The Sun.
London, England, 1841-09-20 00:00:00

IVIORNIN C 4 SUN

PARIS AND ROUEN RAILWAY.

The following satisfactory statements respect-
ing this important line of railway will be read
with interest by Englishmen as well as French-
men. It is a remarkable coincidence of circum-
stances, that while the most extraordinary un-
dertaking of the present day, the Thames Tun-
nel, was planned and executed by a Frenchman,
and the most superb line of railway, the Great
Western, was planned and completed under the
superintendence of his son, the engineer on the
Paris and Rouen Railway, the most important
yet attempted in France, is an Englishman; the
principal contractors for making the tunnels and
bridges are Englishmen, a vast number of the
labourers belong to the same people, and a large
amount of the funds have been raised by British
capitalists. Peace has already done wonders in
promoting intercourse between the two coun-
tries. Let us hope that its continuance may per-
fect the commercial relations, and increase the
friendship of two nations, whose alliance forms
the best security for the peace of the world.
REPORT OF THE CONSEIL D'ADMINISTRA.-
TiON TO THE GENERAL MEETING.
PARIS, JULY 8, 1841..,
GENTLEMEN—We beg to announce to you the accom-
plishment of the commission confided to. us at the last ge-
neral meeting.
At that meeting it was resolved that the Conseil d'Ad-
ministration should appeal to Government for authority
to pay the interest at the rate of 4 per cent., instead of 3
per cent., during the progress of the works.
Our appeal, supported by your recommendation, has
been successful ; an " ordonnance royale" has authorised
interest at 4 per cent. during the works. We, in conse-
quence, have the honour to announce to you payment of
interest up to the Bth of July, at the rate of 4 per cent.,
being 4s. per share.
You may remember, Gentlemen, the political difficul-
ties which surrounded us at the time of the last general
meeting of July 11, 1840. You did not believe they
would suspend the execution of our undertaking, and we,
shared that conviction with you. It has been confirmed
by the readiness with which all the joint obligations
have been fulfilled, in proof of which we quote the
amounts paid up to June 30, 1841, namely, 12,602,000 f.,
of which 10,048,000 f. have been invested in Treasury
Bonds bearing 4 per cent. interest.
If any doubt ever existed as to the completion of our
undertaking, the receipt of so considerable a portion of
our joint funds in the midst of so many difficulties, still
in the recollection of every one, but now happily termi-
nated, will show the vast resources and powerful means
of our Association.
Our first care was to arrange the co-operation of the
various branches of the establishment, so as to secure the
most prompt and economical execution of the works
confided to each.
The engineers under the immediate direction of the
engineer in chief, Mr. Locke, were at once employed in
fixing the line and drawing up the parcellary plans.*
On the 12th December last, we forwarded to the Mi-
nister of Public Works the general plan of the line, with
all the required particulars, as far as Mantes, a distance
of about 30 miles, nearly 18 more miles than the Cahier
des Charges required.
On the 7th of April we also forwarded to the Minister
of Public Works another section of our general plan fur
about 29 miles ; and at this moment, the plan of the
whole line is fixed.
You will perceive the importance and difficulty of the
labour comprising the " ensemble" and the details of
working ; rendered still more complicated by the various
documents which the law required us to furnish for the
Government examination of our plan.
With the plan, the parcellary plans were also carried
on with the greatest activity; and as each section was
finished, it was immediately forwarded to Government,
in order that the various forms which the law directs
might be complied with.
These forms are numerous, and it is necessary that
they be fulfilled before the works can be commenced
or expropriation began.
The general plan is to be successively examined by the
Prefects, the Engineer-in-Chief of the " Conseil Gene-
rale" of the Pouts et Chaussees, and the Minister of
Public Works. Approval of the general plan is con-
ditionally given upon the opinion of the Committee of
Inquest on the necessity of expropriation ;•l• and other
local questions which arise out of the construction of the
railway. The proceedings are preceded and followed by
numerous delays ; the opinion of the Committee is again
to be submitted to the various authorities above named,
and it is only after careful examination of all the pro-
ceedings that final approval can be obtained.
We have had to comply with these forms for fifty-two
communes passed by the railway; our parcellary plans
are finished on the whole of the line; and, with the ex-
ception of a very few communes, they have been depo-
sited. Inquests have been held in thirty communes, and
we have received the final approval of our plans for that
part of the line which lies between the junction on the
St. Germain Railway and Poissy.
We have used our best endeavours to accelerate these
forms, but they are so many, and accompanied with
such delays, that it was but yesterday we received the
power of expropriation on the first section of our line
as far as Poissy, although it is twelve months since our
Bill passed.
This fact alone calls for reform in the state of the
law, and in the official regulations which embarrass Rail-
way Companies.
