The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-08 00:00:00

SECOND REPORT FR-0111 THE SE-
LECT COMMITTEE ON RAILWAYS AND
CANALS AMALGAMATION.
The Select Committee appointed to consider the principle of Amal-
gamation as applied to the Railway and, Canal Bills now under
the consideration of Parliament, have further examined the
matters to them referred, and agreed to the following re-
port :
Your Committee have stated, in their former report, that there are
about thirty-two Bills before Parliament in which power is sought to
effect the amalgamation of canals with railways. These may be
classed under the following heads ;-
Ist. Bills for the amalgamation, by lease, purchase, or otherwise,
of entire lines of canal with competing lines of railway.
2dly. Bills for the amalgamation of some canal forming a link in a
chain of water communication with a line of railway competing with
the whole chain.
idly. Bills for converting canals into railways.
The present extent of inland navigation in Great Britain, by means
of canals, is estimated to be about 2,511 e miles. Up to a very recent
period it afforded almost the exclusive means of conveyance of heavy
goods and merchandise from one part of the country to the other,
and especially from the principal maanfacturing districts to the
outports.
On the introduction of railways, and in the early period of their de -
velopraent, when want of experience and the absence of information
as to the capabilities of the new system, rendered it impossible for
the Legislature to impose proper restrictions and limitations on the
tolls and charges of the various companies, the competition which
they had to sustain with the canals checked any great abuse of the
powers delegated to them. As the railway system extended itself,
improvements in its organization and economy placed in turn a
check upon canals, and the consequent competition materially ree
duced the expense of conveyance. Instances have been adduced be-
fore your Committee in which the charges for the conveyance of mer-
chandise have been lowered by these means to one-seventh of their
former amount; mod there are now few parts of the country which
have not derived material advantage from the competition between
railways and canals.
It is obviously of importance that Parliament should not lightly
sanction any arrangements which would tend to deprive the public
of this advantage ; and it has been a subject of consideration with
your Committee, whether, inasmuch as the future maintenance of com-
petition depends in some degree on the complete independence of the
canal system, and any interference with a link may greatly and preju-
dicially affect the whole chain, it might not be the duty of Parlia-
ment to refuse its assent to all Bills uniting the interests of the now
rival parties.
Did your Committee believe that the two systems could be pre-
served in entire independence one of the other, they might be dis-
posed to recommend the House to adopt this course. But in the
showing the difficulty of securing the canal interest altogether from
progress of their inquiry, several reasons have suggested themselves,
the interference and control of railway companies, or of affording to
the former a full opportunity of testing its capabilities as a rival
system.
One great impediment has been found to exist in the present dis-
jointed state of the canal interests and the varying systems under
which they carry on their operations. Some of the existing com-
panies, possessing lines of canal which form central links
Thisepsr.ti
tablische, whilearate it
ofocbhllesagrges sohigh
return for their capital,
in a great chain, take advantage of their peculiar position,
and t
secure : o themselves
the a
even upon a small amount of traffic.
large
the other as
c o
companies, not so advan-
tageously situated, to reduce their rates to such an extent that y
are unable to conduct their business with a profit, at the same time
prevents such a reduction in the
general charges of the line as would
enable the
several
Companies,
as a bod
tion with the railways.Y. to maintain a fair competi-
Instances have also been brought under
Com-
mittee in which railway- enexip, ~
,ov the notice of your
incets with the proprietors of a pei.:lcaicOnieffyecotfed
lineprivate arrange-
thereafter, by raising the tolls of that portion- tao of
canal,
and
allowed by law, have rendered it impossible for the thecoutmost limit
possession of the remainder of the line of canal to maintain companies
traffic in competition with the railway.
Another consideration which must not be overlooked is, that
although it has been stated that with proper management canal*
might maintain a successful competition with railways in the car-
riage of heavy goods, still such competition has hitherto been carried
on under a great disadvantage, owing to the large profits made by
1 railway companies on passenger traffic, which enables, them to submit
in some instances even to a loss on the carriage of merchandise, with
a view to withdraw the traffic from canals.
Even, however, where effective competition has been for a time
maintained, it has been attended with such a large reduction of
profits, that it has become the interest of the rival companies to
combine for their mutual advantage, and hence have arisen
private arrangements, under which a higher scale of tolls and charges
has been re-established.
It has indeed been shown that in certain cases increased advantages
might be obtained for the public by the union of a canal and rail-
way through the same line of country, under one management, sub-
ject of course to proper check and control.
The general conclusion, therefore, to which your Committee have
come is, that it would not be politic altogether to refuse the sanction
of Parliament to the amalgamation of railways with canals. They
would, however, strongly impress upon the attention of the Com-
mittees to whom Bills, whether for the amalgamation of canals with
railways, or for the conversion of canals into railways, may be re-
ferred, that a most searching inquiry should be instituted into the
merits of each case ; and that their sanction should be given only in
those instances in which it shall have been clearly proved that the
amalgamation can be effected without prejudice to the public.
