The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-10 00:00:00

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
the local traffic of their line, which bad increased to a
greater extent than the through traffic had declined.
•- Before dismissing the subject of the report, he had to
SOUTH-EASTERN. observe that it was with feelings of the greatest pleasure
The report of the directors to be submitted to the he saw a desire on the part of the Eastern Counties Com-
shareholders on Thursday next states that the receipts pany to enter into arrangements with the board, which
for the half-year ending 31st of July, 1853, have been he could assure them was most ready to refer the whole
382,9261., and the working expenses and renewals matter to the arbitration of persons the most competent
146,350/. The sum of 6,2151. has been set aside for re to adjust such arrangements, both in reference to the
newel of the permanent way. The rates, taxes, and toll past, the present, and the future. He had now to tell
amount to 13,7391., the Government duty to 12,0161.,
them, that in consequence of the Bury St. Edmunds and
the rents of the Greenwich and Canterbury Railways to
Newmarket Railway, they might look forward to some
25,006/., which sums, in addition to the interest on the distribution of their traffic next year ; they should not,
mortgage debt, annuities, and guaranteed stock of the however, suppose that the opening of that line would in-
company, 71,4441., make a total deduction from the gross •
jure their position, as, on the contrary, it would open to
earnings of 274,7721. The profit and loss account shows them a communication with the Midland Counties and
a credit of 1,5201., after providing for the last dividend, with the North, and so greatly benefit the traffic of their
also a sum of 1601. for dividend and interest on Canter- line. With regard to the Harwich line, he had to ob-
bury securities in the hands of the company, and is de- serve that it was being vigorously proceeded with, and
bited with the sum of 2,7201. for Parliamentary expenses, would in the course of next year be opened, when a nevi-
and 7011., being one-third of the loss by fire at Ashford ; gation company would be ready to avail themselves of
and 6,1801. for rates and taxes on the Reading branch, the advantages which it would offer. When they looked
leaving a balance available for dividend of 100,239/. at the difference between their receipts and the receipts
From a comparative statement of the passenger traffic it of the other companies to whom he had already referred,
appears that the increase on the main line and branches they should bear in mind that the revenue of those com-
during the half-year ending the 31st of July last, as panies had been greatly increased by the continental
compared with the corresponding period of last year, traffic brought to them by the way of Lowestoft. As
amounted to 13,871/. ; on the North Kent line, to he saw several gentlemen present to whom the directors
4,353/. ; and on the Greenwich, to 3441. The increase had been frequently indebted for many valuable sugges-
in the goods traffic amounted to 14,0211. The total in- tions, he should not trespass any longer on the time of
crease in the traffic for the last half-year, as compared the meeting, but simply invite such suggestions, assuring
with the corresponding period of 1852, was 36,273/. them they should receive the most sincere and respectful
The through traffic to and from London and Folkestone
attention of the board.
showed an increase of 8,6771., and to and from Rams- M. LECHMERE wished to have the case of the prefe-
gate and Margate to 1,9471. over the corresponding rential shareholders, as submitted to counsel, read, with
period of 1852,
the opinion thereon.
The receipts on revenue account for the half-year ex- The CHAIRMAN stated that as the hon. proprietor had
ceed those for the comparative half year of 33,7021., and been present when very strong opinions had been ex-
the charge for working expenses, renewals, rates, and pressed on that subject before Parliament, it could be
Government duty, for the same period, are increased by scarcely necessary to go into the matter. Independently
the sum of 18,4701. The balance of profit, 204,6041., is of that it would be quite irregular to do so.