It is true, on this point of the line we have met with
an opposition on which, notwithstanding the publicity
it has obtained from the public journals, we feel bound
to give you further explanation.
The town of St. Germain, whose claims were settled
by the Government and the Chambers, has thought fit to
appeal before the Inquest Committee against the line, as
fixed by the law, and approved in its general arrange-
ments by the Government.
In itself and in its form this appeal was inadmissible ;
it has been condemned by the most competent engineer
as striking at the very root:of our undertaking, destroy-
ing all the arrangements of our plan in altering the most
essential conditions of the construction and working of
our line. Our opposition, founded on such powerful
motives, has been sanctioned by the decision of the Com-
mittee of Inquest, the Engineer-in-Chief of the depart-
ment of Seine and Ouse, the Conseil-General of the
Ponts et Chaussees, and finally by the approval of the
Minister of Public Works. The question now is irre-
vocably fixed.
Whilst fulfilling the legal forms, and in spite of delay
of every kind, we have taken proper measures for the
prompt execution of the works.
Our attention was first directed to the tunnels, which
from their nature, might have presented the greatest dif-
ficulty, and in which many obstacles might be met with.
It was important to confide them to contractors whose
capital, experience, and ability, would present the
strongest guarantee for their final completion, and after
various offers, the tunnels of Rolleboise, Tourville, and
Venables, were let to Messrs. Mackenzie and Bressey
upon conditions which would bear no comparison with
those tendered by other contractors.
Messrs. Mackenzie and Brassev have already executed
vast undertakings of this nature in England to the entire
satisfaction of the different Companies contracting with
them.
The part of the line from the junction on the St. Ger-
main Railway to Poissy, including two large bridges on
the Seine, was also let to Messrs. Mackenzie and Bras-
sey, as soon as the plan was approved. In this also the
vast differences in the tenders of the other contractors
left no doubt as to the considerable advantages offered by
-Messrs. Mackenzie and Brassev ; since which the dis-
tance between Poissy and the Rolleboise tunnel has also
been confided to them on advantageous. terms for
the Company. We are nvinal to Jude-. from the works
in progress, and properlyn appreciate the° relent and ability
of the contractors-.
The works already let will be finished on the Ist of
March, 1843.
We have also contracted for the bridges of Oisel and
Manoir, which will be finished by the Ist of January,
1843, at the very latest.
The works on all the other parts of the line will be
kortiv put up to 1-•.tider.
.6 Ft om the different modes of execution, we have se-
lected that by contract, with
a Cahier de Charges, and a
control which will secure the
best,e,f
t the works.
most speedy, and
the most economical execution
works. The choice
of this b
system is justified
uytrie experience in England,
where various plans have been
We have also secured, by advantageous
contracts with
a
five of the principal foundries, supplye of rails and
'chairs for a considerable portion of
On the
chairs we have effected a considerable ret3nucet.ion on the
prices hitherto paid by other Companies.
At the s :me time we have accepted the offer of a C
pany, powerful from its capital and experience, to c-con-
struct our locomotive engines and tenders at Rouen on
plans fixed by our Engineer-in-Chiet, combining every
petfectiod and improvement, and at prices much beneath
the se hitherto paid for engines bought in England or ma-
nufactured in France.
These machines will for the most part be constructed
in tl e workshops belonging to the Company, an arrange-
ment which give us the advantage of completely mounted
workshops for the future repairs of our engines.
The particulars of the contracts concluded, and those
in the o iurSe of settlement, which we have just read to
you
whit esnfirmed and completed by Mr. Locke's Report,
h NXe have now the honour to lay before you.
MR. LOCKE'S REPORT.
To Cho Directors of the Paris and Rouen Railway
Company.

Gentlemen—Oa the occasion of meeting the Proprie-
tors, it becomes my duty to report to
you the progress
that has been made in the construction of the railway
from Paris to Rouen.
You are aware that the great works of art, which from
their magnitude might retard the rapid advancement of
this undertaking, consist of the tunnels at Rolleboise and
Yenables, and thefour bridges across the Seine.
In accordance with your desire, I directed my atten-
tion to these works in the first instance, and, although
it was necessary to pass through many forms reiuired
by law before any of them could be put in motion, we
succeeded in obtaining offers, and making contracts La-
some of them, during the progress of our preliminary
operations.
We are indebted for the facility thus afforded us to
the Administration of the Pouts et Chaussees, who, with
much consideration, have expedited our applications with
great cordiality.
Immo, however, forbear to state, that the delays
which hsve arisen in obtaining possession of the land,
more particularly in the district between Bezons and
Poissy, are such as to interfere materially with the con-
tract of the works there, which (although it was let six
months ago) cannot he proceeded with for want of
the land.
The effect of this delay, caused, as I have understood,
by the extraordinary opposition of the tower of St. Ger'