The Sun.
London, England, 1838-07-20 00:00:00

less than half of the ordinary time, needs but to be mentioned.
There is not a merchant, or man of extensive business, but
can readily appeal to instances of the great value of even a few
hours saved in the carriage of letters ; and it has been shown,
that by the Railway, entire days may be saved in the post
between London and many parts of Ireland.

We may contemplate, as another example, the effects on the
military service of the country; the facility of moving troops
in large bodies, hundreds of miles within a few hours, fully
supplied with Artillery and Stores of all kinds, and in a state
of perfect readiness, either to oppose foreign aggression or
repre7=s domestic outrage, must be apparent; and •its influence
upon the security of the public peace can scarcely be overated.
But it is needi,,A to multiply instances of the application of
this principle, as far at its powers have been ascertained, to the
actinl couct•rtas of the country, and it would be folly to attempt
to impose limits to its future influences in creating new re-
sources for the population, or in giving directions as yet un-
known, to those already possessed. The French Minister of
Public Works, in a late address to the Chamber of Deputies,
says, .‘ Railways are assuredly next to the invention of Print.
ing, the most powerful instrument of civilisation that the in-
genuity of man has ever devised. It is difficult, if not impos-
sible, to foresee and define the results which they must, of
necessity, at some period produce on the fate of nations."
The observation does not appear to be in the least overstrained.
The mind can scarcely set bounds to the extent, to which the
effects of so important a discovery may be carried, nor the
imagination take too wide a scope in speculating upon its
future operations. What has been already done upon its very
threshold, and as it were in the dark, seems but an earnest of
advantages to come, when experience shall have shed its full
light upon the subject, and brought this wondrous power more
within the grasp and the command of man.
• •

CONCLUSION ;-SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO
THE EXTENT OF PUBLIC AID WHICH IT MIGHT BE ADVISABLE
TO AFFORD ;-THE MANNER IN WHICH ir MIGHT BE GIVEN,

AND UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS.

Having now examined the principles by which a general
system fi r Railways in Ireland should be replatel,:and laid
down lines which would, as we conceive, be the most bene-
ficial to the country, we shall conclude our Report with a few
suggestions as to the means and the manner of carrying those
projects, either altogether or in part, into execution, and some
observations upon the principles on which Railway Bills
should be framed for the mutual benefit of the public and the
Companies.
There can be no doubt that parties might be found, ready
to undertake certain portions of these lines, which hold out
special prospects of advantage ; such, for example, as the first
twenty or thirty miles leading out of Dublin, over which all
the traffic with other places, near as well as remote, must ne-
cessarily pass. But since, according to our calculations, the
return of profit on the whole system could not be expected, for
some time, to exceed 31 or 4 per cent., it is manifest, that if
the best and most prodnetive portions are taken possession of
unconditionally, there can be no reasonable hope that the re-
mainder will ever be carried into effect. This would so com-
pletely frustrate the most important of the objects contemp-
lated in issuing this Commission, by opposing a bar to the
future improvement of the country, that we trust it will not t.e
in any case permitted. It would be even more advisable that
no partial line should be sanctioned until the country should
possess within itself the means of undertaking the whole system
to its full extent, than at once and for ever to obstruct and
Faralyse s all future exertions for its accomplishment, by
abandoning, to parties having particular and distinct interests,
the monopoly of some of its most productive detached portions.
We, therefore, earnestly rmonunend, that every effort be
made to combine into one interest, and under one manage-
ment and control, the whole of the southern system of inter-
communication between Dublin and Cork, Limerick, Water-
ford, and Kilkenny ; and that the Northern Line, by Nayari—
t? Armagh at least--be treated according to the same prin-
ciple, and considered as one concern.

If a body of capitalists be found ready to undertake either
of these great works, as a whole, we presume that the general
feeling of the Legislature and of the country, will be to leave
the execution of it as little fettered as possible by restriction,
to the management of private enterprise; and in addition to
this, it would be just and advisable to relieve them from all
heedless expenses to which otherwise, in the existing state of
the law, they would be liable. With this view, we recoil' -
mend particularly, that the Act of Parliament be granted free
of any charge, as for a public measure ; that a mode of deter-
mining the amounts to be paid in compensation of land and
damages, be adopted, on principles more fixed and independent
of private or local bias than the present practice; and that
some general enactment he provided, authorising, to a certain
extent, alterations of obvious utility, to be introduced in the
original plan, without the costly expedient of resorting, in
every case, to P.aliament for a new or amended Act.
But the investigationi which we have made lead us to doubt
whether any Company will be induced to undertake either of
these great lines, even with the facilities and advantages which
might, on general principles, be afForded them. In such case
we trust, that to avoid the evil of partial execution, and to
accomplish so important a national object as that contemplated
in the completion of tie entire system, we may look forward to
a certain degree of assistance from the State, as great, at
kaqt, as has been given for the encouragement of other public
works in Ireland; and ott those grounds of policy which, we
believe, have not been disputed, and on which it is therefore
unnecessary for us to enlarge.

We feel not only the difficulty of the subject, hut also that
we should be exceeding the bounds of our instructions to enter
minutely into the precise form and amount of the aid which
we have ventured to express our hope may be afforded. At
the same time the following suggestions may not be consi-
dered irrelevant, as to the different modes by which the State
might render great assistance in forwarding these important
objects, without injury to the ether public interests ; they are
offered merely as suggestions of principles which may be de-
serving of consideration, and as admitting of modifications in
their details, so a; to form the ground-work of an agreement
between the Government and the parties interested. We pro-
ceed, therefore, to suggest—
First--That Government should advance, by way of loan,
a considerable proportion of the amount of the estimates,
at the lowest rate of interest, and on the easiest terms of re-
payment,
thinkym to
that m abney sl cn udrheodl d
ebrys amanyi o ratlgiaogebeo ffotuhnedist- or r
subscribeks .
towards carrying into effect an object which, in addition to its
importance as a national concern, cannot fad to benefit and im.
Prove their own properties.
As a further assistance in filling the subscriptions, perhaps
powers might be given to the counties interested, as well as to
corporate towns, to become shareholders to certain amounts ;
the Government, in suet case, advancing the money on the
security of presentments. in the usual manner, and the return
on such shares being available for the reduction of the county
or other rates.
A provision, however, will be necessary, in this case, to in-
sure the co-operation of the whole of the districts interested
—tbe approval of a certain majority having been obtained.
Secondly, If these means be rejected, or fail to produce
sufficient subscriptions to insure, in the first instance, the exe-
cution of the entire system, we would suggest that the work
might still be allowed to go forward—beginning- at Dublin, or
other fixed terminus, to any other determinate point, such por-
tion, however, not to be considered as an integral line, but
only as a part of the general system, and to be nontinurd from
that roint towards the ultimate intended termini of the several
lines and branches, as new subscriptions are received. Tln!
subscribers to these continuations should be entitled to all the
privileges and advantages arising from the whole partion of
The line already executed, from the date of the payment of
their respective subscriptions, equitably estimated according to
the time when each subscription shall be made.
Thirdly, We would further venture to suggest, that the
Government should undertake either or both of the proposed
combined lines, on the application of the counties interested ;
mimaillryreisosohommi.se,otiltaltt
the outlay to be repaid by small instalments, at the lowest ad-
he
missibleevent f
the
eter
returns
st
ts interest,
payingand tunderi,
stipulatedt e
fin t
atesf,roomur
inte-
rest, the counties shall supply the deficit by presentments.
the local districts,' such an arrangement, would, to insora
a certain great benefit, incur but a very inconsiderable risk,
relisninogffeorningthethriessult of our estimates,
nlvteos tahtethSehsaanmnoentiNalaesiigation. It is, of course,
hat on the principle adopted for
to suit all the circumstances of the case.
susceptible of various forms and modifications; but we par-
posely Lavoid entering into details, which, however, we see no
dGi
Government
In
Should either of the two latter suggestions be adopted, the
up
pssess an immediate interest in the due
theieTe arrangements.igps proposition(l,l,eeminsee is some ei
y in tilting
execution of the work, and must, of course, have a great share
in its direction. But even were the work undertaken without
public aid, we are still of opinion that it should, in a certain
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description
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e
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it would be equally inconsistent with
one essential difference between Railways and any other de-
scription of public works has been overlooked, and that power
and privileges have been conceded t P • te Companies.
which should be exercised only under the- directriv authority Of
the State, or under regulations enforced by effective superin-
tendence and controul.

SJ great are the powers, so vast the capabilities of a Rail-
road, that it must, wherever established, at once supersede the
common road ; and not only will all the public conveyances
now in use disappear, but even the means of posting will, hi
all probability,
rapidly decline, and eventually, perhaps, cease
to be found along its line. These (-fleets may be expected as
the necessary consequences of opening a Railway. I's superio-
rity is too manifest and decided to admit of rivalry ; it possesses
almost unlimited means of accommodation ; no amount of
traffic exists on any road, or is likely to exist, which a single
rail a ay is not capable of conveying ; no concourse of passengers
which it cannot promptly dispose of ; the velocity- of the loco-
motive, when impelled even at a very considerable reduction
of its full power, surpasses the greatest speed which the best
app )ioted coach, oil dice bpst madc road, call maintain ; iu
.hurt, where the capabilities of the system are brought fully
into operation, they present, such an accumulation of advan.
t ..rev, as to render it an instrument of unequalled power in
advancing the prosperity of a country.

4 We should have wislieti the general arrangement to have ;Winded
in the line, the di•tance between Armagh and liell'aQt ; but as that jg
almady ceonpie.l by a Company. iu full op:ration with the works, It is
to be hoped that a readiness to unite hi the sante system for fares, &C.,
a: shall be adopted for the rest, may render the ruinous expAbent of a
distinct tine into 13q!r4st uniloceguiry.