The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-23 00:00:00

BRISTOL AND EXETER.

The report of the directors states that the gross traffic
receipts upon the Bristol and Exeter Railway, from the
Ist of January to the 30th of June, 1853 (including the
sum of 2,0931. received on the Exeter and Crediton
Railway), amount to the sum of 117,7231., which is
6,4661. more than in the corresponding half of the year
1852. The working expenses during the same period
amount to 59,5071., on 50.54 per cent. on the gross re-
ceipts, and 646/. 16s. 6d. per mile on 92 miles of railway.
This increase of 10,3931,, upon the working expenses of
the corresponding half of 1852 arises almost entirely
upon the permanent way, and is attributable to the long
prevalence of wet weather, the indispensable necessity
of renewing large quantities of rails and timber, and to
the advance in wages and every description of stores.
The number of passengers is 400,531, conveyed
10,826,874 miles, and the quantity of goods and coals is
113,931 tons, conveyed 3,673,647 miles, being 101,917
more passengers, conveyed 1,744,204 more miles, and
13,551 more tons of goods, conveyed 452,958 more miles
than in the corresponding half of 1852 ; but from the
above results must be deducted 71,486 passengers, tra-
velling 436,425 miles over the Exeter and Crediton
Railway, and the increase on the Bristol and Exeter line
is therefore 30,431 passengers conveyed 1,307,779 miles.
The consumption of coke per mile per train averaged
32.901 b., including 25.911 b. for passengers, and 48-921 b.
for goods. The cost per ton is 18s. 91d. The locomo-
tive stock consists of 20 large passenger engines, 6
small ditto, and 12 good ditto— total 38. The eight
tank engines in course of construction by Messrs.
Rothwell and Co., are expected to be ready in time
for the opening of the Yeovil branch. The rolling
stock consists of 524 carriages of all kinds in use,
and 75 in progress of construction. The disposable
balance of the revenue account, including 10,5341.
brought over from the former half-year, is 46,1851. ;
which provides for a dividend of 44 per cent. per annum
for the last half-year, and leaves a surplus of 1,1851.
Since the 30th of June last the sum of 9,0001. out of the
40,0001. advanced in anticipation of calls on the 4,500
shares in the Cornwall Railway, has been applied to the
payment of a call, and the amount now at interest in an-
ticipation of calls is therefore 31,0001. The Yeovil
branch is in a state of sufficient forwardness to justify a
confident expectation that it will be ready to open for
public traffic in the course of next month. A nego-
tiation is on foot with Mr. Brassey the contractor for
and lessee of the North Devon Railway for working
that line in connexion with the Exeter and Crediton,
the lease of which to this company terminates when the
north Devon is opened for traffic.
The engineer's report states that the works and the
permanent way of the main line and branches generally
are in a satisfactory condition. About 9 miles of the
main line have bee's entirely re-ballasted, and a large
quantity of timber and rails has been taken up and re-
newed. The late extraordinary season has rendered im-
mediately necessary extensive repairs and a supply of
materials, which would otherwise have been spread over
a lengthened period.
The capital account shows that 3,322,602/. had been
received, and 2,801,9331. expended on the railway
and works, and 423,8131, on the shares of the other
railway companies, leaving a balance of 96,8551. The
revenue account shows that 119,1791. had been re-
ceived and 59,5571. expended, including 2,9901. for pas-
senger duty and 3,2811. rates and taxes, leaving a ba-
lance of 59,6211.