The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-19 00:00:00

(CHAPEL-HALL BRANCH),

a conversation, or rather discussion between the counsel on both
sides took place, from which it appeared that the parties had not
yet agreed.
The Committee ultimately adjourned the case to Thursday.
' The Committee then proceeded to take the usual evidence, accord-
ing to Mr. Duncombe's resolutions, respecting the

LESMAILHAGOW, DALSERII, AND COAT-

BRIDGE JUNCTION.

Mr. ANDBXWB stated that the objects of the Bill are to form a com-
Immication across the Clyde, joining the Wishaw and Coltness Hall-
way, and connecting the extensive fields of coal and ironstone OR
the south bank of the Clyde with the ironworks on the north bank,
and with the markets of Edinburgh and Glasgow, and the shipping
ports on the rivers Forth and Clyde. The length of the line will be
two miles and three furlongs. The expense is estimated at 50,0001.
By this railway a large and valuable field of coal and iron-
stone would be rendered available, which the owners have
hitherto been unable to work for want of a cheap means of commu-
nication to enable them to compete with the other mineral districts
having the benefit of railway accommodation. The coal and iron-
stone in the neighbourhood of the great iron works of the Monklands
are becoming exhausted, and as a large amount of capital has been
expended on these works, it is very important that means should be
provided for bringing supplies from the more distant fields. The
present means of conveyance from the mineral fields to the iron
works and places of consumption is by cartage, and in consequence of
the heavy tolls and the general steepness of the roads,
the traffic is necessarily very limited and very expensive.
So great is the value attached to the contemplated line
by the capitalists and ironmasters in the district, that as soon as the
intention to form the railway was generally known, arrangements
were mad• to a great extent for working the minerals
in the parishes of Dalserf and Lesmahagow. He wished the Com-
mittee to observe, that the line would be constructed entirely for
mineral traffic, there being, in fact, no passenger traffic in the dis-
trict. It was important to keep this in view, as it removed all ob-
jections to the steepness of the gradients. This steepness was un-
avoidable, from the nature of the country, without an enormous
expense. But the gradients were perfectly practicable and safe, and
were the.best the locality would admit of. The line would be worked
by fixed engines. The ,Learned Gentleman concluded by observing,
that the line would not materially affect any of the property through
which it would pass, and none of the petitions against the Bill in any
way affected the preamble, but they involved altogether questions
only of compensation.

Mr. MWEIL, Counsel for the promoters (with Mr. Andrews) called
evidence to bear out the leading statements of the latter.
Mr. Ady, Um engineer of the line, and manager of several of the
existing or projected railways with which it is proposed to connect
this branch, was ezamined on the engineering merits. His evidence
referred to no Important particulars which had not been referred to
in the opening statement of Counsel. The gradients were practicable
for passengers if necessary.