The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-07 00:00:00

BAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE.

The half-yearly meeting of the proprietors was held
yesterday at Alanchester, Mr. H. W. Wickham, M. P,,
chairman of the directors, presiding.
The report of the directors, an abstract of which has
appeared in The Sun, having been read,
The CHAIRMA.N observed that, in accordance withthe
statements made on previous occasions by the direr.
tors, no money had been expended during the half
year on capital account beyond what was absolutely
required to provide accommodation for the increas-
ing traffic of the railway, except on the Man-
chester and Southport line, the expenditure on which
had been specially agreed to by the proprietors.
Notwithstanding the great increase in the charge for
money during the last six months, the actual amount
charged for interest on this company's loans bad not at
all increased, but remained at 41. 3s. per cont. ; but,
while the amount of loans was not less than it bad been
at any former period, it was also less, compared with
the amount of capital paid up, than the amount held on
loan by any other railway in the kingdom. Many of
the We ,t Riding shareholders had complained of the
position in which they had been placed inconsequence of
the shares they held being liable to further calls, and,
therefore, having been, for a long time, unsaleable in the
market. The directors intended to propose, on this occa-
sion,
a course which they thought would be fair to all
parties, which was to divide each of those shares into two,
and to consolidate 11/., the amount all eady paid up,learing
another share of 31., on which only ss. had been paid up.
A s to the 21.155. still liable to be called, the directors had
no power to call it up, and it was not likely it ever would
be called ; and the same remark would apply to the
balance unpaid on the extension shares ; but it was not
desirable to alter the nominal account, because by doing
away with that they would do away with the power of
borrowing, which the company now possessed, and which
it was desirable to preserve. The revenue during the
last half-year had not increased in thp same ratio as in
some other half-years, but that was accounted for in some
measure by the present stagnation of trade, and by the
interruption to which the line had been subject during
the severe weather which was experienced last winter.
The total revenue in 1854, from all sources, had been
490,7411., against, in 1853, 477,387/. ; but from this last
sum must be deducted the Liverpool and Southport
working expenses, 4,2501., leaving the total revenue
of 1853 as 473,1371. Therefore, the increase in
the half-year ending the 30th day of June last had
been 17,6041., of which 5,5501. was increase of pas-
senger-traffic, 9,5561. increase of goods traffic, and 2,4561.
was increase on the Preston and Wyre Railway. On,
the other band, the expenditure had been, in 1854,
216,8071., against, in 1853, deducting 4,2501. for the
Liverpool and Southport expenses, 203,7501., showing
an increase of 13,0511. over the corresponding period of
1853. Qf this increase 4,5781. was attributable to in-
creased cost of materials, wages, and repairs of loco-
motives ; 6731. in wages and repairs of carriages ; 9091.
in repairs of waggons ; 1,8981. increase in horsekeep,
&c. ; 1,3441. increase in compensation • and 5,4001.
increase of wages. The rolling stock 'never was in
better order than at present, and he had the autho-
rity of the company's officers for stating that there
had been considerable improvement during the last six
months. Parliament bad sanctioned the construction of
the Liverpool dock branch and the Middleton branch,
both of which would be constructed out of the borrowing
powers of the company, and therefore would entail no
call whatever on the shareholders. There was every
reason to anticipate that the opening of the dock branch
would greatly increase th% traffic. In making the agree-
ments with the Leeds, Bradford, and Halifax, and the
Wakefield and Leeds Companies, referred to in the
report, the directors had had in view--and he believed
the result would answer their expectations when the
lines were opened—the strengthening of this company's
interests in those districts, and the enabling of a greater
amount of traffic to come on the line from that quarter
than had come up to this period. From circum-
stances which had recently transpired, the directors
did not feel in a position to say , anything with
respect to the proposed amalgamation with the East
Lancashire -Company. Should matters be in such a
state as to enable them to make any conclusive statement
on that subject, the directors would take care to call a
special meeting of the proprietors to make them fully
acquainted with all their proceedings. The chairman
concluded by moving the adoption of the report and the
passing of the accounts to the 30th of June last.
Mr. W. STUART, the vice-chairman, seconded the

motion.
Mr. J. R. KAY inquired when the Manchester and
Southport line was likely to be opened ?
Mr. STUART said, no exertions had been wanting to
hasten the opening of this line, and he had felt, indivi-
dually, extreme mortification that it had not already been
opened ; but Mr. Dalgleish, the maker of the bridges,
laid the fault on the ironmasters.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN moved that a dividend be nowdeclared
for the half-year of 11. 15s. per 1001. stook ; and so in
proportion on such of the Manchester and Leeds 1001.,
501., 251., and 121. shares ' • and the Wakefield, Pon-
tefract, and Goole 501. and 251. shares ; and the Liver-
pool and Bury, and the Huddersfield and Sheffield 501.
shares, as have not yet been paid up and converted into
stock ; of 6s. 3id. per share on the 191. 102. shares, or
fifths ; of 2s. 81d. on the 161. F extension shares ; and
of as. 11Id: on the West Riding shares, deducting in-
come tax, and to be payable on the 15th of September
instant.

