The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-12 00:00:00

MEETING AT PITLOCHRY.

An important meeting in behalf of this undertaking
was held at Sdeuard's Hotel, Pitlochry, on Saturday
last—James P. Macinroy, Esq., of Lude, in the chair.
Many of the local proprietors being at the time absent
from the district, could not attend, and from the back-
ward state of the hay harvest, a number of the tenants
were unable to be present ; but at the meeting were the
following gentlemen, who expressed a deep interest in
behalf of the proposed railway, and took a part in the
proceedings, which were throughout characterised by
great zeal and spirit :—the chairman, Mr. Macinroy of
Lude, who also represented his brother, Major William
Macinroy of Shierglass ; Robert Robertson, Esq., of
younger of Auchleeks ; Archibald Ferguson, Esq., of
Dumfallandy ; Rev. Alex. R. Irvine, minister of Blair ;
Dr. Irvine, Pitlochry ; Archibald Mitchelson, Esq.,
Strathgairy • Sir Robert Menzies of Castle Menzies,
Bart. ; Mr:Robert Murray, farmer, Strathgroy • Mr.
A. Conachar, Mains of Pitlochry; Mr. M'Beath, drchil;
Mr. Mitchell, banker, Pitlochry ; Mr. M'Naughten,
banker there ; Mr. M'Gilliewie, banker there ; Mr.
West, Blair-Athole ; Mr. Palm, Fonab Cottage ; Mr.
Ballantine, accountant, Pitlochry ; Mr. Hope, flesher ;
Mr. P. Fraser, corn merchant ; and a large number of
the feuars, merchants, distillers, and other inhabitants of
Pitlochry and its neighbourhood.
The CHAIRMAN read a letter from Mr. Butter of Fas-
cally, the Lord of the Manor, who is now in England,
expressive of his regret at not being able to be present,
but shewing that he took a warm interest in the object
of the meeting, and a letter in similar and equally strong
language from H. B. Stewart, Esq., of Balnakellie, apo-
logising for his necessary absence.
Sir Robert Menzies produced a paper, subscribed by
a number of the tenants of Strathtummel, who volun-
tarily came forward to express, in the strongest terms,
their opinion of the great importance of the proposed
railway to the country, and regretting their inability
from the state of their farming operations, that they
could not be present at the meeting.
After some pertinent remarks by the Chairman on the
objects of the meeting, who stated that from its com-
plexion, it was obviously to him a business-like meeting,
and indicated very clearly the deep interest felt by both
landlords and tenants in the district fur having the
benefits of railway communication secured to themselves
at the earliest possible date, and extended also to the
country north of them, with whom they were desi'rous
to come into nearer personal intercourse, and from who?*
a very large traffic would unquestionably pass south-
wards, the first resolution, declaratory of the advantages
to the district of the proposed railway betwixt Perth and
Inverness, was moved by Robert Robertson, Esq., yr.
of Auchleeks. After briefly adverting to the uses in
general of railways, he showed, that if the line in com-
petition with the Perth and Inverness were to be made
to its exclusion, it would entail an increased round of
many miles travelling to every passenger and parcel
from the North of Scotland, and would deprive the dis-
trict of Athole of all participation in the lucrative sheep
and cattle, and fish traffic, which he had no doubt would
proceed from the northern counties ; and would force the
gentlemen of Athole to have a short and unsupported
line of their own, which would be much more expensive
to construct and keep up than one of a longer and more
public character.
ARCHIBALD MITCHELSON, Esq., Strathgarry, said as a
tenant farmer, he had much pleasure in seconding the
motion, and in assuring the promoters of this measure,
that they might rest satisfied that the tenantry would
enter with enthusiasm into the scheme, and give it every
encouragement by affording their lands and every con-
venience at their command on the most liberal terms.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
The Rev. Mr. IRVINE, Minister of Blair, in moving
the second resolution, to the effect that this direct line,
which is that of the old military road to the north, is of
national importance, and deserving especially of the sup-
port of the landlords and tenants along it—entered more
at large into statistical and historical details. He
showed very clearly its superiority to a line round
by Aberdeen, which was a most unnecessary deflec-
tion from a straight routeof the important traffic already
existing, and yet to be developed in the north, and
not having even the pretext of fewer engineering dif-
ficulties in its favour. He dwelt also on the necessity
of expedition being used to secure the formation of the
direct route, in which both the public and the local
inhabitants were most interested, as if the other was
once made a long time would ensue ere its deficiencies
could be supplied. The coast route was also exposed to
the competition of steamers and of sea-borne traffic gene-
rally, which might so increase as to reduce to nothing
the fair return, which the carrying trade of the country
ought to yield. Then with regard to the seeming mag-
nitude and cost of the undertaking, he hoped that al-
though removed as we were from the great central marts
of commerce and mercantile speculation, we would not
be much influenced by such bugbears as this. He (the
Rev. Mr. Irvine) remembered that when it was first
proposed to put tolls and turnpikes on the great High-
land road, the measure was talked of as fraught with the
utmost danger, and that it would bring ruin on such a
poor country as the Highlands ! Now, on this very
same road, we have two four-horsed coaches, besides
carriers running every day, and innumerable private con
veyances ! In fact, there could be no greater loss to a
country than the want of a good turnpike road ; and in
like manner we shall have the gratitude and praise of
posterity if we push on now and secure by one great
effort the advantages of having our communication with
other parts of the empire opened up by means of a great
central and direct line of railway. And who knows how
soon it may be needed even in a national point of view ?
The rumours of war now afloat demonstrate the un-
settled state of the Continent, and we ought to be so
far " fore-armed" that we could send troops to any of
our Northern garrisons or districts on a moment's no-
tice, and by the shortest possible route. The more
facilities we establish also for intercourse, the less will
become the cost of the interchange of commodities; and
this was of especial consequence with regard to the main
articles of daily and universal consumpt, such as food
and fuel. It is quite obvious how important it would be
to the community, could the transit of all such articles
be diminished to a half or a third its present cost. And,
in fact, if it be true that this summer, there has been
less travelling on the Highland road, notwithstanding
our fine Athole scenery, what is this but a proof that
people are getting so accustomed to cheap railway
travelling, that they go round by our coast steamers in
preference to being cooped up in close coaches, exact-
ing much higher fares ? Then this is eminently a joint
landlord's and tenant's question. In good times, when
prices are high, they may not grudge high rates for
the ti ansit of their live stock and farm produce. But
when the rainy day comes, and when prices fall, it may
make all the difference to them between a fair remunera-
tive profit and ruin, that they can or cannot get their
stock to market expeditiously and at a low cost. In
the estimates for our railway I hear much stress is
laid on the land being got cheap, and on agreements
being concluded before the Act is passed. There is
no fear of a want of traffic, but the disproportion
between the original cost of construction and the
returns may be so great that the latter, though never so
good, may fail of yielding a high per tentage to the
shareholders. In the case of the Scottish Central Rail-
way I have been assured that the actual cost attending
the acquisition of the ground exceeded what was at first
expected, and estimated by six or seven times its amount,
and, therefore,, we must be ()Ireful in our proceedings.
Whatever c!as benefits, the landed interest undoubtedly
will, by the formation of this railway, and, therefore,
though naturally jealous of any encroachments, I hope
they will not over-estimate their amenity and current

