The Sun.
London, England, 1839-05-03 00:00:00

mile higher up. He proposed to have a wooden bridge with a
span of 300 feet.
A Mearnert asked had any calculation been made of the re-
lative expense of the two lines?
Mr. STEF nrssoN said he could merely give an opinion off-
hand, and it appeared to him that the line of Chester would be
made under the average cost of railways, while the other lie
hardly knew to name a figure by per mile. It would certainly
cost more than the London and Birmingham line, but in fact
no such attempt had ever before been made in the engineering
world.
The CIIAIR3IAN—Then as to curves.
Mr. STEPHENSON—At Bangor the curve was about half a
mile radius, but there was no other of even so small a radius as
a mile ; while on the Port Dynllaen there were a number of
curves not a quarter of a mile radius.
After some further statements, for the purpose of showing
the impracticability of the line to Port Dynllaen,
Mr. DEVONPORT and some of the other gentlemen present
expressed themselves perfectly satisfied with the superiority of
the line by ehester and Holyhead.
In answer to questions as to the conveyance of heavy goods
by the respective lines, Mr. S. stated that the difference would
be considerable, but he had not made any calculation.
Captain DuxnAs said he had paid much attention to the
subject, and had got a friend, Captain Beechy, R.N., to make
some calculations as to the relative distances of Ormshaad,
Holyhead, and Port Dynllaen Harbours. From his calculations
it appeared that Holyhead was eight miles nearer Kingstown
than either of the others. The prominent position of Holy-
head mountain was also a most advantagecus point in favour of
that harbour. Holyhead at the present moment would take
the largest steam-boats now atleat ; whereas great improve-
ments would be necessary in Port Dynllaen.
Mr. W. S. O'Bittere expressed his satisfaction at the state-
ments laid before the meeting, and begged to ask what vas the
next step they intended to take?
The CHAIRMAN said there was a determination, on the part
of capitalists to embark in the Holyhead Railway. As the Go-
vernment had to some extent sanctioned the line ''to Port Dyn-
llaen, by allowing Mr. Vignolles to make a sur;ey, their ob-
ject was to show to the public, and the Irish Members who were
interested in it, that the former line was the best that could
be established. There was no idea of applying to Govern-
ment for assistance, as that was likely to be useless.
Mr. UNIACKE said the object was to lay before the Govern-
ment and the public, the relative merits of the two lines; and
there could, then, be no doubt as to the result.
Sir D. NORRIS moved the first resolution, approving of the
line by Holyhead.
Mr. J. GRATTAN, M.P., seconded the resolution.
Mr. G. EvAxs, M.P_, moved the second resolution, which
was seconded by Mr. BERMINGHAM, who pointed out the great
advantages that would accrue from the proximity of extensive
coal fields to the proposed line of railway.
Mr. 'WILBRAHAM moved the third resolution, the object of
which was to appoint a deputation to wait upon the Chancellor
cf the Exchequer.
Sir W. SOMERVILLE seconded the Resolution, which was put
and carried unanimously.
In answer to some further questions,
Mr. STEPHENSON said the line to Holyhead could be made,
if funds were forthcoming, in two years; the other, if practica-
ble, which he denied, could not be made in twenty years. They
could not, in fact, sink shafts from the nature of the debris with
which the valley was filled, and there were several years work
before they could reach the mouth of the tunnel.
Sir W. SOMERVILLE was not aware that the Port Dynllaen
line bad been recommended by the Government.
The CHAIRMAN explained that it was marked in the Corn-
missioners' map as a line approved by the Government, and thus
a prejudice was created against the Holyhead line.
Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, and the meeting
adjourned.