The Sun.
London, England, 1852-07-16 00:00:00

AMERICAN NEWS.

The advices from New York this week are interest-
ing. The arrival of the fortnightly Californian mail
with the more than average sum of 500,0001., had in.
creased the prevailing confidence, and all descriptions of
securities!were well maintained. The 30th of June being
the close of the financial • yearin the United States, a
table had been published in the Journal of Commerce of
the imports of manufactured goods into New York
during the past twelvemonths, the total being 57,221,062
dolls., against 64,613,747 dolls. in the preceding year
A falling off was consequentlyshown of 7.392,685 dolls.,
or 1,4p0 0001., which had occurred chiefly since the
Ist of January. Under these circumstances, stocks
were low, and a good trade was expected. The pro-
spects of the harvest were also very favourable. Rail-
road bonds con,inued to be issued in large quantities,
and the amount put upon the New York market
during the last five or six weeks had been about 800,0001.
Those of lines in fair repute were, however, still readily
taken. The particulars of the treaty arranged between
the United States, Great Britain, Costa Rica, and Nica-
ragua, for the settlement of the Mosquito and otber
boundary questions, had just transpired. The Mosquito
territory is to be pushed back northward from the San
Juan to the rivers. Rama and Segovia, and the King is
to receive in consideration the net proceeds of an import
duty of 10 per cent, ad valorem, to be levied at
Greytown for three years. Any existing grants of
land within the ceded district are to bo recognized
provided they shall not interfere with the privileges
of the Ship Canal Company. Greytown is to be under
the authority of Nicaragua, hut no tonnage or im-
port duties are to be levied on vessels or goods in-
tended for transit across the isthmus or for con-
sumption in any other State. Dues may be levied for
lighthouses, &c, but are in no case to exceed twelve
cents (sixpence) per ton. The boundaries between Nica-
ragua and Costa Rica are to begin on the south side of
the Colorado from its mouth on the. Caribbean Sea to
its confluence with the San Juan, and to proceed thence
along the south bank of the San Juan and Lake Nice
ragua till it reaches that part of the strip of land be-
tween the lake and the Pacific nearest to the river La
Flor, which flows into that ocean and to the mouth of
which a straight line is to be drawn. Costa Rica is
to enjoy in common with Nicaragua the right to
navigate the Colorado,. the San Juan, and the lake
by any vessels excepting steamers, subject to the
paramount right of the Canal Company to appro-
priate, these waters in .any way they may find neces-
sary. It is also stipulated that the Canal Company are
to have the privilege of locating on the south bank of
the San Juan four of their eight sections of land, and
that neither Nicaragua nor Costa Rica shall ereot any
works or in any way interfere either with the rivers or
the harbour of Greytown so as. to obstruct that company
or the Accessory Transit Company- The next clause
fixes 25 miles from the termini of the canal on the At-
lantic and the Pacific as the-distances to be exempt
during war from blockade, detention, or capture for ves-
sels of the United States and Great Britain. An exten-
sion of a year is allowed to the Canal Company beyond
the original period. fixed .for its commencement; and,
finally, the protection of the United States and Great
Britain is guaranteed to that body for the maintenance
of all their privileges as well as those of the Accessory
Transit Company.
From Mexico the dates were to the Bth of June (a
fortnight later than those previously received), and pre-
sented. a remarkable picture of.a Government in the last
stage of decay. Congress had adjourned on the 21st of
May, without making any provision for carrying on the
public service during the recess, and when at the last
moment the Executive made a demand far extraordinary
powers for that purpose, it was refused by a large ma-
jority. No steps had been taken towards paying the
July dividend on the foreign debt, and though the
Chamber of Deputies had persisted in voting the aboli-
tion of some of the prohibitory import duties, the
Senate had been equally stubborn on the opposite
side. The tobacco monopoly had also been left
without any alteration. Atter these events the
Government had sent orders to the custom-house
at Vera Cruz and Mazatlan to pay no claims, and to
hold in specie at its disposal all receipts. Under
these circumstances, rumours were rife of an intended
coup d'etat on the part of the President Arista—an act
which many of the leading merchants and others would
have been prepared to welcome but for the belief that
Arista, without Santa Anna's energy, possesses all his
foibles..and want of honesty, and that,
consequently,
nothing could arise from it but a succession of similar
revolutions. At present the country was virtually
without any rule whatever, since at Vera Cruz the muni-
cipal authorities had been compelled by the inhabitants
to allow an importation of flour at reduced duties in
direct contradiction to the decision of Congress,
while
at Tampico projects were entertained of
establishing a tariff precisely similar to that of
the United
States, as a preliminary,
by some artier,p it was be-
'loved
to a movement for annexation.