Mr. W. STUART seconded the motion, and it was
agreed to.
This concluded the business of the ordinary meeting,
and the proceedings of the special meeting werelopened.
The CHAIRMAN said he had already explained the
state of the West Riding shares, and the loan capital
proposed to be raised would be sufficient to carry out
both the new schemes. He concluded by moving a
resolution to the effect that the money necessary for the
construction of the Liverpool dock branches and the
Middleton branch be raised by mortgage, and that the
directors be authorised to borrow such moneys, not
exceeding 305,0001., at such time and on such terms as
they should think expedient.
Mr. RILEY seconded the motion, and it was adopted.
The CHAIRMAN next moved that each of the West
Riding 141. shares, upon which ill. ss. per share had
been paid, be divided into two parts, one of 11/., paid
in full, and one of 31., with ss. paid up, such division to
take place on October 10 ; or, where the amount called
up should not have been paid, then as to each such last
mentioned share, so soon after that day as the call or
calls in arrear, with interest thereon, should have been
paid ; and that such new DI. shares should forthwith
be consolidated into the general capital stock of the com-
pany, and should take dividends, pro rata, with such
general capital stock as from the Ist of July last.
Mr. ANDERTON seconded the motion, which was agreed
to,

The business concluded with a vote of thanks to the
chairman.

TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION.

" Young Ireland" will be mortified to learn that
she is about to be linked still closer in the iron
embrace of England. "Communication by electric
telegraph between Great Britain and Ireland, by
way of Holyhead and Howth, was yesterday safely
established." So says the remorseless newspaper
account, which goes on coolly to describe the hate-
fulprocess,i
Electric Telegraphnthefonowincgomtepramnys : ,
unsuccess-
ful efforts on a former occasion to accomplish this ob-
ject are known, having resolved to renew the attempt,
whose-
"The
gave instructions to the Messrs. Newal and Co., of Sun-
derland, to prepare a telegraph cable of a similar nature
to that with which London and the continent had been
connected by way of the Hague last autumn, and which,
since the sinking of the wires, has given very general
satisfaction. A cable of about 200 miles in length, was
accordingly prepared. This cable consists of one wire
only, which is encased in a tubing of gutta percha, and
the whole is bound up in a hempen rope of about
three-quarters of an inch in diameter. Sufficient cable
has been manufactured to extend three times across
the Channel, but for a few days experiments will be
made with the single line only. All arrangements for
the laying down of the cable having been completed
the Monarch steamer, accompanied by a tug-boat,
left harbourand stea steamed
at Mondaythe rate of between five
afternoon at half-
past
and six miles an hour, paying out the cable as she Holyhead
pro-
ceededo'clock,
with the greatest regularity,
At shortly before
6 o'clock yesterday morning the Monarch arrived off
e lock,
Howth-head, where she waited some time for the rising
of the tide, and then proceeded to Balscadden-bay, where
the requisite quantity of wire was paid out. A boat
was here in readiness, and by its means the cable was
safely landed and imbedded in the sandy beach to the
depth of about two feet. The Monarch, on the wire
having been landed, hove round and steamed for
Holyhead. The wire was brought into contact with
a galvanic battery of considerable, power, and mes-
sages were exchanged with the central offices in Loth-
nstantaneous communication was thus
bury, London. I
effected in the most satisfactory manner. When the
men ceased work
yesterday evening the cable had been
brought a considerable distance up the beach. It is
intended to bring it over Balscadden-hill, and on by the
line of railway to Dublin. By taking the telegraphic
wire to Howth, instead of Kingstown, an important
advantage is gained—namely, the shortening of the dis-
tance by somewhere abyut four miles, _ Howth being but
58, while Kingstown is 62 miles from Holyhead. The
of the cable will, we believe, be
remaining portion
shortly laid down.'
•

PUBLIC BATHS.—The value of public baths is perhaps
more sensibly felt during the prevalence of cholera
and other epidemic diseases than at any other time.
We are much pleased to find that the inhabitants of Lam-
beth, which enjoys such an unenviable notoriety for its
smoke and sewer nuisances and sanitary defects, have
shown their appreciation of the public baths lately esta-
blished by private enterprise, under the auspices of a
joint-stock company, after the parish had twice refused
to adopt Sir H. Dukinfield's valuable Baths and wash_
houses Act. Since the Lambeth Baths opened on the
Ist of April last, until Saturday last the 2d of Septem-
ber, 103,000 baths have been taken ; in the week ending
July 28, 12,178 persons bathed there. The parish enjoys
another advantage from this establishment, as we aro
given to understand that 300,000 gallons of water weekly,
after being used, flows through the sewers, helping to
cleanse them, and assisting to destroy noxious and pes-
tilential vapours. We trust that the success attending
the working of this company will induce other persons
to form similar combinations in populous places where
baths and washhouses are not already erected, and thus
give the population the opportunity, at a triflinc, cost,
3f complying with the excellent advice of the Board
of Health—" Keep yourself