The Sun.
London, England, 1839-04-29 00:00:00

RAILWAYS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sia,—The proceedings of Parliament on the mwion
of Lord G. Somerset respecting Railways are of great
importance, and unless conducted with care by disinte-
rested parties, and under correct information, are cAcu-
lated to do infinite mischief, not only to Railway pro-
perty, as it at present stands, but to its ultimate secu-
rity, and will tend materially to discourage public
undertakings under the sanction of Parliament for any
purpose, however benfficial they might be to general
good. Having some knowledge of the particular c:r-
cuinstances which led to the late dispute between the
Railway Company in London, and Messrs. Robins and
Co. carriers, iald which was the cause of the Parlia-
mentary interference above alluded to, I have consi-
dered that this act of preference in one public body
may most probably lead to general restrictions, which
are not required, to the discouragement of that
spirit and science which is at present doing
wonders for the advancement of our comfort and con-
venience ; and have taken the liberty of transmitting
you the result which some experience on the present
state of the main line of railway has enabled me to
form, which, if you consider worthy of notice, you may
hand down to the public.
There can be no doubt of the fact, that railways
afford a most superior mode of conveyance, compared
with the best which we have hitherto been accustomed
to, and which they are rapidly superseding.
The very fact of their so superseding them is a direct
proof of their superiority in public estimation. Tra-
velling between London and the north of England is
now performed in half the time, at half the expense,
with half the fatigue, and with one twentieth past of the
danger, as it was by coach and horses or posting. Per-
sons who from ill health or other causes could not have
undertaken a long journey, can now go one
hundred miles with ease. Noblemen, Members
of Parliament, and merchants, whose business may
call them from their houses to London, are enabled
to pass the entire week in town, and leaving there
on Saturday night, are conveyed to their own breakfast
table in the north of England by Sunday morning.
Goods which by canal were from four to six days be-
tween London and the manufacturing districts, are now
only twelve hours in transit, at the same expense ; and one
great blessing which railway conveyance,by its expedition,
affords, is that it has nearly superseded the necessity
for Sunday work and Sunday travelling. Such being the
benefits derived from railways, the public very natu-
rally give them a preference wherever they are esta-
blished to the discontinuance of the old mode of tra-
velling. Still there is a strong prejudice against them,
arising from various causes, but I have noticed that
the complaints against them, which have been at
all worthy of notice, have originated chiefly from
the incompleteness of Railways, or of their ar-
rangements. These, of course, with their causes,
are daily subsiding. It should be considered
that Railways have withdrawn from some localities their
accustomed and more direct modes of conveyance to
particular points, without having yet provided others
equally convenient in their stead. They have intro-
duced a restraint upon the conduct of all travellers,
which, in consequence of the numbers moving together,
is necessary for general security. They have done away
with that individual influence which parties, by dint of
liberal fees to servants, used to exercise on the old
roads, but above all, they have created a sud-
den and fearful deterioration in the value of
property. on the old lines of road, and taken

_ .
from many families those means of obtaining a respect-
able livelihood, which they had in some instances en-
joyed fur generations. Amongst Post-masters, Inn-
keepers, Carriers, and their dependents, a revolution has)
begun, with distressing progress, more especially against
the masters. All these are loud and incessant in their
outcry, and not without justice. A few years will stop
all this ; but in the mean time, should not some
means be thought of to frame a compensation
for those who are suffering for the public
convenience, and is it just or even is it ex-
pedient that our increase of comfort should be exacted
at such a price as the ruin of thousands ? I would
suggest that as far as possible all losses occasioned by
the introduction of Railways (first, the deficiency in
the moneys invested in shape of turnpike trust and post-
horse duty, afterwards any special and material losses by
individuals) should be liquidated under the superintend-
ence of Commissioners, and that for such purpose there
should be a duty laid (not on Railways, for that would be
to tax a property whose profits are doubtful) but on the
public traveller, for whose ben fit such property has
been advanced at a considerable risk, widlst his advan-
tage is certain. Say a duty of 10 to 15 per cent. on
the receipts for passengers, in addition to the fares
charged by Railway, so that a fare of 20s. would be
subject to a duty of 25., to be paid at same time, and ac-
counted for by the Railway Company in same manner
as that from Insuran,:e Companies, and subject to the
same commission of 5 per cent, for collection. The
cost of posting a carriage, with two persons inside, from
London to Liverpool, is not less than 20 guineas. The
same is conveyed by Railway for 111. 10s. The ordi-
nary fare inside the Mail from Birmingham to Liver-
pool, was 2/. 25.; the journey is now performed for 21s.
London and Liverpool, Manchester and Preston, are
.. .

