The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-20 00:00:00

competing trunk lines together. On the one hand ve
the London and York line; and then they took th
Tottenham and Farringdon-street Extension, the Csunbridg
and Lincoln, and that poition of the Direct Northern which forme
the antagonist system to the London and York. Their Lordship
would find it stated, in the first page of their report, " That the
Committee, therefore, proceeded first to hear the case of the London
and York Company, which proposes a new and integral line from
London to York, and next those of the Cambridge and Lincoln, the
Direct Northern, and the Tottenham and Farringdon-street Exton'
sion lines, which, together with the Eastern Counties' scheme, were
recommended for this purpose by the Board of Trade." That was
the course which they took; but it was not because they
took that course that he asked his Learned Friend
the question which he had put to him, but he did so because of the
obvious convenience which it would be to the Committee, in the first
place, as well as to those whom he had the honour to represent, that
they might knew the case which they would have to meet and so
direct their examinations—for example the re-examination of Mr.
Cubitt, and the examination of the other engineers. He hoped his
Learned Friend would not object to answer the question. The traffic
tables just handed in referred to the Eastern Counties Railway ex-
tension from Cambridge to Milford, and from March to Lincoln.
Now, he wished to know if the line from March to Lincoln was to be
set up also as part of the scheme?

Earl LOVELICE—If we can have the answer in a few words It
would be very desirable, but if it is to involve a long speech we
should have two opening speeches, which we certainly do not require.
Mr. TALBOT said he feared that if he attempted to answer the
questions it would involve going into the whole case. He should have
to explain how his lines became competing with the London and
York.

Mr. Sergeant WIANGILAM only wanted to know which were the
competing lines.

Mr. TALBOT said that his brief answer to that question was, that
he appeared there in suppert of the sills which they had laid on the
table.

After some further discussion on this point, Mr. Cubitt was called
and cross-examined by Mr. TALBOT at great length.

HOU SE (►F COMMONS.
(IROUP X.

The Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock, in Room No. 1
(Rouse of Commons) ; present, Mr. Deedcs (chairman), Mr. Ark-
wriglit, Mr. Farnham, Mr. Stanley, and Mr. Vivian, and proceeded
with the

GLASGOW, AIRDRIE, AND IVIONIILANDO

JUNCTION.

Mr. AUSTIN stated the case for the promoters of this railisa4
whicif is to commence at a point to the east of the High-street of
Glasgow, on or near the site of the College Buildings, and joining the
Airdrie and Batbgate Junction, at Airdrie. The length of the main
line is ten miles five furlongs and a half. There will he a branch of
two miles six furlongs and nine chains, which will join the Clydesdale
Junction, near Ruthergien, by which the line would be connected
through the Pollee and Govan and other railways, with the barbell.
of Glasgow. Another branch, seven miles in length, would terml
nate in Mile-End, a very populous manufacturing district of GlasgeT4
From Coatbridge another branch will join the Wishaw and ColtnesS
Railway, which intersects the extensive upper coal fields et
Lanarkshire. The importance of the line required little ar-
gument. The population of Glasgow is 340,000, and increas-
ing in a great ratio, and the town Is known to be not °nil
engaged most extensively in manufactures, but also a ship-
ping port of superior consequence. The owners of minerals
in Lanarkshire, as well as the inhabitants of Glasgow, were greatly
interested in haying the means of delivering the vast quantity of coals
consumed there at the most convenient points, and at the cheapest
rates. By the main line the whole of the eastern parts of the city,
and by the branch to Mile-End two-thirds of the factories and public
works, would be supplied with coals at a less cost, and with greater
regularity than at present. This district of Glasgow, which is chiefly
occupied by the labouring classes, is at present supplied with coals
from distant pits, bycartage, at an expensive rate, or from the depou
of certain railways. The railway will go near the agricultural
bazaar and the cattle market, which is regarded as a great
advantage to all parties. The Learned Gentleman commented at
i
considerable length upon various other direct and collateral
advantages of the line, on which a very great amount
of passenger traffic is anticipated. The district is a
present almost destitute of railway commtnication. Almost
%
all the proprietors on the line were favourable to it, and there lc
no engineering difficulties, no tunnels, and ne expensive works-
observed that there were two lines competing with this, and s
re-
ferred to the same Committee—the Caledonian (Dundyvan Branch)
and the Caledonian (Glasgow, Garnkirk, and Coatbridge Branches)"
The Learned Gentleman went into a detailed comparison or th°,
merits of the three lines, contrasting strongly the demerits of t"'
other two with the excellencies of this. The principal points we,r,...c'
that the Dundyvan Branch would pass through the couni,:
in a way, injurious to the landed proprietors, without givi..ic„
a
the same advantages as the present undertaking wc""
give to the factories, public works, and the owners of mineral"
the Dundyvan Branch having also:engineering disadvantages:
and not supplying the population of Glasgow with coal to the Wl'
extent, or at the same low cost. The Glasgow, Garnkirk, and Cos v.;
bridge branches would make the distance between Glasgow t;
Airdrie twelve miles ,instead of ten and a halt, as by the line cb..
before the Committee. Moreover, the Caledonian Company, by ,
teining the branches applied for in opposition to this line, would
put in possession of an injurious monopoly.
Mr. 31`NEIL (who was with Mr. Austin) examined Mr. Ban
the provost of the suburban borough of Glasgow, called the Cant;
who gave evidence strongly in favour of this project, as cozallar".
with its competitors.
for
Mr. WHITMORE, who appeared for the Dundyvan branch, an
certain certain petitions, cross-examined the witness with a view to elicit
that the parts of Glasgow to be aceernmedated by his clients Wel'
more important than the eastern parts of the city.