The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-04 00:00:00

THE SUN,

RAILWAY INTE LIGENCE.
TURNING THE FIRST TIRIRDFm.OOFRTpIEITEHN.ORTH
WESTERN
LOThursday, at Cleatop, two
This event took
miles from Settle!)laceh
T deed to connect the manufacturing
onNorth-Western Railway has
two objects. It is inert
Riding
of Yorkshire by a near
districts of the
the west of Scotland, and also to
route with GlasgoWw ad
afford to those distrincuttshae
Bible shippin ewo ems tmodi coast, at the ne
itl rya naccece os
Morecambe gßpaoyr.t °The length of the line is sixty-one
It commences at
miles, including bothitsbranches.
Skipton, at the termination of the Bradford Extension
Railway, and proceeds by Gargrave, Settle, Ingleton, to
'Kirkby Lonsdale. Its course is thence by the east of the
Lune to Sedbergh, and thence towards Borrow-bridge,
at a short distance from which place it crosses the Lune
by a large viaduct, and ,joins the Lancaster and Carlisle
line. At a point near Wennington, a branch diverges
through Wray, Hornby, and Caton, to I ancaster, which
is expected to become the great shippAine, port 'for the
West Riding. With the North-Western Railway an
amalgamation has been effected, by Act of Parliament,
with the Morecambe Bay Harbour and Railway Com-
pany.Th _
The difficulties of the navigation of the Lune, it
is well known, led to the construction of the dock at
Glasson many years ago; but commodious as that
dock is, access to it is found very difficult at certain
times, and great delay, as well as danger, are often in-
curred. It is proposed to make a dock at Poulton Ring, at
the embouchure of the bay, which Government Commission-
ers havepronounced to be the most favourable place for a
harbour to be found, perhaps, on the English coast, and
a railway of four miles in extent will communicate with
the North-lVestern at Lancaster. The inhabitants of
the West Riding will thus be put in possession, not only
of railway facilities between the different parts of this
kingdom, but the means of export to foreign countries
will, be afforded superior to any which they now enjoy.
A glance at the map will show at once that the North-
Western is a very well chosen line, and in additionto
the advantages it offers as a part of a trunk line, it gives
to a large and important district, to the grazing
district
of Craven in particular, the privilege of a railway, from
which it has hitherto been quite shut.,llerout.
)
Thursday last (says the Kendal .
fixed upon for the commencement of tclLiy was the day
works, and as
Lord Morpeth had
el consented to act on the occasion,
excited.
great interest was
Half-past twelve o'clock was
the hoar named, and on cur arrival at Settle, about that
time, we found the little town in a stir unequalled, we
apprehend, on any previousho omcceans, extending almost fromion whatever. A long
length of carriages and horsemen,
one extremetity of it to the other, and headed by banners
and a band of music, betokened that some event
was
about to take place of extraordinary and absorbing
interest.
The procession shortly began to move in slow array,
Lord Nlorpeth being in the first carriage, accompanied
by his host, Mr. Brkbeck, and other gentlemen. Among
the private carriages we observed those of Pudsey Daw -
son, Esq , Hornby, ex-High Sheriff ; Henry Alcock,
Esq., Airville, near Skipton ; Charles ilngleby, Esq.,
Austwick ; Robert Ingleby, Ecq , Lawk and Green ;
G. Hartley, Esq., Settle, &c. There were sixteen car-
riages, besides humbler vehicles, and horsemen and
pedestrians beyond count.
The cavalcade moved slowly on, amid. the occasional
cheers of a large body of "navvies," who formed a conspi-
cuous part of the procession, to the scene of action, a
field belonging to the Rev. J. Swales. A large booth
had been erected on the field, which was filled with
ladies, and those who composed the procession formed
in circle on the ground, either in their carriages or on
foot as they chose. The scene was at this moment truly
imposing, A spot could not have been selected more
happily adapted for the purpose. The beautiful pano-
rama which the hills presented gave a native charm to
the scene, and an assemblage of between 2,000 and
3,000 anxious and happy spectators imparted an air of
animation which no one who witnessed it will forget.
The arrangements being duly made, which was a
matter of no small difficulty with so vast a concourse,
though they were managed with a skilfulness that was
most creditable to those who had the conducting of the
ceremonial, Mr. Vignoles, the engineer-in-chief, came
forward and presented to Mr. Dawson the silver spade—
a most elegant implement, inscribed with the arms of
the company, as well as with the record of the date of
the auspicious event, in honour of which it was manu-
factured. Mr. Dawson then handed it to Lord Morpeth,
with a suitable address, and as soon as that nobleman
had received it, the Vicar of Giggleswick, the Rev. R.
Ingram, stepped forward, at the request of the chairman,
and invoked in the most solemn and appropriate strain,
the blessing and help of the Almighty on the great work
they were about to commence. His Lordship en doffed
his coat, in the true navvy style, and pulled out of his
breast a veritable worsted navvy's cap, which he put
upon his hea4 amid the most vociferous plaudits of the
assemblage, the navvies ;themselves, who stood around
with their implements, being apparently the most inte-
rested spectators in the scene, and addressed himself to
his work. His Lordship, it must be confessed, did not
seem much used to dig, and the efforts that he made to
cut the stubborn soil, provoked the loudest peals
of laughter. His Lordship enjoyed the fun as much
as the merriest of those who watched him in his un-
wonted labour ; and after a short time the mahogany
wheelbarrow, a most beautifully designed and well-
made little vehicle, was filled, and wheeled along the
narrow planks to the end of them, where it was
" tipped.' His Lordship resumed his proper habili-
ment, amid greetings more hearty than we almost ever
remember before Where heard, arid then proceeded to
address the company.
Lord MORPETU said—l am afraid the Craven sods
have been a little too hard, from the recent frost, for me
to acquit myself like an experienced navvy. Nevertheless
I trust that this may be an auspicious beginning of that
great andertaking to celebrate which we have met here
to-day.—(Cheers,) It is a work which belongs to the
energy and enterprise of the times in which we live.
Formerly it was thought a very great thing that rail-
ways were made to connect the largest towns in the
country. It was thought a great thing when a railway
was made between Liverpool and Manchester. Next
people proposed the uniting of the capital itself with
other great towns, such as Birmingham and Bristol.
As people's enterprise crept on, it began to be thought
an easy matter to conduct a railway along levels
and by the side of rivers. But we, gentlemen,
under the skill and enterprise of our able engineer,
Mr. Vignoles, are able to accomplish still greater feats
than these. We mean to carry our railway fearlessly
along the upland pastures of Craven. We do not wean
to creep sluggishly by the side of every river, but boldly
to cross them transversely, and drive our line over the
Aire, the Ribble, and the Lune.—(Cheers.) We are
not afraid of driving our line under the giant shadow of
Ingleborough itself.—(Great cheering.) Enterprise de-
serves success, and I have no doubt that the success we
deserve will crown the enterprise of the North-Western
Railway Company. It seems, indeed, that since our
undertaking was set on foot, another railway of great
pretensions has talesn that same name.—(Laughter.) So
happy did they deem the name of the North-Westerns
that by that name they have christened the long line of
railway which stretches from London to Lancaster.
Well, as they have usurped our name, I think they
ought at least to guarantee us their dividend.—(Cheers
and laughter.) However, I believe we shall want no
dividends but our own, for it seems to me that the cir-
cumstances and features of this railway are all of the
most promising character. lam told that there is a po-
pulation amounting to two or three millions in the centre
counties of England to whom this railway will be a
saving, if they wish to get to the great town of Glasgow
and the western districts of Scotland, of 25 miles.—
(Hear.) lam told likewise that from London itself to
Glasgow this railway will afford a saving of 12 miles.
It gives me therefore satisfaction to think this, our own
true and genuine North-Western—(Hear)—will give all
the vast manufacturing population of that West Riding
of Yorkshire, in which I feel so closely and grate-
fully interested, a ready and convenient access at all
times to the district of the lakes and all the romantic
scenery of that part of England.—(Cheers.)
,Most
glad shall I be if those hard-working toil-worn men who
are obliged to labour for their bread through a great part
of the year in the smoky streets and close alleys of our
large manufacturing towns, shall be wafted along this
line through your pleasant fields and sunny slopes ;
that they may enjoy that scenery which is calculated to
open the minds of all to the beauties of nature, and rub
off the sweat and dust of their daily toil by the glossy
margin of LTilswater, or recruit their wasted health by a
good climb up the rugged steeps of Skiddaw.—(Ap.
pcause.) Allow me only to say, in conclusion, that I hope
these works, which are now begun, during their con-
etruction, and afterwards during the development of the
resources of the line, will conduce largely, not only to
the comfort and enjoyment of that vast body of popula-
tion whom it is intended to accommodate, but that they
will lead to the ultimate good of all engaged upon them
—(Hear, hear)—that the fruits of their toil will not be
wasted in idle squandering or drunken revelry, but serve
to swell the independent gains of honest industry—that
the beginning, the progress, a
W
and the end of the North-
Western Railway works may be a credit to the district
and an advantage to all who labour on it and travel by
it, and all bo enabled to look back with satisfactionravingi and
gratitude to the work of this day.—x(Cheers)
said this, I wilhnow detain you no longer, but proceed
to empty the first sod, wishing from my heart a good
conclusion to the works of the North-Western Rail-
way.—(Great cheering.)
The Chairman, Mr. Dawson, then kook the spade in
hand, and he certainly showed himself much more an
adept at the work of an excavator than his Lordship.
Mr. Vignoles. the engineer, who, by the way, was arrayed
in appropriate costume of a railway labourer ; Mr.
Sharp, the solicitor of the company ; Mr. Ilirkbeck, of
Settle, one of the directors, and several other gentlemen
followed ; and it was amusing to observe the inter, at
with which their performances were noticed by the 1;
standers—the awkwardness so naturally manifested
affording food for much mirth to the navvies in particular.
The ceremony over, a barrel of ale was broached, and
Lord Morpeth proposed " Success to the North-Western
Railway," amid repeated buzzes. The navvies awn
drank the health of his Lordship, and the canapany
gradually left the ground.
THE BANQUET.

At half-past five about. 100 gentlemen sat down to
dinner in the assembly-room adjoining the Golden Lion
Inn. The dinner was most sumptuous. Mr. P. Dawson
presided, having on his left Mr. Greene, M.P., Mr. 0.
Vignoles, engineer-in-chief, Rev. R. Ingram, &c. On
his right sat the Right Hon. Viscount Idorpeth, M.P.
C. J. Geldard, Ottpelside, acted as vice. Among the
oompany were Messrs. T. Birkbeck, R. Clayton, G.
Hartley, Thomas Clapham, T. Redmayne, all of Settle ;
H. Roughsedge, Bentham ; J. Sharp, mayor of Lan-
caster ; R. Hinde, E. Sharpe, secretary to the line, all of
Lancaster ; C. Nicholson, Stand Lodge, near Bury ; the
Revs. R. M. Smith, incumbent of Rauthmell ; J. Stens-
field, minister of Coniston • J. Marriner, vicar of. Clap-
ham ; R. J. Willowby Rooke, curate of Bentham, &c.
In proposing " the Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese,"
the CuAullAli said one of the earliest resolutions which

had been passed by the board of directors was to pro-
vide a resident minister where the works were princi•
pally carried on, and be felt sure that every assistance
would be afforded them by the Bishop and he clergy,
ospeeially the clergy more immediately conn( cted with
the district.
The Rev. R. liicium very appropriately acknowledged
the toast.

