The Sun.
London, England, 1838-10-11 00:00:00

been assumed in my report in 1833, as the excess to be
provided for." Now, did Mr. Brunel mean 7 per cent. oa
the original estimate of two millions and a half ?
Mr: BRUNEL—I meant seven per cent. he) and what-the
works would cost without the increased gage.
Mr. HEYwoant—Then it means seven per cent. of an
increase ou what the works would cost.
Mr. BRUNEL—I stated that the excess would be seven
per cent. beyond what the four feet eight inch gage would
cost.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.)
Mr. HEYWORTH then proposed as an
,amendment that
the meeting be farther adjourned, for the purpose of giving
each of the subscribers an opportunity of considering Mr.
Wood's and Mr. Hawkshawe's reports ; and that the ad-
journed meeting be hold at this place seven days after the
reports are in the Ilan is of the subscribers.
Mr. Purer s seconded the amendment. He regretted
that it had not fallen into abler hands, but the startling facts
which had been disclosed rendered such a proceeding abso-
lutely necessary. It was impossible that the Proprietors
could lay their hands on their hearts, and say that they
were satisfied with the former proceedings of the Directors.
The only er ,and work for future confidence, was in the
experieeeei cf the past. He would not enter into details,
but e ould confine himself to two most important points—
the delays in the opening of the Railway, and the in-
crease upon the original estimates.—( Hear.) Mr. Phipps
here read extracts from the Reports of the Directors,
for the purpose of showing that it had been stated that
the line between Maidenhead and London would be open in
July, 1837, and that between Bristol and Bath at the end
of 1837, and the entire line in 1840. In a subsequent re-
port that the line between Bristol and Bath would be com-
pleted in February, 1838, postponements had gone on from
one half yearly report to another without any good cause
being assigned. He would now pr ,teed to the other point,
namely, the increased estimates. The original one was two
millions and a half, and on the 16th of February,
1837, the Directors announced that there would he
some increase, but not material in amount. In
the Report now before them the aggregate estimate was
4,568,928/. exclusive of locomotive power and carriages
for traffic, making a difference on the first cost of 90 or
100 per cent. That such should be the ea,e was not ex-
traordinary, after the statements they had jest heard from
Mr. Heyworth. There was evidently reasonable cause of
distrust in the minds of the Shareholders, that things were
not carried on in the way in which they ought to be. It
was far from his intention to lay the shadow of an imputa-
tion against the Directors. He believed them to be most
honourable men, but it was not too much under the circum-
stances to ask them to pause. Although much evil had
been done, he was convinced that the remedy was practi-
cable if they only adopted it. He would implore the Pro-
prietors for their own sakes, and that of the absent Share-
holders, to consent to the adjournment. Tile evil of ad-
journment might be said to be nominal, but the evil of
going on was incalculable—their next step, whether for
weal or woe, was irretrievable.—(Hear.)
The CHAIRMAN said the amendment differed very
much from the tone of the observations of the mover and
seconder. He could not see how the anticipated reports
would throw any light on their past expenditure. Mr.
Brunel, he presumed, would be able to give satisfactory
answers to the questions addressed to him.
Mr. HOTES wished to say a few words on Kyanizing be-
fore Mr. Brunel rose to reply. The statement of the ex-
pense of Kyanising, as compared with the Great Western,
was made on his authority, and the amount would not ex-
ceed 3201. per mile. He was obliged to Dr. Carpenter,
for telling them that their line was a grand experimental
one, upon which Mr. Wood, one of the first engineers of
the day, would not make up his mind.—(Loud cries of
" No, no.")
Dr. CARPENTER explained.
Mr. H TES proceeded to state at some length the cost of
the Kyanising process on the Birmingham an I Gloucester,
and Belton and Bury lines. He then alluded to the
item of screws, in which twenty tons were charged
at 15/. sterling per ton, and he was informed that these
screws actually did cost 15/. per ton. He agreed with
Mr. Heyworth and Mr. Phipps that they ought not to
pass these accounts. He had no wish to cast obloquy on
the Directors. All his objections were against the engi-
neer, and he had always maintained that it was uttery
impossible they could place confidence in h'm. They had
been told that when they were dissatisfied they ought to
retire. That was not his opinion of the duties of a Share
bolder. He was firmly of opinion that with ordinary
management the Great Western line would be one of the
best in the kingdom. Having the most sanguine opinion
about it, be was not going to take their opinion and sell
out. He would pawn his shirt before he would leave them.
—(Great cheering, and Hear, hear.) He bagged to dis-
claim the most remote desire of expressing any personal
hostility towards Mr. Brunel, but to his plans, or rather to
the absence of all plan, he ascribed all the evils and expenses
they had been involved in.