now brought within ten hours' ride in a lux-
, urmus carriage, at the same expense as was
charged Mr a scat outside of a coach, which
was twenty-four hours in performing the same route.
Surely then the public would have no reason to com-
plain if an additional charge of ten per cent. were made
upon the present fares, with a view of compensation to
those who had suffered for their advantage.
Tne foregoing ideas have arisen out of the
interference of Railway with coach travelling and
posting ; but, from the cheap and expeditious
means which Railways can supply, it will soon be found
that the interests of Canals will be materially lowered.
This, on the main lines of communication through the
kingdom, and on some others, the Canal Companies
can afford, having had more than their adequate profits
for many years. The business, stock, and establishments
of carriers will also suffer in the same manner as
that of postmasters and coach proprietors ; and as
far as practicable, compensation should be made
to them ; but there is no reason whatever that

the public should be debarred from the full enjoyment

of every facility which Railway conveyance affords in
this commercial country, however it may interfere with
the interests of one class of persons. Nor is there any
rcalon why the public should be prevented from dealing
dxectly with the Railway Companies for the conveyance
of their goods as well as of their p..rsoas. On the
contrary, it will be much for the benefit of both if Rail-
way Companies themselves are the carriers, thereby
avoiding all the delay, expense, and impositions which
will occur if the carriers are to undertake the transit of
goods, the same as there would be if all passengers were
obliged to pass through the coach-office. Railway
Companies will do well to offer the utmost possible
convenience and the lowest possible rates they can
to the public, in which they will find very
dissatisfactory impediments to their dealings and
performance, if they are in any way to depend upon
the action of a third party, especially on one who is and
must be for some time vitally opposed to their welfare.
The interests are so numerous that are now arrayed in
opposition to Railways, from causes More relerred to,
that it behoves their various Companies to be most
guardedin their movements, more especially in their con-
nection with those parties who are suffering by
their advancement. They should be particularly
anxious to avoid partiality in their arrangements, and
not to allow inch% idual influence in their directory, how-
ever specious the pretext to warp them from a direct
and general line of conduct. Partiality (however indi-
rect) in public bodies of such powerand general influence
as R ,ilway Companies are, would be a most intolerable
nuisance, and tend more than anything to bring the
Company in which it was exhibited into disrepute. As
to the subject of monopo:y, which is at present the great
charge against Railways, it requires but a moment's con-
sideration to arrive at the conclusion that they
exercise no further monopoly than what their
superiority as a conveyance will command. The
choice is in the hands of the public, and
any measure which would tend to debar the
public from the full enjoyment of that choice, or

oblige them to use an inferior mode of transit, whilst
a superior one was offered, would more fitly hear all
the odium which is attached to the term monopoly. The
Select Committee will do well not to be led, by individual
complaints, from considering the present general advan-
tages which are enjoyed by the public from Railways,
under the beneficial arrangements of their own Com-
mittees, and the prompt redress which has been given to
all reasonable instances of neglect or mismanagement ;
and what a gigantic undertaking theirs would be if the
investigation was with a view of correcting the abuses
which existed in coach-travelling, instead of those at-
tendant on Railways. Until railway-travelling, and the
conveniences which can be applied in its working, are
better understood by all parties, their arrangement
and management will be best left in the hands of the
Proprietors, whose interest it is, more especially, in the
present state of things, to offer the utmost accommoda-
tion to the public.
April 23, 1839.
LINCOLN