The Sun.
London, England, 1841-10-07 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1841.

THE QUESTION OF LOW FARES.

(From the Railway Magazine.)
The subject of fares is one which, with the extension
of railways for traffic, must necessarily attract much
attention, and it is evident that. it now attracts a great
deal. Like all other questions, it has two sides and two
parties, one, which we may call the passive party, that
which holds that the higher the fares the greater :he
profit, and the other, which is an active party, which ad-
vocates low fares as the only genuine source of healthy
traffic and steady profit. For this latter came we have
long laboured, both in the former series of the Magazine
and in the present, and we beliQye that we may claim the
merit of having been the first and most persevering ad-
vocates of this great principle. To us, therefore, to con-
template the present state and prospects of the parties
contending fur low fares, must be most agreeable, and
we know no period more fitting than this, when the
yearly meetings of most of the Companies have been
held. It will be found from this investigation that the
principle of low fares is no longer dependent upon
the pen or upon theory, advocated only in the
closet by a few, but that it is daily making
way, and coming into practical operation among
large number of Railway Companies. It is evi-
dent that the sticklers for high prices are alarmed,

and although Mr. Chaplin and its other partisans may
thunder forth from the Chair diatribes against writers
and theorists, he and they. will find that the rapid pro-
gress of the other system already prognosticates the ulti-
mate result. The following, among other Companies,
have now declared themselves in favour of low fares :

The Manchester and Leeds, the Glasgow and Ayr, the

Glasgow and Greenock, the Croydon, the Blackwall, the
Dundee and Arbroath, the Arbroath and Forfar, the
Dublin and Kingstown, the Chester and Birkenhead, the
Hull and Selby, and the Stockton and Darlington.
The following have affirmed the principle of third-class
carriages at low fares :-I'he Great North of England,
the Greenwich, the Newcastle and North Shields, the
Eastern Counties, and the'Birmingham and Gloucester.
We shall now proceed to give some of the testimonies
to low fares, furnished by this year's proceedings from
the present - volume of the Magazine. The Newcastle
and North Shields Directors state that " they had ad-
vanced the second class fares, and given increased ACCO-
modation, at the same time they added a third class of
open carriages at a lower price." The Grand Junction
announce " a further reduction in the rates for the car-
riage for goods has been made since the last general
meeting ; the result of which has been an increase
in the quantity. as well, as in the money receipt from
this source. The Directors ~have been guided by
a conviction that the prosperity of the un-
dertaking would be promoted f)y the increase
of traffic created by such inducements." The Green-
wich Directors confess that they have been obliged to
introduce third class carriages, "rather in deference to
the wishes of many of the Shareholders, and to the prac-
tice of other railways, than from conviction of their own."
At that meeting they seemed rather disposed to throw
them up, but in July they say, " Some experience has
been afforded by the use of these lower-priced carriages
for the last twelve months, by which it would appear to
be imperative, from the existing competition, that they
should be continued." They further recommend the
abolition of 2d class fares, and reduction of Ist class
fares. The Directors of the Eastern Counties
say, "that they have been for some time in ne-
gociation with the- Thames Haven Company,
and the Harwich and Colchester branch, to decrease the
toll." At the North Midland meeting, the Chairman
stated that the Board were prepared to entertain the
question of a reduction in the Manchester and Leeds