They venture to submit the following points as deserving of consi-
deration in the case of all such Bills :
I st. The i • mposttion of a low scale of tolls and charges upon all par-
ties to vise scheme. It should be borne in mind, that in the case of
canals the scale of tolls is of much greater importance than in that of
railways ; for as, in most instances, the public are themselves the
carriers on canals, they are more interested in the tolls than in the
general charges, Subject to this observation, your Committee refer
to the suggestions with respect to tolls and charges contained in their
former report, and which they consider equally applicable to the
amalgamation of railways and canals.
2dly. Strict regulations should be made for maintaining the canals
in an efficient state of repair, and for securing a proper supply of
water.
3dly. Power should be expressly secured to the public of carrying
passengers and all kinds of goods and merchandise on canal.
4thly. The privilege of making bye-laws eliOuld be subjected to a
careful revision.
Many of the canal companies exercise much power in this respect.
They are authorised, for instance, under these laws to suspend the
navigation of the canals for various purposes, and during uncertain
periods; and though this power may be innocuous so long as it is
exercised by a party directly interested with the public in the limited
exercise of it, it is obviously one which may be used vith great and
detrimental effect to fair competition, by parties so disposed.
sthly. In cases of the conversion of a canal into a railway, care
should be taken that no district is deprived of efficient means of gene-
ral communication, and the company should be compelled to afford
due facilites of access to canal companies and ether parties who may
be affected by the change.
Your Committee further feel it their duty to advert to the circum-
stance, that powers of amalgamation contained in that large class of
Bills which are not exclusively for amalgamation, have in some cases
escaped general observation, owing to no separate notice having been
given of the intended application for such powers. They recommend,
that for the future, in all cases of amalgamation, a separate notice
should be required, which should contain a table of the rates pro-
posed to be inserted in the new Bill.
Your Committee offer these suggestions to the House as affording
some, though by no meats a perfect security, to the public interests.
The system of railways and canals is now become so extensive,
and their relations amongst themselves are so complicated, that no
enactments passed by Parliament for their government and regula-
tion can provide for all contingencies, or be properly carried into
effect, unless by the aid of some snore efficient machinery than any
which exists at the present moment.
After mature consideration, your Committee have come to the
conclusion that it is absolutely necessary that some department of
the Executive Government, so constituted as to command general
respect and confidence, should he charged with the supervision of
railways and canals, with fall power to enforce such regulations as
may from time to time appear indispensable for the accommodation
and general interests of the public.
Your Committee, in their former report, Adverted to the case of
private arrangements between railway companies as requiring
serious consideration. The evidence they have since received has
shown that arrangements of this nature between railway and canal
companies may affect the public interests to a still greater degree;
and they are convinced that the only effectual mode of obviating the
evils which might arise from an abuse of the power derived from
such private arrangements, will be found in the constitution of such
an authority as they have now recommended.
Your Committee entertain no doubt that a department so consti-
tuted might, in addition to these duties, afford material assistance to
Parliament in railway legislation.
It might save, by preliminary investigation as regards facts, much
expense to parties applying for Bills, and much of the valuable time
of both Houses, without in any way interfering with the paramount
powers of Parliament, and its sole adjudication as to the rights of
property.
May 6, 1546.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
THE SQUADRON OF EVOLUTION.
Poitramorrrn, THURSDAY.--The ward-room omcex of the Rodney,
92, Captain Edward Collier, C. 8., gave a brilliant entertainment on
board their ship this day to Commodore Sir Francis Collier, and the
other officers of the squadron of evolution, to which were invited Ad-
miral Sir Charles Ogle, Bart. the Commander-in-Chief, and his fa-
mily circle ; Rear-Admiral aide Parker, Superintendent of the Dock-
yard, and Mrs. Parker; Major-General Pakenham, Lieutenat-Go-
Cveorionionroodfothre
the biasses Collier; General Sir David and Lady Ximenes, and daugh-
ters ; Captain Sir Henry Leeke, of the Queen ; Lady and the Misses
Lecke': the Countess of Cavan ; Lady George Lennox and daughters ;
Captain and Miss Corry, of the Superb ; Captain Lockyer, of the Al-
bion ; Captain Austen ; Lieutenant the Hon. and Mrs. Lambert;
Captain Tattnall, R.N. ; Captain Chads, of the Excellent, Mrs.
and the Misses Chads ; Captain the Hon. Mr. Byng, Mrs. and
Miss Byng ; Mrs. Basil Hall, Miss Hall ; Flag-Lieutenant Collier
and Mrs. Collier; Captain Collier, of the Rodney; Miss
Ommanney, Miss Birch, Miss Inman, Mrs. Hayes, Captain and
Mrs. Creed; Lady Elizabeth Tollemache, Miss Lovell, Mrs. Raiford,
Lieutenants Hancock and Mayo, 74th Highlanders ; Lieutenant
Arthur Cumming, of the Albion ; Captain Kemble, R.N. ; Lieutenants
Boyce and St. John, of the Excellent ; Captain Douglas, of the Royal
Naval College; Lieutenant Dashwood Fowler, Flag-Lieutenant to
Commodore Sir J. Bremer.; Commander Schomberg, of the Queen ;
Mr. Way, secretary to Vice-Admiral Sir W. H. Gage ; Captain
Wiles, of the Vanguard, &c.
The quarter-deck was covered in with gaily-coloured flags, and
formed a magnificent ball-room, and certainly a more merry com-
pany never assembled.
erommander
warAdbaroonqmue,t,tocowmhiperhisianginptlhee
justiceelioiees vrt
azdeilacoancitel;sy,
The entertainment was got up and superintended y
and Tattnall.
wasthe
rprovid.ed in the
About Clarke ,8
eavnedn eu
o'clockte
hired for the occasion, convey
eet
the
gueetsealscers of the Rodney, and
The affair was highly creditable to theurp Winthrop.-
d steam-packet,
asset! at Spithead.
as a display of elegant hospitality
our never
rkss upon the exercise of the
Lieutenants
3felswthrwitimes' terormhirsteraietoren
of squadron of steamers. This
out the sign
Met was most strikingly apparent on Monday.
sq-uirderoomn lotftelvtooolfull'hoelinpisUoowzinil\iernonasday•rormretbae
autrimpos gibility of making
we are rejoiced to find the Admiralty have at length ordered
the manufacture of blocks in this establishment on Mr. Brewer's
principle.
terdcTai:ipeyt, an
Childers, iG, Commander Pitman, was paid advance yes-
dstilsßitcliisredveGninrangto,rwtome boeurreovwe, forpu
ttsh et Cape.o sea
in the St.
Vincent
Captain
for
in Sir ha
three weeks, when he will be relieved at Cork by Cap-
tainaSpht
aeipap asri dr
T.
homas Herbert, of the Raleigh, 50, will, we are in-
formed, proceed shortly to relieve Commodore Sir Henry Blackwood,
of the Fox, and hoist a broad pendant, as second in command of the
China and East India station.
The Devastation steam-sloop, Commander Crouch, having re-
plenished fuel, returned to the anchorage at Spithead this morning.
The Rattler steam-sloop, Commander Smith, left the harbour this
morning at six o'clock, and went round the Isle of Wight tinder can-
vass and steam.

The South Devon Railway, from Exeter to Teign-
mouth, is to be opened on the 13th inst. It Is to be worked on the
atmospheric principle.
TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION ON THE MIDLAND
LINES OF Rai'max.—A single line of telegraphic communication,
from Nottingham to Derby, has just been completed, and a similar
line from Nottingham to Leicester is in course of formation. Tele-
graphic communications having been formed on the London and Bir-
mingham Railway, from Enstou-square station-to Rugby, the Mid-
land Company are rapidly adopting means for carrying them forward
by seven wires to Leicester, Nottingham, and Derby, where they
will be attached to the northern telegraphs. A similar communica•
tion will soon be completed between Derby and Birmingham. The
various station-masters have received information that they will
shortly be supplied with apparatus necessary for working the signals.
as well as scales of charges for conveying information from one place
to another. The telegraphic lines north of Derby and Nottingham
are now complete, and a few weeks will see those to the south ready
also for use.
PROGRESS OF TELEGRAPHS.—The portion of old
materials spared ft om the manufacture of railway telegraph posts in
Hull, is advertised for sale. The communication from London to
Masbio' is nearly completed, and there is little doubt that the result
of the next Doncaster St. Leger will be known in London In little
more than an hour aftir the termination of the race. The commu-
nications with Leeds, Manchester, and York, are' in an equally for•
ward state.--Doncaster Gazette.
It is stated that within the last ten days about eighty of the water fowls
taese tshu,
dead around and in the ornamental water of St.
SERIOUS
have been found
James's Park, and for a long while it was a most doubtfhl thing what
delinquents
confined
could have caused such a loss, as it was evidently from violence. It
discovered,coe t.
causeea rtit ycn death.
rh e y were placed " custody," and are nolilv
,geese, which bad not long been placed in the park, were in the habit
was determined to watch, and it was found that a pair of Egyptian
—The following is
tnhTnelisnemgyalloarneerlsita,beitedrgdrsas,
tosa.iitida._vteshvasteooryonnpeaoswbtieltirfee
deli
t Brestto
NbeAr of men who hada return,
last five regiments that Volunteered to regiments in
jo,inlsdie,:iii.ao.wrif
from
hi:nog:II:1N;
heaDueniduAs
that country :" had beers ordered home from
13th Foot
2d Foot
40th Foot
57th Foot
39th Foot

447
212
421
327
500

Total .. 2,007
The two last regiments have not yet arrived from India.
THE UNFORTUNATE ALAN BLEWITT.—The above in-
dividual is not yet dead, but on inquiry at the hospital yesterday
afternoon it was stated that his death was hourly expected. He
appears quite conscious of all around him, and quits resigned to hie
melancholy fate. tiy'evpral of his friends called to see him, to whcqu
he bade adiell,