With regard to commercial affairs at Mexico there was
nothing new, The telegraph between the city and Vera
Cruz heel
bean completed, but was constantly-receiving
SO much
damage as to ,be almost inefficient. Quick-
silver was still decliningeand a considerable quantity is
said to have been offered at 35 dollars, delivered at the
Havannab.
From the Texian frontier the dates were to
the 14th of June,
taisce m but there had been no events of impor.
.`u urders by the Mexicans and Indians and at-
temptedt reprisals by the Americans were still the chief
topics.
With regard to Ecuador, the following, from the Pa.
it to
u
aStar, is the only piece of information. Supposing
correct, it would appear that Peru has thrown
off all disguise,disguise,and has decisively joined Gen. Flores
in 18 piratical attack
"We are credibly informed that official information
has been received in this•city, conveying the intelligence
ti.,that the Peruvian steam. corvette Remac, General
"'erne, had arrived from Callao at Guayaquil, and that
after
, a consult Aiwa with Flores, the General returned to
e„—fteellane to make arrangements to come back again im-
mediately with a stronger force, to assist General
We• are further informed
Flores in' his present invasion.
fr commence
his attack
a reliable source that General Flores will
attacic on' Guayaquil as soon as the necessary 1188iS-
tinee arrives from Peru, and from what we can learn
we shall soon have some very exciting intelligence in
reference to this long-pending affair. The opinion is,
that Flores, assisted by Peru, will have little difficulty in
making a conquest of Ecuador."

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
ja EPORT ON RAILWAYS BY THE SECRETARY
OF THE RAILWAY DEPARTMENT OF THE
nOA.RD OF TRADE.
captain
i et Simmons, the Secretary, states that this re-
het n continuation of the annual reports made by
how l Commissioners of Railways. It states, under the
the' of "Increaser-of Railway Communication," that
canon that has been made in the railway commu-
se great
of this country in- the year 1851 has not been
cetsreat as in any of the preceding years since 1844.
r rataencing from that period, there was a rapidly pro-
Lehasil'e increase in the number- of miles opened during
es,„.Btlonessive year. This increase reached its maxi-
' in 1848, in which year 1,182 miles of railway were
~ added to those previously opened for the conveyance of
aritamengers. The yearly progress has, since 1848, been
dr„!aPidly diinishing, the number of miles opened
which the last year having only amounted to 269, of
Leo 174 n England, 9 -in Scotland, and 86 in
Ireland, are i
Ire
1--'• The whole extent of 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 proportioMns:—
iles.
ITn England and Wales ••• ••• 5,306
In Scotland "'
In Ireland ... for .:
Total miles open
public
traffic... ...:
railway
..
which have
The
roc the United Kingdom
principal eourmunications by
been opened during the past year have been that part of
the South Wales and Forest of Dean Railway which ex-
tends from Gloucester to the left bank of the river Wye,
miles), and the Vale of Neath
?posit() Chepstow (27
Nterthr-Tydvil to the South Wales
Railway; from
it::
Railway near Neatly(l9 miles). The bridge across
Wye, which is a work of considerable magnitude, is
hnot,
however, yet completed. When this bridge shall
been completed and opened for- traffic, Swansea and
an
important part of South Wales will be brought into
connexion' with the general railway system of
land. . A very important line ot communication ng-
been opened during the past year in Ireland, by th
eampietinn of the,. Midland Greats
conneetinge
from Mullingar to Galway. (76 mile ) n Rsilway
that important port in the west of Ireland •
The speedy completion of this railway •
with Dublin.
measure, to be attributed to the advanceIs, in a great
which the company Mu; received f of 500,000/.
,Wtebsutesr Las
Treasury, under an. Act .passed in the
the Imperial
appears, however, that a very eo • 0 year 1849. It
these lines willnever be constructed, •
considerable portion of ,
In consequence of the'

lapse of the powers conferred upon the companies. The
returns.presented to Parliament show that the cowora,
both for the compuls try purchase of the necessary land,
and for the construction of the works, had ceased with-
out having been exercised with respect to 645 miles, and
that the power% for the compulsory purchase of lands
had been allowed to expire previous to the end of 1850 (to
which date the retutns have been made) ,o a further ex-
tent of 571 miles, reducing the number of miles of railway
not now opc n fur traffic, for making which the powers
were in force at tee end of 1850, from 5,101 to 3,885.