----
Lord MORPETH rose amid loud applause. He said—
Gentlemen, the chairman has just told us that he has
come to the end of his routine toasts, which we have
drank with due loyalty, respect, and attachment. The
toast which I have now to bring before you cannot be
called routine, because we have to drink it for the first
time; but it will become a routine toast, for it is not the
last time, I trust, we shall drink it.—(Cheers.) The toast
which I am honoured by being allowed to propose is,
" Success to the North-Western Railway."—(lmmense
cheering.) lam sure you will feel that the sentiment is
congenial to the offices in which we hare engaged this
day, and that it is appropriately the crowning work of I
this evening.—(Cheers.) I flatter myself that this un-
dertaking has been launched with all possible omens of
success. Nothing seemed wanted at the beginning. I
only felt, when we were on the spot where the first sod
was dug, amid the admirable preparations which were
made for the ceremonial, and in the centre of the beau-
tiful panorama of hills spread out on each side, I only
felt that the passengers would complain of being hurried
too rapily along over the most beautiful scenes of the
world, to come to " Settle."— (Most rapturous applause,
which continued for some time.) I certainly think
that the position and circumstances of this line seem
to combine, very happily, all the leading matters that
are desirable in undertakings of this description. Con-
nected as it is with our most busy haunts of manufactur-
ing; industry in one direction, and with the most roman-
tic and picturesque spots of our land in another, it forms
a link between the dense smoke of our factories and the
silvery mists of the mountains—(Loud cheers.) I hope,
with mere reference to all contemporary undertakings, it
I will be found, in the opposition which it may thought to
offer, to conflict in that opposition with none, but will
maintain its due place, as having uses and benefits of its
own. Indeed, it seems to me, from its vary position, to
form an illustration of an old and familiar story, a story
of two men quarelling about the possession of an oyster,
and calling in a third individual to arbitrate between
them. You have one line on the cost, ore on the west,
and another in the middle. On one side, a powerful
western line stretches along a vast extent of country,
from London, we may say, to Perth. On the east, an-
other broad shadow corers with its bulk a great portion
of the territory of our country.—(Cheers.) Well, gen-
tlemen, your railway comes in the middle between these
two powerful competitors. Ido not say we must leave
to them nothing but the empty shell; I should be sorry
if any such destiny awaited them; but I hope that occu-
pying, as you do, the middle position, you will have your
due share of the luscious article.—(Vehement cheering).
With the expression of this hope for our future destiny,
end in the full assurance that our future success will be
commensurate with our most sanguine expectations, I
beg to commend to your hearty acceptance the toast
of the North-Western Railway.—(Drunk with three
times three).
Glee—" Life's a bumper."
The CHAIRMAN responded. Among other remarks,
he said that the fact of his Lordship having consented
to come down from his arduous duties in London to be
present with them on that occasion was itself a proof
that their railway possessed some merit. Some had
called this the iron age, but he trusted that it would
prove the golden age.—(Cheers.) It had once been sup-
posed that insurmountable engineering difficulties pre-
vented the opening out of the lands of Craven to the
benefits of railway communication; but they had found
out a level road, and by means of the branch to Lan-
caster, a port would be opened to the West Riding of
Yorkshire, which would bring the rich produce of Ire-
' land in return for the commodities in which that district
abounds.—(Applause.) The Chairman concluded by
giving " The Alembers of the West Riding.
Lord MentrETu rose amid renewed cheering. He
said, I am almost ashamed to be on my legs again; it is
more than clan be expected in one day, even from any
navvy—(Loud laughter)—and having evinced by the part
I have been allowed to take in the business of this day
the interest I feel in the matter of your railway, it would
not be right in me to detain you at any length in
speaking on a subject merely personal to myself. I do
not now come to Settle for the first time, and I have
always had reason to be pleased with the reception I
have met with. I may apply to myself the words of
the poet, though, perhaps, in a sense different from that
which he intended,
" Where rise the mountains, there to me are friends."
--(Loud cheers.) But however, agreeable my former
visits may have been, the pleasure of my coming among
may neighbours this day is much enhanced by the feel-
ing that there is no shadow of political difference to cast
any obstacle in the way of the promotion of the best in-
terests of the country. To use a railway metaphor, we
are all moving, not only to the same terminus, but tra-
velling on the same line, without any danger of collision,
and without any risk of a crash.—(Renewed cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN next gave " The Members of the
borough of Lancaster."
Mr. GREENS was loudly cheered on rising. The Hon.