leases, but come forward at once in a way to encourage
the general public to contribute their money for the con-
struction of the line.

Mr. ROBT. MURRAY, farmer, Strathgroy, seconded the
motion, and confirmed all that the rev, mover had stated.
He also said that he was a potato merchant, and he re-
membered the time when the potato disease broke out
that he could have made a handsome sum could he have
thrown a large quantity of that valuable root into the
market at once, by means of a railway, before the di-
sease had made extensive ravages in the district. So in
like manner we have here plenty of lime at all our doors,
but of what use is it when we cannot pay for coals to
burn it, and when the manufacture of peats makes them
fully as dear as coals ? In fact, the peat mosses in this
district are exhausted or nearly so, and what we are now
todo for fuel is often to me a very grave question. When
the carriage of an article is more than its intrinsic worth,
or first cost, it is purely time to think of railways ; and
depend upon it, the whole of the upper parts of Perth-
shire ought and will go hand in hand in procuring the
one now proposed.

The motion was then carried by acclamation.
Dr. IRVINE, Pitlochry, seconded by Mr. ALEXANDER
CONACHAR, one of the largest farmers on the Fascally
estate, then moved the approval of-the recent measures
adopted for reviving the project and correcting the sur-
vey, and other preliminary matters ; and Mr. M`Gill-
ewie, banker, and Mr. A. M`Beath, farmer, moved and
seconded the resolution for opening a subscription list,
by way of loan for preliminary expenses—a motion
Which was handsomely responded to by all present, and
promises made for absent friends.
Mr. G. ANDERSON, of Inverness, was then called on
to detail the progress that had been made in other dis-
tricts towards the revival of the scheme, and in revising
and checking the survey, and shortening the route, and
improving the curves and gradients. The meeting ex-
pressed themselves as gratified with the statements
made, and passed a vote of thanks to Mr. Anderson for
attending and giving them such information.
Sir ROBERT MENZIES, in moving thanks to the chair-
man for his conduct in the chair, (which were given by
acclamation) congratulated the meeting in the deep
interest which Mr. Macinroy, and the other gentlemen
of Athole, evinced in this undertaking, and for the
trouble they had taken in getting up the meeting. He
was also delighted to hear the tenantry speak with such
warmth and confidence of the kindly feelings of their
noble landlord on the subject ; and he had himself no
doubt of his Grace's giving the railway every encourage-
ment. He, however, begged to press upon the attention
of all interested, that they had but three alternatives,
either of no railway, of a short district one, or of a tho-
rough direct one uniting us at either extremity with the
south and north. The last was by far the best and most
economical and productive to all connected with it ; and
therefore he trusted the gentlemen of the country, whe-
ther landowners or tenants, would use their best exer-
tions to have a general and not a mere local or partial
line carried through. With regard to what had been
said as to fuel, he was satisfied the consideration and
importance of that matter could not be too much dwelt
upon. He (Sir R. Menzies) had been long of opinion
that if the time and labour which had within the last
generation alone been expended on the peat mosses and
in securing the yearly supply of that kind of fuel, had
been saved and devoted to the reclaiming and improve-
ment of the land, every acre capable of cultivation
between Pitlochry and Dalnacardoch might have been
drained, fenced, and made into arable land ; and he was
persuaded the same remark would apply to the whole
line northwards. There was no estimating the effect of
a railway in reclaiming the most sterile and unproduc-
tive districts, and instead of talking of the central por-
tions of the country as mere barren wilds, he would say
they only required advantages to start into as fair and
productive soils as the now most beautiful portions of
Aberdeen and Banff, and of the North Highlands gene-
rally. Let coals be but once introduced at a cheap rate
into the uplands, and a great saving of time and labour
would immediately ensue, with improved stocks of
animals, and especially a lighter and more active stamp
of horses, and other advantages of a most wonderful
description, of which he believed the most sanguine
among them at present had no conception.
The meeting, which was altogether of the most intel-
ligent and business-like character, and displayed the
most cordial feelings as existing between the proprietors
and their tenants, then dispersed.