toll, as a matter only of revenue, but as a matter of prin
ciple there were some diaubts. By the Manchester and
Leeds Directors, who honourably lead the way in main-
taining the great principle, it is avowed that the Com-
pany have adopted this " principle of carrying a larger
number at low fares in preference to a smaller number at
high fares." In March the Croydon Directors announced
that " they adhered to the opinion expressed in
their late Report, that increased facilities and reduction
of fares are the means most likely to lead to a
remunerating revenue." Again in September, they say.
that " they are firmly convinced that lower fares would
sa greatly increase the number of passengers as to add
to the income of both Companies (the Greenwich and
Croydon.) The Dublin and Kingstown Directors ex-
press their satisfaction with the result of the late reduc-
tion in the second class fares, and in the rates of sub-
scription, and with the plan of family tickets. They
also intimate an intention of giving greater facili-
ties. Notwithstanding an increase of a quarter of a
million of passengers, or 20 per cent., the expenses of
the locomotive and carriage departments were 772/. less
on the year. The Chester and Birkenhead Board
report that the charges had been reduced, and the traffic
has since steadily and progressively increased. The
Directors of the Hull and Selby state that they have
consented to grant monthly tickets to parties residing on
the line of railway, allowing them to pass as often as
they think proper, on the payment of one fare daily.
The Glasgow and Greenock board announce that their
fares are unusually low, and that the result already con-
.irms the soundness of their views. The Glasgow and
Ayr Directors advocate a reduction in the fares of the
joint lines. The report of the Blackwell Directors states,
that " although the present fares are unquestionably low
(perhaps lower than any other railway in England), the
Directors would deprecate any increase, until the pre-
sent rates have had a fair trial, with the advantages of
the extension line." The Great North of England Di-
rectors state that " third class carriages have been at-
tached to some of the trains, and the scale of fares fixed
so as to enable all classes, according to their means, to
avail themselves of the railway." The Ulster Directors
announce that " they are anxious to settle rates of fare
on as moderate a scale as possible."
Another proof of the interest taken in the subject is
in the debates which have taken place at several of
the meetings. At the Manchester and Leeds a long
and interesting debate took place on fares, and even in
chat liberal Company a motion was brought forward to
4ive some additional accommodation to third-class pas-
sengers. At the Dublin and Kingstown meeting, emi-
nent for its maintenance of low fares, a motion for
increased accommodation was similarly brought forward
and dropped. At the Greenwich meeting some able
remarks on the reduction of fares were mate by the
late Resident Director, Mr. George Walter, and a
long debate ensued. At the Grand Junction Meet-
ing a sound and sensible speech was made
by the retiring Chairman, Mr. Moss, on the subject
of low fares. At the Sheffield and Manchester
meeting Mr. Jackson advocated accommodation for third-
class passengers. It was at the North Midland meeting,
however, that the grand debate for the year took place,
on the speech of Mr. Vickers, and although the motion
was lost, the opposition was evidently of a very moderate
character. A Proprietor at the Glasgow and Ayr meet-
ing expressed an opinion in favour of high fares, but the
sense of the meeting was against him, and the meet-
ing subsequently passed a resolution declaratory
of their desire for a reduction of the fares on
the joint line. At the South Western meeting.
Mr. Chaplin delivered a masterly speech in de-
fence of high fares, which may be considered as the
counterblast of that expiring cause against the opinions
of Mr. Vickers. Discussions of questions were also
raised at the meetings of the Great Western, Birming-
ham and Derby, and Blackwell Companies. Thus the
question of fares has come before the meetings of eleven
Companies.
We have now to sum up the names of the advocates
who have this year declared themselves on either side.
We therefore find among the advocates of low fares,
At% Moss, late Chairman of the Grand Junction ;
Mr. Houldsworth, Chairman of the Manchester and
Leeds ; Mr. Routh, Chairman of the Blackwell ; Mr.
Jrawshay, Chairman of the Northern and East-
ern ; Mr. M'Call, Chairman of the Glasgow and
Ayr ; Mr. W. A. Wilkinson, Chairman of the
Croydon ; Mr. George Walter, late Resident Di-
Director of the Greenwich ; Capt. Lewes, Superintend-
ant of the Manchester and Leeds ; Mr. Bass, Manager
of the Glasgow and Greenock ; Mr. Entwisle and Mr.
Gill, Directors of the Manchester and Leeds ; Mr.
Vickers, &c. Those who have stood forth in defence of
high fares have been Mr. Chaplin, Deputy Chairman of
the South-Western ; Mr. J. P. Maubelt ; Mr. Levi, the
Turnpike Contractor ; and Mr. Henry Wheeler, Direc
tor of the Greenwich, who cuts so ludicrous a figure in
our pages.
One of the results of the agitation, which is not the
!east curious, and another proof of the progress of low
Fares, is the recent formation of a third party, which
tdopts modified views, and which may be regarded as a
weakening of the high fare party. This party may be
considered ,o have deClared itself at the North Midland
meeting. It was, then put forward that high fares are to
be preferred, but that low fares may be adopted, as
expediency may dictate. Among the adherents to this
expediency party we may reckon Mr. Glyn, Chairman
of the London and Birmingham, and North Midland ;
Mr. Hudson, Chairman of the York and North Midland;
Capt. Porter, R.N. ; Mr. M.A. Goldsmid, Director of
the Brighton and Greenwich ; and Mr. Robert Stephen-
son. Mr. George Stephenson- expressed an opinion, at
the Birmingham and Derby meeting, against high tolls
on mineral traffic ; but we do not rightly understand
whether he objected to high rates on mineral traffic on
canals only.
The Memorial di Pau !elates that a few days
ago, while a fine young man, about 22 years of age,
and a beautiful girl, about 17, who had arrived at one
of the principal inns in the town, were at table
together, their fete-a-tite was interrupted ',by a Com-
missary of Police, who took them before\,the Procu-
reur du Roi. The captive, and, as it appeared, capti-
vating youth, pretended for a moment to be an artist,
and produced a passport in that character, but there
were witnesses present to prove that he was the son
of the Marquis de P-, of Saint Sever, and that the
fair lady was the daughter of one of the most re-
spectable and wealthy inhabitants of Toulouse. The
young gallant was committed to prison, notwith-
standing his companion took all the blame upon
herself, and protested that he had been induced to make
the elopement by her solicitations. It appears that the
disappearance of a case of jewels was also a subject of
inquiry, but the fir fugitive declared that it was left in
safe hands at Toulouse. Mademoiselle was delivered
"ver to two of her relations, and was taken back to
Toulouse.
In the year 1765, instead of agriculture being
fettered at that time wish
Corn-laws in this country, we
were expoiters of grain. In 1766 the exportation for a
gentleman
after which the expostatiml
the 29th of September, in consequence of a bad harvest,
sbhaorgrtotteinregcebiveeedan lateidmpoonratrhyeinetxeprrourptattwitnil; by'
caonrnemon-
SINGULAR CIRCU
named Pugh, while sporting along with others, on the
A,lrsei4ol7itnce;._cedA.
Beacon Hill, Radnorshire, on the 28th of August last,
shot a fine grouse, attached to the leg of which was a
small canvas bag, containing a silver fourpenny piece,
wrapped in an envelope can which was written, "clock,
21. Bs. Od." The coin is still retained by Mr. Pugh as
a curiosity.