Member said he was sure the company would do him
the justice to believe that he felt most deeply gratified
by the handsome manner in which his name had been
received. He did not deserve to be thanked for being
present at their meeting on the auspicious occasion which
had called them together. On the other hand, his thanks
were due to them for the honour they had done him in
sending him an invitation. It was a matter of great
satisfaction to him to have the opportunity of attending a
meeting which had been called for the purpose of com-
mencing a great work, a work designed not only for local
convenience, but which was entitled to be looked upon as
a work of national importance. He had been in the habit,
year after year, of travelling along that road to his own
house, and after three days' journey ho naturally felt
anxious to reach home. 'The difficulty of Giggleswick
Brow always presented itself to his mind, and ho little
imagined that he should ever be enabled to pass to his
own place of residence at railway speed.—(Cheers.) It
was gratifying to him to witness the extension of the
railway system which was being carried out. He had, a
short time before, been called on to attend a meeting in
celebration of the opening of the Lancaster and Carlisle
Railway, and on his way had passed over the Shap
which had been pronounced, on high authority, to be
impracticable for railway transit. The result proved the
skill of their engineers, and Great Britain might well
feel proud that she had set the example to all tho world
of ability and enterprise which were applied to ob-
jects so useful and important.—(Cheers.) He had been
much struck with an expression which, when in
London, he had heard used by one of the foreign Mi-
nisters, in speaking of a line that was proposed to be
made from Hamburgh to Trieste. The observation
was, that as lines were carried on to every part of the
globe, and it was felt how one line depended for its
success on another, there was the surest guarantee for
the maintenance of the peace of the world.—(Cheers.)
True, they did not require in England railroads
for the maintenance of peace, but they were necessary
for the purposes of commercial intercourse, and it was
highly desirable that every place should possess the ad-
vantage of them. Feeling strongly, as he (Mr. Greene)
did, the advantages derived from railway communica-
tion, he could not be indifferent to the benefits offered
by the North-Western to a town in whose welfare he
was most deeply interested, being connected with it, as
he had been, from his infancy—he meant the town of
Lancaster. Lancaster would be linked, by means of it,
not only with the manufacturing districts of Yorkshire,
but with the opposite shores, and she would also be
enabled to communicate with Hull and the other ports
on the east side of the island. The Hon. Gentleman,
after a few other remarks to a similar purpose, resumed
his seat amid loud cheers.
Mr. SALISBURY, of Lancaster, proposed "The Chair-
man and Directors of the Lancaster and Carlisle and the
Leeds and Bradford lines."
Mr. RAND, of Bradford, responded to the toast.
Mr. Biegeecie gave " The Chairman and Board of
Directors of the Blackburn and Clithoro and North-
Western Railway."
The sentiment was acknowledged by Mr. ROBINSON,
of Settle.
Mr. R. Htteue, of Lancaster, with a few appropriate
irt,n,heiteemrt oic,drro.sumicotpttiol
compliment.
Mr. nrNtve.mhaarrfl
proposedtds
a,
e lgaveline,"
and
de Chairman and Di-
Mr. WILSON, jun., of Eahton, briefly acknowledged
successt
a n et" The Chairman and Directors
North-Western
East Lancashire Railway," observing, that the
d-NaVolflestern Company was deeply interested in the
ththaet aenndtathtoat
etnhseußreosasneneedeaalse vtaollreaydevvoany-
enterprise.
East Lancashire
Nantecausoheirsooatwoburiledflhyermetouartnhed thanks. He said the
an unlimited extent with the North p"
Western
interchange to
ties which must cnd onduce to the comfort cpourlieodtio-
-Se
of
ne
a largo degree,which would return l2i per cent. to
both lines.—(Cheers.)
Lord MORPETII, in
posed the health of the few very
chairma
appropriate words, pro-
n.
The CHAIRMAN acknowledged.
r
the compliment, and
gave the health of '
rthe
responding,ee,
paid a high compliment
to ”
Mr. VIGNOLES, in ‘
responding,
Mr. Watson, the acting engineer, whose ,
said, was surpassed only by his ability, his integrity, inteitg -
ty, and
e
his industry. To himself, he said, no credit wasdue,
except for occasionally casting his eyes over the line, to
see whether certain points were carried out. To Mr.