From a table given in the report it appears that the
agereatre length of line opened previous to 1843 was
2,036 miles; during .1844, 204 miles; in 1845, 296 miles;
in 1846, 606 milk; • in 1847, 803 miles; in 1848, 1,182
miles; in 1849, 869 miles; iu 1850, 625 miles; and in
1851, 269 miles. The total length of line opened to
December, 1851, was 6 890 miles. The length of
line authorised at the end of 1843, end during each
subsequent year, amounted, in the aggregate, to 12,317
miles, from which must be deducted for decrease by
abandonment, deviation, &c., 362 miles, leaving 11,991
miles authorised, of which 5,101 wiles remain to he
opened. It appears that the powers for the compulsory
purchase of the necessary lands have been allowed to
expire during the year 1851 to a further extent el
2 418 miles. The other powers necessary to enable
the companies to proceed with the consi ruction of
these 2,418 miles, however, are still in force, so that
if the land had been or could be purchased the
companies might still construct the railways; the pro-
bability, however, is, that with respect to nearly the
whole of these railways the land has not been pur-
chased, and that the railways will. therefore, never be
constructed under existing Acts of Parliament. If thi
be so, it would appear that there do not remain
more 1,500 miles tot the construction of which
full Parliamentary powers are now in existence; and,
as 12,317 miles were authorised by Parliament, 6,890
have been opened, and only 326 abandoned by the au-
thority of Parliament, it would appear that about.
3,600 miles have . been abandoned without the direct
sanction of Parliament, and without a corresponding
reduction by the authority of Parliament of the
capital which the companies are empowered to
raise for their construction. From the latest returns
which ••have been presented to Parliament relative to
the cepitel of railway companies, it appears that at the
end ot• 1850 railway companies had raised, either by
shares or loans, a sum equal to 240,270,746 L, 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 communication open, 867
miles in course of construction, and 4,472 not then
commenced. This sum of 122,431,9001. would, there-
fore, represent what remained of the capital authorised
to be raised by Act of Parliament, to complete the 867
miles in course 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 sanc-
tioned. by Parliament, have not been, and will probably
never bn constructed under existing Acta of Parliament,
it may reasonably be inferred that of this large sum of
122,431,900/. but a comparatively small proportion will
ever be applied to the railway purposes to which, under
the authority of Parliament, it was intended to
be applied. The sums raised annually previous
to the' year 1848 cannot be ascertained ; but
since that period Parliament Jamie required re-
turns from the companies, from which it appears
that the sums raised for railway purposes in 1848
amounted to 33,234,4181.; in 1849, to 29 574,720/. ; in
1850, to 10,522,967/. The returns of the sums raised
during 1851 have not all, as yet, been received; and,there-
fore, the amount raised for the last year cannot be
stated.- Correspondingly with this great diminution of
expenditure upon works of this nature there has been, as
it would appear from the returns presented to Parlia-
ment, a reduction in the number of persons employed
upon railways to a very. great extent, nearly propor-
tionate, as might have been expected, to the reduction
in the sums raised by the companies. It appears that
the number of persons employed an making railways was
15,947 less on the 30th of. June, 1851, than on the 29th
of June, 1850, while the number employed on railways
open for traffic has been increased by 3,589, showing
the persons employed upon • railways to have been
12,358 fewer in 1851 than in 1850. From a comparative
statement prepared with the view of exhibiting
the fluctuations in the employment given by these
extensive undertakings,
it appears that, on the let of
May, 1847, there were 47,218 persons employed on rail.
ways open for traffic, and 256,509 upon lines in course
of construction; on the Ist of May, 1848, 52,688 persons
were employed upon lines open for traffic, and 188,177
upon lines in course of construction; on the 30th of
June, 1849, the number of persons employed upon rail-
ways open for traffic was 55,968, and upon lines in
course•of construction, 103,816; on the 29th of June,
1850, 59,974 persons were employed on railways open
for traffic, and 58,885 on 868 miles of railway in course
of construction, and on the 30th of June, 1851, 63,563
were employed on railways open for traffic, and 42,938
on 734 miles of railway in course of construction. The
annual increase of persons employed on railways was
respectively 5,470, 3,280, 4,006, and 3,589; the total in-
crease between May, 1847, and June, 1851, being 16,345.
The annual decrease of persons employed on railways in
course•of construction was respectively 68,332, 84,361,
44,931nand 15.947, making the total decrease, between
May, 1847, and June, 1851, 213,571. The general re-
sult shown by these tables is, that on the 30th of Jane,
1851, the number of persons employed upon railways,
either in construction or working, was 197,226 less than
at the corresponding period in 1847. It would appear,
therefore, that in the interval which has elapsed, this
number of persons, who must have been withdrawn
from other industrial occupations in consequence of the
great demand for labour created by the impetus given in
1845 and 1846 to the construction of railways, had been
again absorbed in other occupations, and obtain a living
by othei means. The reduction of labour, as divided
between the three kingdoms, is as follows: - The
number of persons employed on the 30th of June, 1851,
is less than on the Ist of May, 1847,-In England and
Wales, by 125,296; in Scotland. by 49,306; in Ireland,
by 22,624; total diminution, 197,226. From this it will
be seen that the cessation of railway works has fallen
more especially upon Scotland, where the greatest pro-
pploarete. ionatTehreeduncumtier
tion in
ofth persons employed in eachc persons employed has taken
country on the 30th of June, 1851, was:-In England and
Wales, 80,612; in SCotland, 8,802; in Ireland, 17,087;
total, 106,501.

