end of which Portugal would
be altogether behind the world. With regard to the
best route, the Commissioners describe two as having
been chiefly indicated for selection. One they designate
the Northern, and the other the Eastern. The Northern
would run from Lispon to Oporto, through Santarem,
and thence to Braganza, traversing Spain by Valladolid
until it joins the line from Madrid to Irun. The Eastern
would take its course from Lisbon along the right bank
of the Tagus, which it would cross between Santarem and
Abrantes, continuing thence to the neighbourhood
of Badajoz,
.where it would join a line from the
frontier to Madrid. With regard to both these plans the
Commissioners confess the data in their possession to be
very imperfect. They nevertheless decidedly prefer the
Eastern line. Its length would be much less, being only
260 kilometres, while the other would be 564; it would
traverse a morelevel country; its cost would be 1,300,0001.
or 1,500,0001., instead of 4,000,0001., which would be the
cost of the Northern; and it would unite Lisbon di•
rectly with Madrid.. As the first section of it would
proceed to Santarem, Oporto could subsequently be
reached by a branch from that place, which would ulti-
mately form a basis
.for all the other lines that might be
proposed. Meanwhile negotiations, it is said, should be
opened with Spain to fix the point of junction between
the lines of the two countries, and also to concert mutual
arrangements as to the period of their completion; but
the result of these should not be waited for, since the work
might be begun at once and carried to Santarem, whence,
in case of obstacles on the part of Spain, it could then be
diverted to Oporto. As respects the mode of execu-
tion, the Commissioners state that it would be impossi-
ble for the Government to undertake it, on account of
the low condition of the public credit and finances. On
the other hand, private companies would not do so, be-
cause the probable returns would not be sufficiently
tempting. It only remains, therefore, for the State to
guarantee a minimum rate of interest and sinking fund
on a fixed amount, or to give a guarantee on the actual
cost, whatever it might be, allowing a certain bonus to the
contractors as soon as any part shall be finished and open.
On account of the difficulty at present of specifying
any precise amount, the Commissioners recommend the
latter course, and propose, therefore, to fix a maximum
of interest of 6 per cent. (with 1 per cent. for a sinking
fund), and a bonus of three per cent. upon the actual cost
of construction and materials. As security for this
guarantee, they would suggest that the Go-
vernment should set apart the tax now Im-
posed for the payment of the Bank of Lisbon notes,
which will become available in August, 1853, and
which yields 135,0001. Calculating only the existing
traffic, the Commissioners arrive at the conclusion that
the line would pay 4i per cent. interest, in which case,
if the cost should not excited 1,300,0001., the Govern-
ment would only have to make up 15,000/4 but, sup-
posing they had to make up the whole, the above
tax
would provide for it and leave a large margin. It would
be contrary to all experience, however, if the undertaking
did not beget a degree of prosperity
the present amount of transit to be greatly nugme d
li '
especially as it would .Tender practicable the exportation..
of much agricultural produce, such as wheat,Bmewb
Finally, the
is now prevented by the cost of transport.
a
ri • •
eioramissioners refer to a proposal submitted byders
such as to cause
Hislop, in consequence of an invitation for tenders
in
1849, which "thel cannot think of approving," and
recommend that a fresh competition shou:d be opened.—

phrel ei e readease the folloDwiEngNinillthAe Inndlie;endance Beige :-
44 It
to
happens not
be
that Prince Christian of Glucksburg unites
s is person the rig
.his brother
withhotsutwihniteehrehsat
have
eo
dreecsaigllnatoteind inhdirahoaws
tuccessor to the Danish throne and its dependencies, on
nee Ferdinand, d,thacetuparlelysehnetirKpinre%amnpdtiovfe
d " The rights of the Dukes of Augustenburg and Son-
Le!burg to the ancient Dutch fiefdom of Holstein not
ino
b recognised, the two lines of Oldenburg could
alone assert a claim. These two lines are that of
wuckstadt (ancient royal house of Denmark) and that
of Kiel (Russia). The Emperor of Russia and the King
oft Denmark baying-
mutually resigned their rights in
of
ancient duchy-fiefdom in favour of Prince Christian
o
that
f Glucksburg, all the rights in so much as Holstein is
concerned were tranferred to the person of this latter
sister, the Princess Prince.
Danish 43 regards the succession of the other parts of the
o Anh
a uu.p eBmonarchy,sa u; which
of the King and of his brother Prince Frederick Ferdi-
nand__ to the Landgravin Princess Louisa Charlotte of
Hesse and her children, who are three in number;
1. Prince Frederick of Hesse; 2. his elder
right wife of
Mary, wife of Prince Frederick
Prince Christian of Glucksburg. The Landgravin Prin-
cess Louisa Charlotte and her two elder children, Prince
Frederick and Princess Mary, have renounced their
rights in favour of Princess Louisa, who has ceded them
to her husband. Prince Christian of Glucksburg thus
unites in his person, in virtue of these renunciations, the
including Holstein.
of succession to all parts of the Danish monarchy,
"Such are the arrangements which were signed last
Saturday at London.
" An agreement of a pecuniary nature has been con-
cluded between the King of Denmark and the Duke of
Augustenburg to settle all claims of the latter.,,

to W.B.W.—Qtrd.
AuHrourt4,Zgl,
st 3t:—MiWchtedra.S.W.