larger for this than for the comparative half of last year Mr. HARVEY considered that it was to be regretted
by the sum of 15,2311. The charges for rents, interest, that the traffic of the line had increased, as such increase
Parliamentary expenses, &c., are larger on this occasion had only enlarged their expenses without adding to
by the -um of 6,0231. They include 6,1801., the amount their profit. Their lowering the fares in competition
of the award made by the arbitrator to whoa the claims had driven the passengers into the third class carriages,
for rates on the Reading, Guildford, and Reigate branch and he found that they carried a passenger over 175 miles
for the years 1850, 1851, and 1852 were referred, who for 2s. 6d. He should advise them to put an end to
charged the assessments on the rental paid by the corn- such a ruinous course--a course destructive to the inte-
pany, and not on its net earnings, which having been rests of both companies, and to the personal credit of the
nil, the assessments should, as the directors had been board, especially as he found the Eastern Counties Corn-
advised, have been also nil. In obedience to the resol- pany in three consecutive reports expressing their wil-
intim of the proprietors at the last half-yearly genera lingness to come to some agreement, either for a fair ap-
meeting, the directors sold the stock'which had become portioning of the profits, or with reference to a general
forfeited for non-payment of calls at 751. per 1001. stock, amalgamation of the two companies. The preset
which made good the sum due for calls, and also 5,635/. the time best suited to such an agreement, as the com-
pany had, by its redemption act, removed the difficulty
due on interest account. The profit and. loss account
commences with a balance on this occasion
available
1,5201.
-the contest with the preference shareholders-which
against 4,2691. last year ; the amount
than
naithis t
inf e
for had hitherto stood in the way of successful negotiation ;
dividend, 100,2391., is 6,4591. and he considered that, if the directors neglected to carry
last year. In the half year endingmoonrethe 31st of July, it out, it would be, on their part, a gross dereliction of
1852, the number of miles run by engines was
duty.
, tons; the 1,221,840 ; the coke consumed was 12 655
total cost being 11,0821., or 2-1768 d. per mile. Dur- • •
interviews which he had had with Messrs. Waddington
ins the last half year the number of miles run by
engines was 1,435,332 ; the coke consumed was and Peto, with reference to an agreement between the
15,713 tons ; being an average of 24•52131 b. per miles Eastern Counties and Norfolk Companies and the East-
ern Union Company, which was to the effect that those
r
at a cost of 14,8861., or 2-4891 d. per mile. The engine,
therefore ran 213,492 miles more last half-year than in gentlemen proposed that special meetings of the three
the corresponding half of the preceding year, and con-
companies should be held, to obtain powers to apply to
sumed 3,058 tons more coke, at an increased char eof Parliament for an act of amalgamation ; and, that, so
3,803/. The total running of the engines has gcost soon as that act might be obtained, the terms of amal-
-7-977d. per mile, which includes 2•549 d, permile of re- gamation could be settled by a reference, and then con-
-7'977d,
pairs and renewals. The carriage and wgon stock of
firmed by the shareholders.
wag
the company is in good order. There has been a larger The CHAIRMAN, in reply, read to the meeting the
than usual amount expended during the half-year in re-
a terms on which the Eastern Union were disposed to
newels, which include the construction of 15 new - treat. They were tantamount to those mentioned by
senger carriages, and 23 new waggons • besides thepens- Mr. Browne.
tire renovation of 155 other vehicles. 'The carriage su- Mr. LECHMERE went into a long legal argument to
perintendent reports the stock to be well maintained, show that the company was still liable for 54,000/, ar-
The returns of the Reading, Guilford, and Reigate line, rears, due to the preference shareholders, and moved as
an amendment to the motion of the Chairman, that that
since its opening on the 24th of October, 1849 have sum be made an item in the account of liabilities.
been as follows :-Ending the 31st of January, 1850,
As this amendment was not seconded it fell to the
7,666/. ; ending the 31st of July, 1850, 11,1861. ; the
round.
31st of January, 1851, 13,6871. ; the 31st of July, 1851, g The CHAIRMAN explained that the greater number of
14,7001; the 31st of January, 1852, 16,8111. ; the 31st
the preferential shareholders were willing to commute
of July, 1852, 14,769/. ; the 31st of January, 1853,
19,0931; and for the half-year ending the 31st of July, their claims for 4 per cent. preferential stock.