of sornOVERCROWDED STEAM BOATS.
On Tuesday, while the doors of the Court of Alder-
Men were closed, for the purpose of discussing a matter
connected with the magistracy of the
brought forward, with the unani-
crni toAyu
8104.
rLin
atapndonrwiti a,:csso s
approbation of the Court, the motion—
" That it be referred to the Committee for General
Purposes to appoint an inspector of steamboats plying
for hire'between Gravesend and Westminster-bridge, to
ascertain the number of passengers carried at different
times on board such boats, and to take such measures
thereon to prevent the overcrowding thereof as to the
Committee may appear advisabls;."
He referred to the act of the 14th and 15th Victoria, c.
70, passed expressly to prevent that which was daily
taking place on the Thames, to the imminent danger of
life to all who, for business or pleasure, ventured on
board. A person who embarked at Westminster, when
there appeared to be moderate room, might be so jammed
in a crowd picked up before the vessel quitted London-
bridge as not to be able to move, and, were it not for
the fresh breeze of the river, scarcely able to breathe,
for it was no uncommon sight to behold 300 or 400
persona all huddled together in the fashion of oxen, and
sheep, and pigs, in that market the name of which
ewtotuhled
Act,be soon e
Board
dlyn
fh iTs troardicesiw. By the fifth section
e masters
eoaf h
theto thenu ownersmbe r
of
n as required to furnish
carry, and by the 12th, steam vessels certificates
to
greater number of the
owner or
was
tcornesftraucatteedamo.
vessel became liable to a penaltye ofor 201. m ;or carrying a
passengers than the
the certificate, and a -
went of the penalty
wastn beintended
e d tfor apprehended
tnnthp peeundhailifatitc Good,
above the number Specified. He thought the enforce
number stated in
ly.one steam boat would produce
onpoennalty of ss. for every passenger
hisaaitl the
such a panic among the owners ofetrheetnwerdaefdt,ittehaanat
bvnear,ys
little more would be heard about overcrowded
lite
oAnct,thleikreivmeranTyhaemtheesr.
. roees;
appointed
ford
remained almost useless inndcoennsfentiredienngcetohfe
by another clause the parties aggrieved could not in the way of proving a
e -
com-
plain or. lay the information.. That necessary p
cer to
iog must be carried into effect by a person
by the. Board of Trade, .and that was the reason he
wished an inspector to be appointed, as the Boardi of
Trade would doubtless gladly empower suchf he
enforce•the clauses of this important Act. e should
fail in that project he would be prepared
to lay be-
fore the committee rules and bylaws for
of the • river, passed by-the Court of Aldermen, the regulation
ante-
cedently to the Act in question,. many
bad been inserted in the Act. The of
which claus"
re-
quired every steam boat to have ali e second bylaw
number of persons it should be permitted cense expressing the
number to be legibly painted theori to carry, such
accord-
ing to the plan .of informing paddlebnx,
doors of omnibuses of the faresandthe public on the
numbers according
to the travelling regulations
under the penalty of 61, tons of these vehicles,
for every trip in which
the offence should be
committed. The third bylaw
fixed the space which
namely, four superficial feeteach passenger should have,
a d of the deck to be measured
within the gunwales,
nthe master or manager was
compellable to ply a fine of 40s. for every passenger
number over and above the specified The Bth section
regulated the speed at the rate -of six miles per hour
the 9th
tide, and four miles an hour against it. By
section it • - was provided that any person
navigating a vessel at a furious and dangerous
rate of speed, or wilfully; negligently, or csrehssly
causing 6;
—jury to any person or property, should forfeit
104 Now, with such an act and such bylaws, and with
the support and asSiStance 'of his brother magistrates,
he had no fear, if they would grant the motion of which
he had given notice, of the abatement of so intolerable
a nuisance.—(Hear.)
Sir P. LAURIE said he had much pleasure in second-
ing the motion, the'objectof which was of such palpable
use as not to require discussion.
The Loan MAYOR thanked Alderman Wilson for
having brought forward so important a question, and
for having given such strong assurances of applying .
himself' to tnescorrection of the. dangerous evil.
The motion was then carried unanimously, and
Alderman WILSON said that he would call the cow.
I
mittee into active business forth4ith,