The Sun.
London, England, 1840-02-28 00:00:00

Ist July to 31st Dec. 1839.

Expenditure
Receipts. to Income.
22 Miles £37,314 A 0 or 11,696 2 0 per Mile 58.870
lit Jan. to 30th June, 1639.
22 Miles £43,491 7 oor £1,976 17 0 per Mi'e 57'530
Ist July to 31st Dec. 1339.
31 Miles £65,885 19 6or £2,125 7 0 per Mile 49'824
Some reduction of charge was always anticipated by the Direc-
tor!, and may naturally be ascribed to the extension of the line
and the progressive increase of income, but they have deemed
it their duty zealously to devote their attention in every depart-
ment, to such economical arrangements in their permanent es-
tablishment, as appeared to be consistent with that accommo-
dation and advantage to the public, which the experience of
every day proves, in railways at least, to be highly remune-
rative to the Proprietors.
From a review of the expenditure in the locomotive depart-
ment, there is every reason to anticipate the most favourable re-
sults in the future working charges of that establishment.
Notwithstanding the excessive cost of coke, hitherto exclu-
sively made in the neighbourhood of London, from Newcastle
coals, i,urthened .with all attendant expenses, it appears from a
very char anslysis, carefully prepared by the Superintendent
of the locomotive department, that the actual cost per mile run
by all the Company's engines, during the last half-rear, ..has
been only 18.94 d. per mile. When it is considered that the
speed uniformly maintained by these engines, much exceeds the
ordinary rate of railway travelling, and that the Company are
st ill labouring under the disadvantage of working with a stock of
locomotive
hhave been
engines various in size and power, for which they
scarcely provided with any duplicate parts, the re-
sult now mentioned seems to the Directors fairly to encourage
aoccioanifilwdeanteezxpec.tation of great economy in that heavy branch
..
cumpar}ativepleynittguhres, si,rnduoltrattraoyuelsiliyngwithlthreemae(tityaihnamsebnete(n,f
provided for the future, as far as it can be, against the loss and
inconvenience suasltlatinhe:denrom the want of uniformity referred
strictly according te.
draytgitnes now ordered to be constructed
to, by requiring
been carefully pi-glued frorringlls,...and specifications, which have
.. results of the past experience.
Throe distinet (lasses of
ws
nrillye been planned, of power
and proportions adapted to the
fee the others.omfor
passenger trains, and the carriage of heavy 1 goods long
and
atate that the general
parts of each will serve as duplicates feav- -°°ds; the principal
and the xublic
t oafmtihesilminret
nbone eially
It is a matter of unqualified pleam; le
testimony now borne to the smoothness an
and carriages, as well as to the rate of travelling,
advantages derivable from frequency of the tranigns'
permission to
operating to an increase of business in ever, direction,
Application
feel it
Application having been recently made by the Directors to
acquiesced in
the Provost awl Fellows of Eton College, for
construct a station at Slough, which had been prohibited by the
Ac;, without previously obtaining their c•oisent, they
due to that body to state, that they handsomely
the request, and have thereby enabled the Company to
pro-
vide for the increasing and valuable traffic of that
neigh-
bourhood. The prohibitory clauses referred to led, in
the first instance, to some litigation between the College
and the Company, as to the right of stopping trains at Slough,
either to take up or set down passengers, but this matter being
determined by the Lord Chancellor, it is only just to observe,
that no subsequent obstruction was ever offered by the authn.
rities of the College, and that they mere good enough to as-
sent to the construction of the station, and to the repeal of the
prohibitory clauses, upon the application of the Board.
The Directors have since purchased the requisite land for
the station, which will be forthwith commenced, so as to secure
to the Company all the benefit ef being enabled to take car-

riages, horses, &c. to Slough, during the summer of the pre-
sent year, which, with the other comforts of shelter and pro-
tection from weather, must greatly tend to a general increase

of business there.
The season of the rear renders it also a subject of peculiar
interest to accomplish the further opening of the line to Read-
ing and Steventon with the least possible delay, and had it not
been for the unprecedented rains which have now prevailed
with so little intermission during the last seven months, the
Directors would probably now be enabled to report the exact
time of completing that portion for use. A Report from the
Engineer, however, describes the progress and present con-
dition of all the works, and the Directors think it will be more
satisfactory to communicate it in the same form to the general
meeting ei Proprietors, merely adding their assurance that no
energy shall be wanting to extend the opening of the line for
traffic at the earliest practical moment.
Dake-street, Westminster, 24th Jan., 1840.
Gentlemen—ln reporting upon the general progress of the
works during the last six months, I regret to have to state that
very great delay has been caused in all parts of the line by the
unusual wetness of the season.
At the Bristol extremity the floods in the Avon have inter-
fered with the supply of the requisite building materials ; and
at Bath, and in its immediate neighbourhood, the continuation
of a state of flood in the river for a lung period, and, till within
the last few days, has rendered it impossible to carry on the
works of the bridges, or even of the station, the site of which
has been flooded. Such a complete suspension of the works at
tome points, and such delays at others, have resulted from these
and other causes indirectly consequent on them, that certainly
not less than four months' additional time will be required for
the completion of some of these works, the whole of which
would otherwise hare been finished within a month or two of
the present time, which trust delay the opening to the end of
the Summer instead of Spring. The works of the station at
Bristol, including the viaduct and offices, are rapidly advancing ;
but at Bath, the causes I have referred to, have prevented, till
within a few days, anything more than the commencement of

the approaches.
Between these two extremities all the principal works—the
tunnelling—the cutting, and the embankments, are so far com-
pleted that, had the weather permitted it, the ballasting and
permanent rails would have been by this time in a very forward
state. The excavation of the tunnels is every where opened
throughout, and the only work remaining to be done to them
consists of the formation of the permanent drains, and the
finishing of detached parts of masonry, which in the general
progress of the work had been injured or condemned, and the
completion of one of the tunnel fronts ; and a few weeks will
complete every thing but the permanent rails ; but many parts
of the line, long since prepared, have not been in a state to
allow of men or horses passing over them without destroying
that portion of the forming which the rains had allowed to be
completed ; so that not more than about 2i miles of ballasting
have been actually finished.
Between Bath and Box the works have proceeded tolerably
well • but the diversion of the turnpike and other roads re-
quired in this valley, has necessarily been attended with some
considerable difficulties and delay.
Is the Box Tunnel the increase of water has much impeded
the progress of the works, but the three additional shafts have
been sunk, and from two of them the excavations for the tunnel
are commenced, 80 that the general rate of progress of the
whole will shortly be much accelerated.
About 1,900 yards run, er nearly two-thirds of the whole
length, are excavated ; and of this quantity 550 yards have
been formed within the.last six months ; 1,220 yards remaining
to be completed.
Immediately beyond Box the works are proceeding as satis-
factorily as can be expected. During the winter the operations
have been principally confined to the formation of deep gullets
through the entire length of the cuttings, so as to afford the
means of excavating very large quantities wh•n the finer
season will allow of its being formed into embankments. A
considerable slip occurred at the face of the embankment,
which threatened to cause great delay, but measures are being
taken to pass beyond it, so as to allow the loose part to dry
before it is again raised to the full height. At Chippenham
the works have proceeded well, but in the neighbourhood of
Wootton Basset, such have been the effects of the weather,
that it is probable that time and expense might have been ulti-
mately saved by totally suspending the works during the last
autumn and winter.
The quantity of work done during this period has been so li-
mited, that it would Lave respired a few weeks only of sum-
mer weather to form the same extent of earthw ark in a more sub-
stantial manner, without incurring the same risk of future delays
in thepregress of the contracts, from the slipping of earth-work
excavated and thrown into embankment in a wet state. Arrange-
ments are now making for redeeming, as far as possible, the
time which has been lost, by prosecuting the works by the use
of locomotive engines, and other means, with every possi-
ble vigour and despatch during the coming season.
Upon the London division of the line, the nature and the
state of the works have rendered the effects of the weather
somewhat less injurious. The extension of the line to the
Reading station is nearly complete ; the permanent rails will
be finished in the course of the next month, and this part of the
line may then be opened. Beyond Reading and up to Dudcot,
a distance of 174 miles, the ballasting is completed, with the
exception of two short lengths, together about 24 miles, which
may require six weeks more. The difficulty of procuring ballast
for this part has been very great ; the ground purchased for
this purpose being under water, and it being necessary to re-
sort to dredging in the river to obtain gravel. The laving
of the permanent rails is in a forward state, a single line being
laid for about 15 miles of the distance, upon which the mate-
rials for the second line are carried and distributed at all parts,
so that this work will proceed rapidly. Beyond Dudcot, great
exertions had been made to complete the line for opening to a
point near Farringdon, simultaneously with the opening to
Reading ; and there can be no doubt that this might have been
accomplished during the month of May, probably even in April,
had the season permitted it. A few weeks will complete the
earthwork ; and preparations are making for ballasting. If no
further delays should now occur from the indirect consequences
of the late wet tenon, the opening to Farringdon may be cal-
culated upon in the month of June or beginning of July ; but
' although the embankments and cuttings are very slight in this
part of the line, they will require dry weather before they can be
ballasted. The further opening to Swindon will also neces-
sarily have been delayed, but may still be looked for in the course
of thit year.
Upon that part of the line between London and Twyford,
now open to the public, the works and the permanent rails have
generally stood well. Some slips have occurred, have been
very slight and superficial, and have beets confined entirely to
the slopes of the cuttings ; and no injury has occurred to any
of the embankments or to the works. A violent storm of wind
has lately determined the period of the removal of the centres of
the Maidenhead Bridge, which, according to my original direc-
tions, were not to have been taken away until after the winter,
but which had been left perfectly free. The bridge is in every
respect in excellent condition.
The stability of the permanent way has been severely tried
during the last autumn ; and it is very satisfactory to find
, that, during this period, the co,t of maintenance has been
very moderate ; being, on the average of the last half
year, only 51. 18e. per mile per week. At this cost the
road has been kept generally in very excellent order;
and except at two points, where large springs of water have
lately, for the first time, suddenly appeared, for which proper
drainage had not been prepared, no difficulty has been expe-
rienced. I am, Gentlemen,
Your most obedient servant,
I. K. BRUNEL.
To the Directors of the Great Western Railway.
It will be in the recollection of many of the Proprietors that
an arrangement for renting apart of the Cheltenham and Great
Western Union Railway was submitted to a General Meeting
of this Company, in October 1837, and sanctioned by special
resolution to that effect. A negotiation has latterly been un-
dertaken at the wish of the Bristol and Exeter Railway Com-
pany, for a similar purpose, in reference to that line the ob-
ject being to relieve them from the unavoidable outlay for first
cost of locomotive engines, carriages, &c. ; and to admit of a
more simple and economical system of working the line, in
connexion with the Bristol establishment for the Great Western
Railway.
To a proposition so reasonable in itself, the Directors have
readily given their best attention ; the principle of such a treaty
having been already recognised by the Proprietors, in the case
of the Cheltenham line, most of the leading points, as a basis
for an arrangement to lease the tolls for a term of years, have
undergone discussion between the two Companies.
It is not improbable that the circumstances under which the
Cheltenham and Great Western Union Railway Company are
placed, may render it desirable for them to have a more general
and extended agreement for the rental of their line beyond
Cirencester ; as a means of insuring the completion of their
Railway to Stroud, to Gloucester, and to Cheltenham.
It will be for the Proprietors to determine how far it may
Le expedient for them to invest the Board of Directors with
authority to make and carry into effect agreements with both of
those Companies for the purposes contemplated. They de-
servedly attach great importance to the fostering the original
designs of these two undertakings, which are calculated to add
much to the revenue of the Great Western line, and the Direce
tors individually and collectively have spared no means to pro-
mote and assist their operations.
A combination of two distinct Companies—the Bristol and
Gloucester, and Birmingham and Gloucester Railway Com-
panies, has been meditated, in order to purchase up a portion
of the Cheltenham line, and thereby intercept the junction of
a continuous line from Cheltenhara and Gloucester, through
the manufacturing aistricts of Stroud with the Great Western
Railway.
The public importance not only to the inhabitants of
those towns, but to the whole community of South \Vales
and Herefordshire, that a direct communication should
be established by Railway with the Metropolis, must, it is
presumed, prove an insuperable barrier to this scheme
of defeating, for private interests alone, the main purposes for
which the Cheltenham and Great Western Union Railway
was incorporated. That application to Parl' .ment will be
made in vain for any such powers alter the objects of it shall
have been made apparent, there can be little doubt, and your
Directors will feel it their bounden duty upon every occasion to
explair. and develope those purposes. and to offer the most un-
compromising resistance to any such Bill, in every stage of its
progress.
NS tile adverting to this topic, it is impossible not to speak
in the highest terms of praise of the manly and straight-
forward perseverance with which the Directors of the Chel-
tenham and Great Western Union Railway have prose-
cuted the original plan and true interests of that undertak-
ing, although assniled on every side, almost from the com-
mencement, with an unexampled opposition of rival inter-
ests. The cordiality which exists between the two Boards,
and the uniform firmness displayed by the Cheltenham and
Great Western Union Railway Company, will now, beyond
doubt, effectually carry that Company through all its difficulties
to a state of well-merited prosperity.
The importance of a Branch Line to Oxford has not been
overlooked, and the Directors having every reason to hope that
the inhabitants of that city will feel their interests in carrying it
into effect after the Line is opened to Steeenton, has resolved
to deposit plans, and give Parliamentary Notices to enable those
Parties to proceed with an application for a Bill in the next
Sees's*.
Some small pecuniary aid for a similar purpose has been
conditionally given to the inhabitants of Newbury, who ap-
plied for assistance, in order to deposit plans for a Branch
Line to that town.
By a clause introduced into the last Act of this Company, it
has become necessary to revise the byc-laws relating to passen-
gers, in order that they may be submitted for confirmation
to one of the Judges of a Court of Record, or to the Quarter
Sessions, in a modified fox m. They have received the best
attention of the Directors, and will be presented upon this oc-
casion to the Proprietors for their approval and adoption, in
compliance with the provisions of the Act.
Since the last Half-yearly Meeting of the Company, all the
then unappropriated half shares have been disposed of either at
par or a trifling premium ; and the Directors have much satis-
faction in reflecting that this additional capital required for the
works has been thus raised without any disadvantage to the
original Shareholder, in the mode of creating and distributing
the new shares.
The Act under which this has been accomplished permits the
Company also to take up on loan an additional sum of 416,6661.,
if authority be given by resolution of a General Meeting of
Proprietors, to borrow the sum on Debentures- -and their at-
tention is now drawn to that circumstance, with a view to their
sanction being
p league,l or e thaend untimelyh a
endl7airs
avail themselves of the earliest opportunity of raising those
d
many excellent qualities funds, and defer for the present further calls on the half-shares.
givenrtkoreitd, so that the Directors. may
Within the last few months the Directors have had to de-
plore
hthimeirtolataelllwamhoenwteerdeCahssaoiremiaatend,
a most valuable col.
Board of Management.
His seat in the Ch air has been filled by the unanimous selec-
'6ln.litolisee