1853, 19,4871. The time for extending the line at The report was then adopted,- and a vote of thanks
Reading to the Great Western station is limited to one passed to the Chairman, when the proceedings termi-
year for the purchase of land, and to two years for the nated.
completion of works. The act for constructing the
railway from Strood to Maidstone limits the time DEESIDE.
for the purchase of land to one year, and the time This line was opened for goods and passenger traffic
for the completion of the works to three years from the on Wednesday. The directors invited a large party,
4th of August last. The act for dissolving the Canterbury including the magistrates of the city, to meet them at
and Whitstable Railway Company, and for vesting in the the Aberdeen station of the Aberdeen Railway at 12
South-Eastern Railway Company the undertaking of the o'clock, and soon after started for Banchory, with a
South-Eastern and Continental Steam-packet Company, train of 14 carriages, the engine being decorated with 1
and for raising 500,000/. for these and general purposes, flags and flowers. A large concourse of spectators were ]
received the royal assent on the 4th of August. The re- assembled at the station, and cheered the train warmly 1
port of the committee recommends, in order to facilitate as it passed on to the main line. The train then passed
a settlement, that the working of the ships from the let along the banks of the Dee at a rapid rate, and through I
of February last should be held on account of the rail- some fine scenery. At most of the gentlemen's seats t
way company ; the result will place 2,7611. of net reve- along the line flags were flying, and at various stations ]
nue at the disposal of the railway company after pay- and convenient openings crowds of the country people t
ment of interest at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum were gathered to witness the progress of the iron racer 1
on the purchase-money. The above sum of 500,000/, and cheer the party on. The train arrived at the ter- t
may be raised on debentures. The sum of 250,0001. for minus at Banchory, at 1 o'clock, where an immense a
the construction of the Strood and Maidstone line is to crowd had assembled to welcome it, and where arrange- a
be raised by shares, and 80,000/. on debentures. The nients were made for celebrating the opening in a t
directors state that having regard to the recommenda- style in every way worthy of the occasion. The di-
tions of Mr. Cardwell's Committee on Railway and rectors and their friends, to the number of 180 walked t
Canal Bills, it may be confidently expected that railway in procession through the village with music and ban-
property will hereafter derive greater security than it ners
returning to a pavilion erected for their accom- 1
has hitherto had ; and that a comprehensive view will 'negation, where an excellent collation was provided. I
be taken of railway matters in future legislation, The Mr. J. Duncan, the chairman of the company, pre- ,
railway from Paris to Bordeaux is completed and open sided. The usual loyal and other appropriate toasts 1
for traffic throughout its entire length -365 miles. The were drunk and responded to, in the course of which it i
works on the unfinished portion of the line from Paris was stated, that the cost of the line would not exceed 1
to Marseilles- that between Chalons and Avignon - are 5,000/. per mile, which was not one-sixth of the average 1
proceeding rapidly. The traffic over these railways will cost per mile of the Scottish lines of railway.
prove auxiliary to the receipts of the South-Eastern a
Railway.
TRAFFIC RETURNS FOR THE PAST WEEK. (
The report of Mr. J. Morgan and Mr. T. Brown, the
auditors, states that the amount charged to capital Mlles t
during the half-year ending the 31st of July, in respect Opened, NAME OF RAILWAY. Receipts. b
to the main line and branches, is 75,6171., and in re- 1853.
1852. 1853. A
spect to new lines, &c., 13,9451. ; total, 89,5621. The SAITISH.
total sum charged to capital account during the half v
7-2 Aberdeen .................... ..... £1,7428 2,1615 s
year for Parliamentary expenses is 14,9621., including 37%
Belfast
and
1C308uni1YtiN1:wn..................... U 1
2,5661., the expenses of the opposition to the East Kent 33 Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire 2,020 2,527 a
schemes, the greater portion of which should in their 2654 Bolton,Blaekburn,andWest York .... - - ti
opinion be charged to revenue. The capital account 1 8554 icaalleana Exeter •
.. ... ••
).5,611 5,444 n
shows that 10,642,8151. had been expended to the 31st 89% Edinburgh and G1a5g0w........... 1 14,111 16,150
of July. The amount of consolidated stock entitled to e4ai Chester and Holyhead..• .. • • .... •• • • 4,730 8,767 t 1
dividend is 7,433,7001., and of 41 per cent. guaranteed 2134 oorrlict,
aTtcillraoncdko,nand. Passa.g.e.. .... ........ 7 m 0
stock 481,300/. ; total, 5,915,3251,, of which 24,000/. is 56 Dublin and Belfast Junction •• .... - 1.113 1,607
at 5 per cent., 626,7501. at 41 per cent., 339,530/. at 53 Dublin and Drogheda -- - ......... 1,
_43 1,981 si
4f per cent., 512,4451. at 4 per cent„ 95,0001, at 3i Dublin and
Dundee dK,itirrrravgi :::::: - - *** •••• I'M
2,9674 per cent., 200,1001, at 31 per cent., and 152,500/. at 3 16%31 Dundee, Perth, and Aberdeen Junction 772 882 Si
per cent. 19 Dundalk and Enniskillen•• •.••• • •• •• 167 226 le
The revenue account for the half-year ending 31st of 68 East Anglian.. ..
July shows 382,926/, had been received, and 178,2211. 3W4 LieLrnarounhitriees..an-disicWolli .... ...• ....... 15,619 17,495 ki
expended, including 13,7391. rates and taxes, 14,016/. ss Eastern Union • . 2,552 3,026
Government duty, and 6,2151. renewal of permanent 78 Edinburgh, Perth, and Dundee.... • . 2,507 3,371 B
way, leaving a balance of 204,6041. The reserve fund 19 fuximeteearsagilCwraediton.........•••• .......... RI 1393 G
shows that 6,2151. was added to it out of the revenue 171% Glasgow, and South • .-Western. ........ 4,270 5,117
for the renewal of permanent way and works during 283 Great Northern and E. L........... 13,381 16,148 of
the half-year, and 19,797/. was expended during the 188 Great Southern and Western (Ireland)
,mig 5,117 of
31934 (treat same period, showing a difference of 13,582/. against Western - - ---- -- ".
'lee 23,652 Co
25 Irish South Eastern • • •• •• •• .. •• •• •• revenue on account.
90 Lancaster and Carlisle ••• • • .
260 Lancashire and Yorkshire.. .... 19,928 21,447 1,,
EASTERN UNION. 70 Leeds Northern ...• .. •• ••••••• • •• •. - -
L erpool, Crosby, and Southport.... 577 665 nt The half-yearly general meeting of the shareholders of 553% London and North Western ......... 53,783 56,402
this company, adjourned from the 26th ult., was yester- 534 London and Blackwall.• •••• • • - .... 1,576 1,593 m,
day held at the company's offices, Ipswioh, Mr. John 1734 I London, Brighton, and South Coast.. 14,047 15,259
Chevalier Cobbold, M.P., in the chair. 25334 London and South Western. . 14,248 14,685
41 Londonderry and Enniskillen •• ••• • • • 245 483 ca
Mr. AYRES, the secretary of the company, having 1154 Manchester, Buxton, and Matlock, &c. - - ha
read the notice calling the meeting, and the report and 167% Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire 7,981 8,511
statement of accounts, which have already appeared in 2:34 Zanctlearnadngi)isulteh J.
........ ....
....... .. 683
358 an
the columns of this journal, 498% Midland ..... .... .
The CHAIRMAN said that, in rising to move the adop- 126 Midland Great Western (Irish) ••• • • • 2,Nt 3,275
tion of the report, it would be his object to detain them as 37% Zeownklantides
an...zi .6;;11;e.... • • •
.i51e....... •...
2,596 3,321 th
short time as possible, as the report itself entered fully las North British ................
