The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-16 00:00:00

But while so much was effected for England,
Wales was comparatively neglected. Wealthy in-
dividuals occasionally made short tram-ways or
even railways for their own accommodation, but
that was all, and with the exception of the Ches-
ter and Holyhead, and South Wales, no trunk
lines of railway traversed the Principality, and
yet it afforded the most auspicious channels for
such speculations. Its mineral wealth should long
since have directed attention to this promising but
hitherto neglected country. Its agricultural capa-
bilities, too, when properly developed, would
alone yield ample returns, while those who have
visited its magnificent scenery, and hold in grateful
recollection the unostentatious hospitalities and
genuine kindliness of disposition of the descend-
ants of the ancient Britons, will require no argu-
ments to convince them that the tourist +traffic
will form no inconsiderable item in the balance-
sheet of any company that may be formed for the
purpose of affording the much-required facilities
to these picturesque regions.

We rejoice to find that the "want " so sensibly
experienced is about to be supplied in the most
judicious manner by the formation of " the Car-
marthen and Cardigan Railway and Cardigan
Harbour Improvement Company." We have in-
deed seldom seen a prospectus combining so many
national and commercial advantages as that to
which it is our pleasing duty to direct public at-
tention. It may, indeed, be described as a. work
of humanity as well as of utility. " A Harbour
of Refuge will be provided for the shipping of all
nations, lying nearly midway between Milford
Haven and Holyhead Harbour, and shelter afforded
to the numerous vessels trading to and from Liver-
pool and the northern ports to the south, in -
eluding the whole of the American commerce, and
that to Bristol, and other English southern ports."
Property to an enormous amount and many
valuable lives will thus be preserved. Some esti-
mate may be formed on this point from the simple
fact that no less than fourteen thousand
ships averaging 500 tons burden, " an-
nually sail through the Bay of Cardigan, and pass
by the mouth of the port, not one of which
at present can find shelter in the event of bad
weather, between Holyhead and Milford Haven,
a distance of upwards of 100 miles !" The chief
danger of one hundred miles of perilous coast
navigation will thus be averted. It is needless to
point out the advantages that will result to the
Company, viewing the matter merely through a
X. s. d. medium from this circumstance.

But it is no less desirable if regarded in an
agricultural or a mineral point of view. Lime,
coal, and culm could be supplied. in vast quan-
tity to a district containing no less than 2,000
square miles, or 1,280,000 acres, all of which re-
quires lime as a manure—from which they are
now debarred from the enormous cost of con-
veyance. The country abounds in coal, slate,
silver, lead, copper ores, and agricultural produce of
every description, all which could be supplied to the
manufacturing, and even to the metropolitan dis-
tricts, as well as the teeming produce from the south
of Ireland. It would, indeed, be impossible to com-
prise, or even to allude, within the limits to which
we are necessarily restricted, to the numerous bene-
fits arising from the construction of a line which,
when completed, will form by many miles the
shortest route between London and Dublin, and
which will have the almost exclusive traffic be-
tween Waterford and Wexford, and England and
Wales. Suffice it to say, that although the very
moderate estimates show that 7i- per cent. may
be confidently anticipated by the shareholders,
the mere dividends are the least important feature
iu one of the most important lines that has been
projected mince the introduction of the railway
system into the United Kingdom.