Watson belonged the praise of managing everything
that related to the details, and every praise ought to be
riven to him for the way in which he fulfilled his duties.
He (Mr. Vignoles) might, however, claim for himself
the merit of having laid down principles which, when
they were first set forth, were generally condemned us
erroneous and impracticable. Their truth had, however,
beers since acknowledged, and the importance of the re-
sults were above calculation. lie hadthe
only
alwaysenealaid maintained
that level lines should not bedown,
but that they should boldly attack the hills. The doc-
aspronounced at the first to be visionary, and he
encounter
ithe opposition and the remonstrances
greatestof his most
is amount
of
it was the Lttied friends; but he contended that
provide for the ness
of the engineer to seek to
public good. The
event justified him in h
views, and it had been proved
that it was not necessary
to sek to obtain a level along
shouldbe carried, but that it was
better to apply extra locomotive
sidcrable incline presenteditself' pourer, when
wthhaennwaausyteeothne-
grersa(dmiercnctss._o f
gradients.—(Applause.)
A in
nother reason
for unnecessary
favour of
the adoption of this principle was the necessity in
existed of affording a far greater amountof which
ne
dation than could be given upon any other system.r eunlm''
He
hoped to see the day when villages would have their
railroads, and the farmer would find it cheaper to em-
ploy the railway from parish to parish, for purposes of
agriculture, than the present modes of conveyance. Mr.
Vignelea concluded au interesting address, of which we

regret our inability to present more than the preceding I
outline, amid great applause.
Various other appropriate toasts were afterwards
givt.n and responded to ; and the company separated at
a late hour, gratified at the proceedings of the day.

The London and North-Western intend placing under
contract their Rugby and Stamford and Rugby and Lea-
mington lines.
The passenger station of the Leeds and Bradford at
the former town now about to be built will cover an area
of .500 feet long and 180 Ride.
Sir Culling Smith, one of the chief representatives of
the Dissenters, speaking of the prohibition of Sunday
trains, says—" I will at once say, that while I possess
a carriage, and consider myself entitled to make use of
it on the Sabbath, I do not think it improper that a
poor man should make use of a railway carriage on that
day."
The Belfast and County Down meditate commencing
with the new year the works on their line from Queen's-
bridge Belfast, to Newtownards, including the branch
to liolywood, 16 miles.
LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN, PIRICSIDE BRANCH.
—The London and North-Western open their Parkside
branch to-day, accompanying it with changes in the
working of the Preston and Parkside section of their line,
whereby detentions, at the latter point, of trains pro-
ceeding north and south will be entirely avoided.
LEVEL CROSSINGS ON THE RICHMOND LINE.—At a
magistrates' meeting at Richmond, on Saturday, Cap-
tain Page and Mr. W. Gilpin reported that they had
viewed several footpaths proposed to be crossed on a
level ; that they °tiered no opinion on the subject of
Mortlake Church footpath, since it had been taken out
of the jurisdiction of the magistrates. In respect to the
other footpaths, viz,—Forty, Wright's Passage, and the
path leading into Mortlake, through Tinderbox-alley,
they (the magistrates) after the most mature delibera-
tion, are of opinion that the company may be permitted
to cross them on a level, on condition that they make a
paved path across each footway, five feet wide, with
gates on each side, and a proper person to attend to such
gates at each crossing, which appointment they consider
indispensable, in order to protect the public from injury
to life or limb, and the justices from the serious charge
of having sanctioned the same through neglect of the
requisite precautions. An instance of the evil of leaving
level crossings unguarded was alluded to, being that of
a girl being killed on the Eastern Counties line, whilst
crossing the level which had hitherto been left un-
watched, but at which, in consequence of the calamity,
the directors of the Eastern Counties forthwith deter-
mined to have gates erected and a man to watch them.
An order was directed to be made, and served upon the
ompany immediately.