5 n
into the actual position of the company, on accouneof 232 North Staffordshire ... ..... ........ -
- q„o
the extraordinary, and, to a great measure, unpreCe- 47 North-Western . ...... ....... .. .... 1,052 1,492 to
dented circumstances which had arisen. He, how
ever, Sottishan
Midld . ..........: :. 3,038 3,21
}
regretted that it was not in the power of the directors to 2934 Shrewsbury and Birmingham •• •• •• ?8 857 Wi
present to them a perfectly satisfactory account. There rreowpssitiltii.reetialdnCh.!ster .
... ............ 1,920,, 2,2
IvWeasefew railways in a position of so much difficulty as 29
58 South Devon --- .. .
their line, having to contend with a very powerful 28834 South Eastern- .................... 20,316 21,138 COI
......
.....
.............:::: 2,556 2,.15
e°llllPanY, presided over by able directors, and which 131 South Wales .. ••..• • • • • ........... 2,655 - 1
•
77 South York., Doncaster, and Goole .. 1,368 1,169 ~
ad' in c°lllParison to them, an overwhelming capital ; 40 Taff Vale .... •. •. •• •
yet, if the intere sof both companies were to be taken 36 ulster.
into account,
............ 528
296630
1,118 1,417 -
terMS of mutual c
that company and their own should be on 50 Waterford andi Limerick ... ...... ... 514 - ofd
each other. 110 Lodperation, rather than in hostility to i tvvvisiLiCoarnvewn Juncii.t.nl:•: ••••••• . • • • . '2s6int
the past half-year, the
enobw to inform them that during 682 York and Newcastle, and Berwick & 1
carry
carrying. out the views of the share-
holders, in
-r ritamentary effect to such ar- lac
FOREIGN.
eangements, both with th
with the preferential shareehraosledleves the settlement 57k Dutch Rhenish - ..... . ••.- ....... 2,149 1,878 .. 2
183% Lyons and Mediterranean ••• • • ..• • • - 7,150 tur
as would, he hoped, be bpeeneifitc,iar .....,, .. 1,014 1,147 evii
lte,-teandtheexeteemrnpaalnlyy,. 63 M ontereau and Troyes
... 1,209 -
With regard to the latter
told 464% LarTilerrnanodr ii••ire,gew 1::::::::::::... 26,880 32,297 Pri'
that it altogether depended upon tilageelYalhu
adenesbeeeenf
the 577 Orleans and Central* ..
•.... 21,594 - Pon
beenelYinich aeatltehough the
former, and be was now extreme!
emoted
them 31 Paris and Lyons ............... 16;333 19,209 wai
opposition against them hadParistris ana ngtorasu Rouen
g-h.. ..
: ..: ..
..
..
.... :
~ : : 29j•51 4131 I'ol
to great expenses, to find that a feeling 59 Rouen and Havre •.. .
cas'
part of those most concerned, to meet the on the 66 Western of France . 4,894 5,907 mat

The CHAIRMAN said that, in rising to move the adop-
tion of the report, it would be his object to detain them as
short time as possible, as the report itself entered fully
into the actual position of the company, on account?of
the extraordinary, and, to a great measure, unprece-
dented circumstances which had arisen. He, however,
regretted that it was not in the power of the directors to
Presentee to them a perfectly satisfactory account. There
W e!, railways in a position of so much difficulty as
v, as their line, having to contend with a very powerful
company presided
rnpresided over by able directors, and which
yet, if the interests
to them, an overwhelming capital ;
into account, sts of both companies were to be taken
teems of mutual thatcooperation, company and their own should be on
each other. He
had now
rather than in hostility to
the past half-year, /en"' to inform them that during
carrying of directors had been some-
what engagednving
out the views of the share-
holders, in
Parliamentary effect to such ar-
rangements, both with selves the settlement
with the preferential ehabreeeniTeofilders—and externally,
as would, he hoped, be
With regard to the latter tcial, to the company.
