The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-22 00:00:00

GROUP XXVIII.

GREAT NORTHERN (SI.E.A.VOILD zu.asecu)
The Committee asembled this morning at twelve o'clock ;
•
Mr T. D. Acland in the chair.
Mr. Cubitt was called to speak to the engineering qualities
of the; line, and stated that the distance to Hougham from
the main line would be about four miles to Grantham, to Sea-
ford 11, and on to Donnington 261,¢, and to Gosberton 41%.
The total estimate for the branch is 402,0001., and the ruling
gradient is lin 200. In this respect the Great Northern pro-
ject was far superior to that of the Eastern Counties Com-
pany.
Mr. TALBOT cross-examined at very considerable length,
in order to show that the line,-se far as Lincoln, Boston, and
Newark was concerned, would be longer and not so calcu-
lated to serve the local necessities of the district. The Eastern
Counties had projected a line from Newark to Wisbeacb,
and the Direct Northern had a project to go on from Gos-
berton to Lynn. He was aware that there was a line sanc-
tioned already from Wisbeach to Shoreditch, although it
was only at present partially made. The effect of the forma-
tion of this branch then from Newark to Hougham would
have the effect of drawing the whole of the traffic on the
London and York line to Battle-bridge. In order to supply
the necessities of the block of country betweentheloops, they
would have, of course, to make two branches; b'ut, in Mr.
Cubitt's opinion, the business would be done as at little, if
not at less, expense, than it would be carried on by either the
Ambergate or the Eastern Counties Company.
To the Earl of Maack, Mr. Cubitt replied, that had there
been no line devised, he should have proceeded by Hougham
Hill, and kept to the left of the present intended line, as,
although the distance would have been greater, the gradients
would have been easier, and the working of them conse-
quently less ezpensive.
To Captain HAmirs, Mr. Cubitt stated that the Amber-
ga:e line came in at tho south end of Sleaford, and at the
distance of a querter of a mile from the station the two lines
would run close togethcr.
To Mr. Sergeant KINGLAKE—Mr. Cubitt stated that the
proposed line to Lynn would give a facility of intercourse
with London, and there would be no practical difficulty
whatever in working branches to Sleaford.
Mr. Gibbs, the civil engineer, stated that he had laid out
the Great Northern line in the first instance, and subse-
quently went over the country with the Royal Commis-
sioners. He had therefore had sveral and peculiar oppor-
tunities of becoming acquainted with it, and in his opinion
there was no other means than by going through the An-
caster Gap, if the gradients were to be kept good at all.
The general nature of the country on the Eastern
Counties line, between Sleaford and Newark, was very fair
until they reached the summit near Newark, after which
is become very bad. The traffic would certainly be con-
siderable,
on account of the carriage of coals from the Derby-
shire
fields into Lincolnshire, as well as for the transport of
corn.

Captain Laws, the manager of the Manchester and Leeds
Railway, gave evidence as to the respective saving of distance
between the Derbyshire and the Yorkshire ceal-fields, and
estimated the saving of distances between them to represent
the saving of cost. There was a Bill now before Parliament
for a line from Doncaster to Barnesby, and baring a
right to pass over the Sheffield and Lincolnshire line
between Retford and Sheffield, there would be a double
means of communication between the north of the West
Riding and the agricultural districts to the east. In order
to get to Holbeach from Sleaford he would propose to go by
the projected line by Sutton St. Mary's, and although the
distance was greater, yet the charge would be the same, as
it was now a recognised custom in the management of rail-
way property to take the direct distance as the rate of
charge. The greater importance of this project would
be evident when it was considered that Sleaford
was the centre of the important agricultural dis-
trict comprised between the direct route and the loop
line of the London and York. This district would be
traversed by the transverse lines. By these lines there
would be the opportunity of getting either north or south,
through the trains which ran either through Grantham or
Newark; and if there were only three passengers per journey
it would pay to keep the trains continually going, and the
local traffic was of sufficient importance to justify the
expense; although there was no junction at Grantham with
the London and York main lines.
After a long cross-examination,
Mr. AUSTIN stated that his clients intended to make the
traffic to Sleaford, a through traffic, while their opponents
intended to make that town only a stopping station. The
saving on the whole line he estimated at thirty per cent.
The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow.