The Sun.
London, England, 1840-03-18 00:00:00

explanation of their conduct to the Proprietors ; as they
formerly reported, that, in pursuance of their original
plan, and under the powers of the Act obtained for the
purpose, and in full reliance on a similar intention on the
part of the Liverpool Company, as also from a thorough
conviction of the advantages to be derived from the for-
mation of the junction line in the mode and by the
route now proposed, they had proceeded to purchase
and to make agreement for the purchase of a consi-
derable portion of the land on the line of their proposed
Junction Railway. This subject will, whenever it shall
be necessary to come to a decision, be submitted by
the Directors to a general meeting of the Proprietors
of this Company ; and, in the meantime, it may be
mentioned, that the probable advantages of a junction
line to Hunt's Bank are considerably increased, by the
determination of the Mersey and Irwell Navigation
Company, to make the latter river navigable up to the
Irk at aunt's Bank. A resolution to that effect was
lately transmitted to this Board, and a direct communi-
cation may thereby be established between that Com-
pany and the proposed junction line at that point. For
the present, therefore, the Directors may content them-
selves with an assurance that they do not consider it
expedient to suffer their present powers to expire unex-
ercised, and that they will use every endeavour to as-
certain and lay before the Proprietors such reasons as
may appear to warrant them in pursuing their present
proposed scherre, even independently of the Liverpool
Company, should that Board ultimately determine to
relinquish their powers, and abandon the junction al-
together.
With a view to promote the welfare and efficiency of
the servants of this Company, the Directors have re-
cently sanctioned the establishment of a Benevolent So-
ciety for the relief of the sick, and those who suffer in
their service from accidents. It is intended that every
person in the employment of the Company shall be-
come a member. The rules are based upon principles
and data tested by experience, and have been drawn
up by Mr. William Entwistle,Esq., and Captain Laws,
R.N., to whom the Board feel much indebted for the
trouble they have taken in the business. To give stabi-
lity to such an institution in its infancy, a small gua-
rantee fund to commence with is desirable ; and the
Directors, anticipating the cordial approval of the Pro-
prietors, beg to recommend that they be authorized to
contribute a sum, on the part of the Company, for the
purpose. The donation may be made without touching
on the capital of. the Company, by the sale of twenty-
two shares, unappropriated or unreclaimed, which have
remained in the hands of the Company since the first
allotment in 1833 ; and the premium on which, or
such part of the premium as may appear desirable,
might with great propriety be appropriated to such
an object.
In consequence of the decision of the Proprietors at
the last yearly meeting, on the question of Sunday tra-
velling, the Directors have to announce with great re-
gret the resignation of three of the most valuable mem-
bers of the Board, viz., their much-respected Chair-
man, James Wood, Esq., James Heald, Esq., and John
Burton, Esq. It is almost unnecessary to add, that
every effort was made by their colleagues to retain
them in office, not less on grounds of personal esteem,
than from regard to the interests of the Proprietors ;
but their retirement being founded on conscientious mo-
tives, could not be prevented. The vacancies thus oc-
casioned have been filled up by the election of William
Entwistle, Esq.. John Hargreaves, Esq., and James
Hatton, Esq. H. Houldswortb, Esq. has been ap-
pointed to the Chair, and William Entwistle, Esq., to
the office of Deputy Chairman.
The period of service of the three following Directors
expires at this time, viz. : H. Holdsworth, Esq., Sam.
Brooks, Esq., James Hatton, Esq., who are re-eligible
according to the Act of Incorporation of the Com-
pany. H. HOULDS WORTH, Chairman.
Mr. ENTWISTLE then read the engineers' Report, as
follows :
TO THE DIRECTORS OF THE MANCHES-
TER AND LEEDS RAILWAY.

Gentlemen,—ln compliance with your resolution, we
now beg leave to lay before you a statement of the
progress and condition of the warks of the line up to
the present period, showing what remains to be executed
on the part yet unfinished, and when the whole may
fairly be expected to be ready for opening to the public.
Between Littleborough and the Summit Tunnel, a
distance of II- mile, little remains to be done, as the
permanent rails, with the exception of a few yards,
are all laid down.

As stated in our Report, the portion of the line ex-
tending from the west end of the Summit Tunnel to
Hebden Bridge, a distance of about n n►i;es, contains
the heaviest works, and those which will require the
longest time to complete, comprising the Summit
Tunnel and some smaller ones, as also several viaducts,
and some deep cuttings and embankments ; and though
the cuttings and embankments have been delayed, and
some of the loose ground.rendered troublesome by the
very wet season, yet the viaducts and other masonry,
from the exertions which were mad• during the dry
weather in the early part of last year, are in a
forward state, and we are happy in being able to
report the same of the tunnels, including that
at the summit of the country, which has pro-
ceeded at a rate much exceeding the required
average formerly stated by us ; but, as the junctions
are effected between the several shafts, and the number
of working faces become by that means reduced, the
rate of progress will necessarily diminish ; but we see
no reason for doubting its completion in November
next, the time stipulated in the contract.
The following statement of the work done will show
that this result may be fairly calculated upon :
Total length of tunnel 2,860 yards.
Length alrealy executed 1,842 do.

Now remaining to be done

The quantity executed during the last six months is
980 lineal yards, or at the rate of 163 yards per month.
The other short tunnels upon this part of the line,
though some of them are through difficult ground, are
also well advanced, and we expect will all be finished as
early as that at the Summit, some of them much earlier.
In reference to the remaining portion of the line
between Hebden Bridge and Normanton, where it
joins the North Midland Railway, a distance of 27#.
miles, the principal works consist of ten bridges, of
from two to six arches each, over the several crossings
of the river Calder, the Sowerby and Elland Tunnels,
and some extensive cuttings and embankments at My-
tholm Royd, Copley, Elland, Cooper Bridge, Horbury,
and Kirkthorpe.

Of the bridges over the river Calder five are nearly
finished, having the arches ail turned, and little remain-
ing but the parapet walls to complete them.
Three more are likewise in a very advanced state,
being built up above the water level, and nearly ready
for the centreing.
The retnaiaing two are built above water level, with
the exception of one pier in each, so that the principal
difficulties attending these works may be said to be
overcome.

Considerable delay has arisen in die construction of
two of the above•mentioaed bridges, viz. :—at Cooper
Bridge and Kirkthorpe, from the continued obstruc-
tions thrown in the way by the Companies navigating
the river, otherwise they would have been in a much
more forward state.

The Sowerby Tunnel is in length 638 yards, of
which .550 yards are already comp:eted, leaving only
443 yards yet to be executed.
The Elland Tunnel is 410 yards in length, of which
310 yards are completed, leaving 100 yards to be
executed.

Toe progress of the cuttings and embankments at the
several places above referred to i 3 very satisfactory, ex-
cepting at Cooper Bridge and Kirkthorpe, where the
delay in the construction of the bridges, over which a
considerable portion of the earth work must be con-
veyed, will prevent the completion at Cooper Bridge, if
the very best exertions are :used, until the end of
August next, and at Kirktlsorpe until November next.
As this latter work is below Wakefield, it will not, how-
ever, interfere with the completion of the line between
Hebden Bridge and Wakefield.
The following is a general statement of the quantity
of work on the unfinished part of the line extending
from the west end of the summit tunnel to Normanton,
showing also how much remains yet to be done :
Etathwork—Total quantity 5 020,010 cubic yards
Masonry—Total qauinans ttiotyb.e d... 0.
... e. . ...1,260,. :1970000 di
00 tt.
ditto.o
Remains to be d0ne...... 57,000 ditto.
Tunnelling—Total quantity ..... ...• 5,082 lineal yards
Remains to be done... 1,600 ditto.
Permanent 35f miles.
way—Total quantity •• •
Remains to be done 26 miles.
Number of Brill:- -BuiV ...... ..• 47

ges—Built
Ditto in progress 4l
Dittofa e tionof
being
not commencedabl
e. ...
repeat in
..
to
this Report what has been previously stated to you by
us, that we have every reason to believe the whole
line will be ready for opening to the public by the end
We have the satisfaction
of this year ; and, should no further delay arise in the
progress of the works at Cooper Bridge, we hope to
finish the line from Hebden Bridge to Wakefield, a dis-
tance of about 24} miles, in September next. The
junction with the North Midland below Wakefield
cannot be effected in the same time for the reasons al-
ready stated.

In reference to the portion of the line already opened
between Manchester and Littleborough, we can only
say that the works have required as little attention and
repair as we gave you reason to suppose they would,
and that the line continues in good order at a very
moderate cost.

The stations for the reception of goods at Manches-
ter and LittlPborough are now ready for the carriers,
and that at Rochdale is also in progress. We are,
gentlemen, your most obedient servants,
GEORGE STEPHENSON,
THOMAS L. GOOCH.
Railway Office, Manchester, March 2d, 1840.

[With a copy of the Reports, we received also a
table exhibiting the results relating to the traffic
during the first six months after the opening of the
Line--[July 4, 1839, to January 6, 18401—from Man-
chester to Littleborough (134 miles). Omitting frac-