success of the
that it altogether depended upon a°Y had been told
i, although the
former, and he was now extremely
to run them
xisted on the
opposition against them had been e
to great expenses, to find that a feelingaße
part of those most concerned, to meet the
fair terms. As he had always felt that it wash,7
terest to make the most of their position, he and bis
in-
brother directors had tried their hand at negotiatM
negotiation which had been, so far as he was concerned
successful, until there had arisen in it an interest which
gave to it a termination different to what they had ex.
petted. Looking at the traffic of their line, they had,
he thought, no reason to be dissatisfied with the result,
although no doubt they would feel that what they had
obtained had been obtained at a most extraordinary ex-
pense. He had been looking at the revenue returns of
the lines connected with this district for the period since
February, 1851 (the time when the agreement was pro-
posed), to the 30th of June last, and had found them in
the aggregate to exceed 2,000,0001., and he was sure
that if during that period they had been working in
amity, they would have increased those returns fully 20
per cent. So much, then, had been their loss upon the
returns, independently of the expenses to which each
company had been put to maintain their position. In
looking at the returns since Ist of July last, they would
find that the receipts of the Eastern Counties and
Norfolk lines had been for the last two months 148,0351.,
against 129,5011. for the corresponding period of last
year, showing an increase of 18,834/. ; and those of the
astern Union 25,1811., against 21,1061., showing an
tenincrease of 4,0751. for the two months. They might
set down the returns of the Eastern Union, as
compared with those of the two other companies, in
the
proportion of 1 to 41, showing that although they stood
independently their success had been much larger than
that of the other two united. They had then, so far
as traffic was concerned, no to be dissatisfied.
Looking at their expenses a
hich that traffic had
been secured, however dissatisfied they might be at their
amount, they should bear in mind
a theextent of the ex-
penses incurred in establishing new mode of
exceedveedloptei
cation upon a different set of principles to thoseepemrametuisneid.
elsewhere, and that although they. greatly
working expenses of other companies, they had de

* The receipts include the tramc on the Orleans and Central, Or-
ans and Bordeaux, and Tours and Nantes lines.

and
.I.eAustrian
iPRUSSIANDe rttritawn
which have
he
arAUSTRIANnvme reachedenthAjeßumVs HARVEST.—The
oSnTt. —h e
publishedh
resultse tPrussian
heofth the
hay' ite
offi-
cial
harvest,
vented the harvest
Prussia, although the frequent rains pre-
is, it is stateadrvfest from being an abundant one, there
the province of ar from a scarcity. The crop of rye in
and Brandenburg,
Prussia and in the provinces of Posen
merania, sax°,
9, is good and even abundant ; in Po-
only in Lithuania, in western it is moderate, and it is
phalia that it is bad. The Pomerania, and in West-
of wheat, with this same may be said of the crop
better, and in the differenceßhenish
that, in Westphalia, it is
that of the rye. In Lithuanr,ovince
.... rather worse than
crop of barley has been a faira o—''
ony, and Silesia the
age have been everywhere abundantneThe crops of for-
them was afterwards destroyed by but a part of
The price of corn appears to be kept ue bad weather,
failure in the potatoes, but the disease it
that
a fear of
is only partial, and there is nothing to indicatt vegetable
produce will be less than in former years. ,;iLhat the
are satisfactory in the Tyrol and in Upper crops
middling in Carniola, and in Austrian Silesia ; g„ii.ll;
Moravia and the Pukowine, and very fair in the Duchy
of Cracow, The reports from Hungary, Gallicia, Tran-
sylvania, Lombardy, and other parts of the empire have
not yet been received, but there is nevertheless reason to
believe that without being as abundant as might have
been hoped, the returns will be satisfactory. The price
of land in certain parts of Hungary has doubled, a fact
which shows the progress making by agriculture in that
country.
LORD ELPHINSTONE. —The Morning Herald says
that Lord Elphinstone has been appointed Governor of
Bombay ; and Mr. Thomason, late Governor of the
North-west Provinces, has been appointed to the go-
vernment of Madras.