Mr. PINNAIRD said as Mr. Hoyes had disclaimed all
wish to throw obloquy on the Directors, he ought to
withdraw an expression he had made use of, when he
stated that if the report of Mr. Hawkshawe had been
favourable, the Directors would have read it.
Mr. HOYES readily agreed that it was rather a rash
expression, and he had no objection to esipdratv it.—
(Loud cheers.) He had invariably maintained that a
more honourable body of men were not to be found
than the Directors of the Great Western Railway.
The CHAIRMAN said it was most satisfactory to find
that, when an expression had been hastily used, it had been
set right in the handsomest manner.
Mr. BRUNEL could not feel surprised that the gentleman,
who had last addressed them, had stated that he could not
place confidence in him. No professional man, however
eminent, could be trusted, if implicit reliance was placed
on the calculations made, and the deductions drawn from
them. He considered them incorrect in almost every item,
and the inferences drawn not be justified. The statement
which he had given of the expense of timber bearings, as
compared with that of stone blocks, was comparative, and
the Hon. Proprietor must see that from the heading,
which ran, " I beg to lay before you a comparative esti-
mate," &c., and in every instance the comparison was
alluded to throughout.—(Hear, hear.) Several of the
items in the estimate had been alluded to in a manner
that was not quite fair ; and when it was stated that he had
made no provision for Kyanizing, he would rater him to
the item of Si. per load of American pine, converted and
pickled.—(Cheers.) With respect to the screws, the ones
referred to at 151. per ton were not the same as those
referred to at 561. per ton. When the statement was
framed it was proposed to spike the rails to the timber,
but it was afterwards found that wood screws at
sid. to 6d. per lb. would be a great deal better.
With respect to Kyanizing, the deductions were
not quite fairly put. The charge for tanks, &c., included
the whole expense of establishing saw-pits, wharfs, carpen-
ters works, sheds, &c., along the whole line.—( Hear,
hear.) He would remind the meeting, also, that only
about one-third of the Bolton and Bury line was laid upon
Kyanized timber, and when he stated that the ex-
pense of pickling on the Great Western was about Bs. or
9s. a load he thought they would find that it was cheaper
than on the other lines referred to.
Some discussion here took place between Mr. Brunel
and Mr. Heyworth relative to the extent of the Bolton
and Bury line, which had been laid down with Kyanized
timber, the result of which showed that only 7} miles
of the 10 were so constructed.
Mr. BRUNEL observed that that made a difference of
25 per cent. in the expense. He would now refer to the
Engineer expences, and he would tell them exactly what
was included under that head in the Great Western Rail-
way, although he could not tell what was included under
that bead in other lines. The salaries of himself and hie
assistants were not larger, nor he believed so large
as those on the London and Birmingham line, and
be did riot well see la" they could reduce their individual
emoluments, because, there was nothing capable of retrench-
ment on that point. Beyond the salaries of the officers,
there were very lareepe nces, which from the observa-
tions made, it would('
have been better for him if they bad
never been included under
the
ehead of Engineering. All
h
the services connected with
alihe
application to Parliament
for deviations and alteraions--
expenses paid to Sur-
veyors, were charged to the. En
ginte
expenseerin department.F There
was then a considerable weeklyorwittlite payment
of labourers affecting small works connected
ing, such as the sinking of shafts for the examiennagtiOnneoNf
fencing the line were tunnels • and it was only on Wedn(sday last that he had
remarked, th:-.!- the charges
. for
ac-
tually in the engineering expenses,
All the ac_
throuzh the engineer's_. office, have created
counts ping
forwa I 't
the
e nri fai --
impression, whimleotdheerattaec,t
an erroneous
neering expences were
verysalaries were as small,
son, that the _
the number not 60 rna
than on other lines, and e
suffering serious inconvenience large.from the
(Mr. Brunel) was su
feeling that had been excited, but he trusted he had freed
himself from the imputation that himself, or others about
him, were deriving a larger emolument than they were
fairly entitled to.—(Loud cheers.) The next point
referred to wits I.is tendency to increasing the ex-
penditure coule qui collie. Such system would be
r as it was
as contrary to the spirit of engineeing
to make defective works. It was just as essential for
the character of an engineer that he could build
a work,el.l
eap as that he could build it well. His boast,
• _hi)44) erg would be to do the work well
and cheaply.
W th- ilea* to the quotation from the tunnels, he must
.24 cersa • 'hat he had been misunderstood. The
in 1y W
paregs4 'as rather a long one, huthad re-
ho
eer feu re he: at differ cc in the earth wort; atid
brikig;s rich \s, u. be require:l bf. the
narrow ski gi-;e• and he had stated, " IL,
, the f 11 fee( allowed for each viii, a 7 feet
eek.. •
Nar._ 0