The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-12 00:00:00

GROUP XL.

LEEDS, YORK, AND MIDLAND JUNCTION.
The Committee resumed this day at twelve o'clock. Mr. Stafford
O'Brien (chairman), and the other members all present.

Mr. Sergeant Wu.KINs stated that the object of this line was to
connect the important towns of Leeds and Tork by a shorter route
than that at present existing, which is 31,,,; miles by railway, though
the turnpike road is only 24 miles ; and the fact of there being
two ether competing lines was an evidence of a new line being
wanted. borne of the peculiar advantages which this line promised
over those of its competitors were that it is the shortest—that it has
the best gradients—that it passes through and accommodates the
towns of Aberford and Tadcaster, the latter of which is by far the
most considerable town between the two termini—that the local po-
pulation is as great as on any route which can be adopted, and greater
by far than on that of the Leeds and York—that it traverses valuable
fields of coal and limestone—that it connects together, In the best
and most convenient manner, the Leeds and Bradford, and Midland
Railways, with the Leeds and Selby Railway at Leeds, and again
with the Harewgate and Church Fenton and the York and North
Midland Railways further along the line; thus also opening out the
most direct communication :with the Port of Hull—that it effects a
greater amount of public accommodation at a proportionably less
cost than either of the other lines, and that it has the sanction of the
principal landowners with one or two exceptions, and also of a pre-
ponderating proportion of the occupiers along the line.
Mr. John W. Leather,:C.E., and engineer to the line, was called by
the Learned Sergeant, and gave testimony in favour of this scheme,
both as regarded its engineering facilities and the accommodation
that would be afforded to the population along the proposed route.
Colonel Wyndham, he conceived, would benefit by the line, that
gentleman being owner of a large part of Tadcaster, and the
amount of earthwork on Sir Edward Vavasour's property was less
than on Mr. Hudson's line.

Cross-examined by Mr. HOPE—He thought Mr. Hudson was tills-
' taken in his views regarding the merits of the proposed lime. Had
had little or no experience in working railway lines.
Cross-examined by Mr. HARDY—The directors had abandoned the
junction with the London and York, because they had not allotted a
sufficient number of shares to raise the increased amount of capital
that would have been required. Could give no account of the
amount of toll that Mr. Hudson would exact for crossing his lines,
and using his stations, consequently his estimate was not strictly a
full estimate of the necessary expenses to be incurred in forming
this line.

Mr. KNOWLES appeared on behalf of one or two individuals.
Mr. Sergeant WaalNs having askPrl witness how many lines
would be crossed by Mr. Hudson's line, helenumerated eight, of the
majority of which, however, Mr. Hudson was chairman. Had con-
structed works involving much greater engineering difficulties than
any on the Proposed line. lie thought Mr. Blrkenshaw entered the
field too late, Mr. Hudson having published no notice of his line till
October, whilst he commenced operations *

then called air.. WilsonAinektigdus, at.worsted-spinner,
of 3 Ir'lt°m
(Ries,wllB°:tat ed that upwards of 2,000 tons of wool were carried
annually fro
and York to Leeds, to be used in Leeds, Bradford,
observed, that tha?,iotrriadmittee did not
te y
Hon.c h
A i R other
m A places
ahceerse.
KeTi ghhe
for a moment doubt but that a line was
and Leeds, but they really thought that the subject of mere York
might now be dispensed with, as, in their opinion, it applied
etiroaat,
to all three of the competing lines.
Mr. Sergeant WILKINS said, after that intimation from th
he sheadd not press the point. e Com-
mittee,Cross-examtned by Mr. Mune/tr.—Paid the carrier 105 Could
not say whether the carrier put any of that into his .
whether the company only received 7s. 6d. own pocket, or
Mr. Walker, carrier, called by Mr. sergeant WnaciNa, stated,that
during the season 60 tons of wool per week was the average,''
tons of general merchandise the average for the year bete
and York. In his opinion, any line to be constructed Should take in
Aberford and Tadcaster. and 20
etween Leeds
Mr. Clapham, called by Mr. ROBINSON, preferred the junction line
for two reasons ; first, because it was the first projected, and next,
Petanse it did the least damage to the farm he occupied. The Leeds
an,/ Selby line might as well be closed for any benefit it derived from
the transit of passengers.
3fr, lIILETARD —OllO line would answer his purpose pretty
To •
much AV well as the other.
Mr. CeOrge Cooper was in favour of the proposed line.
In rep ly to Lord NORREYS, who asked which line would Haas
through h 1.5 farm, witness said Mr. Hudson's.
Mr. John A
• ' ' 'leaver, firmer and cattle dealer, preferred the jilnction,
because he would like to get out of Mr. Hudson's hands.
-"dvvard Scrim], farmer and tallow-chandler,
Mr. George A', d
Com-
plained of the. delay in delivering goods on the York and Selby, Su,
also of the danger at the Great Meicklefield station.
To Mr. Ar.Exasti)Ea—llan five shares in the proposed line.
Mr. Joshua Wilkinson, haberdasher, was next called by Mr. RO-
BINSON, who corroborated last witness.
By Mr. ALEXANDER—I hold fifty shares, and ant a provisional
committeeman of the junction line.
Mr. John Wilkes, sen., resides at Aberford, and is surveyor of turn-
pike roads in that district. Presented a petition to Miss Gascoigne,
signed by her tenants, requesting her aid to the proposed junction
line. The road through Aberford and Tadcaster was the old turn-
pike road. The Leeds and York would not pass within a mile and a
half of either Wetherby or Thorpe-Arch. He was also a shareholder.
Mr. Green Stated that the other line, in his judgment, passed over
the more valuable property.
The Committee adjourned, at foal* o'clock, till twelve to-morrow

Mr. G. C. Ashmead proved the accuracy of the levels as taken by
Mr. Fox.
Mr. BIDDER considered that it would be much more expensive to
work a line with these gradients than upon a line where the gradients
were less severe, in consequence of the necessity there would be to
keep engines always in readiness to assist trains in getting up the
incline.
The cross-examination of Mr. Bidder having been concluded, the
Committee adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow.