The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-06 00:00:00

BIItMINGIIAM LINES.

BIRMINGHAM, MONDAY NIGHT.—A meeting of the
street commissioners was held this morning at the Pub-
lic-office, Moor-street, for the purpose of receiving a re-
port from the Paving and Parliamentary Committee,
respecting the plans and sections laid before them of
railways proposed to enter the town, and for which ap-
plication will be made during the ensuing session.
There were upwards of seventy commissioners present,
and a report was read, of which the following is the sub-
stance :
The Paving and Parliamentary Committee reported
that, having directed their attention to the several
notices given of
,intended applications to Parliament in
the ensuing session, as far as such projects appeared
likely to affect the interests of the town of Birmingham,
they found that .at the commencement of the Parlia-
mentary campaign, on the 30th of November, being the
last day for delivering plans and sections at the Board of
Trade, and to the clerks of the peace, the following
schemes were before the public, and likely to require
their attention. On the Ist of December, therefore,
their solicitor applied to most of the solicitors concerned
for copies of the plans, sections, and books of reference,
and since that period similar applications had been made
to most of the other parties.
1. Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Stour Valley.
2. Birmingham and Worcester.
3. London and Birmingham (Extension at Birming-
ham).
. . _

4:Birmingham and Oxford.
5. Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley.
6. Direct Birmingham and Leicester.
7. Welsh Midland, Kidderminster and Birmingham.
8. The Birmingham, West Bromwich, Wednesbury,
and Walsall Junction.

9. Wolverhampton, Chester, and Birkenhead Junction
(Trent Valley Continuation).
10. Birmingham, Lichfield, and Manchester.
11. Birmingham, and Manchester Direct.

12. Shrewsbury-and Birmingham.
Of the above list the Committee stated that the fol.
hitvnif
inllo either been abandoned, or might be with-
etlllbequenue Ui laltiliBao 1... cif their
projectors, or found not to enter the parish of Bir-
mingham:-
2. The Birmingham and Worcester withdrawn for
the present session.
6. Direct Birmingham and Leicester doss not enter
the parish.
7. Welsh Midland, Kidderminster, and Birmingham.
This line is abandoned between Kidderminster and
Birmingham, and will be taken up for that distance by
the Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Stour-valley
Company.

8. The Birmingham, West Bromwich, Wednesbury,
and Walsall Junction, abandoned for this session.
9. Wolverhampton, Chester, and Birkenhead (Trent
Valley Continuation) will not approach Birmingdam
nearer than Wolverhampton. Birmingham, Lichfield,
and Manchester will not enter the parish, but will join
the Grand Junction in the parish of Aston.
The promoters of the remaining seven of the original
list seemed disposed to prosecute their several applica •
tions to Parliament, which would require the utmost at-
tention on the part of the town, and in several cases the
most strenuous opposition, unless the proposed measures
be very materially modified.
The Committee recommended that every Bill should
be strenuously opposed, unless the following require-
ments be complied with, namely :-
1. Where it is intended to stop up any street or road
in the parish, an ample equivalent be provided by the
formation of other streets or roads equally convenient to
the public in general.

2. Where it is proposed to cross any street on the
level thereof.

3. Where it is proposed to cross any street or road
by viaduct or bridge, the height and span of the arch be
of sufficient dimension to permit at least as free a pas-
sage for the public in carriages and on foot as that now
enjoyed, and that no piers, abutments, or other encroach-
ments be permitted on the carriage or foot roads.
4. Where it is intended to pass under any street or
road, and a bridge for such street or road be formed
over the railway, each side of such bridge for such street
or road to be formed over the railway shall be effectually
built up to the height of fifteen feet at least in every
situation where tho Commissioners shall deem advisable,
so as to prevent the railway or the engines or carriages
passing thereon from being seen from such street or
road. The same rule to apply to viaducts carrying the
railway over any street, which shall likewise be provided
with parapets of the same height at least, or more, if
needful.

5. Where the works of, or connected with, the pro-
posed railway shall in any way interfere with the public
drains, sewers, or public water-courses of the town,
proper provision be made for the prompt restoring of
such sewers, drains, or water-courses, or providing in
lieu thereof others to the satisfaction of the Commis-
sioners ; and in case such railway works are likely, in
the opinion of the Commissioners, to prevent or inter-
fere with the future effectual drainage of the town, pro•.
vision be made that the railway projectors shall meet
such event in the manner required by the Commis-
sioners.
1

6. Where it is' proposed to stop any street, with a
view to the conversion of the site thereof into a station,
provision be made,for a road under such station in the
line of that proposed to be stopped up, or in such other
direction as the Commissioners shall approve, of suffi-
cient height and width, and to be well lighted at the
expense of the railway company, so as to afford ample
accommodation for passengers along the same.
7. Where it is proposed to make a station, provision
be made by the proposed company for proper approaches
thereto, and especially for widening the streets and otheri
avenues iu the immediate neighbourhood thereof, su -
ciently to meet the increased traffic.
WhereterBs.ected by a n any
o On
be made to prevent the inhabitants being
deprived of
their natural supply of water.
9. That in order to prevent the inconvenience to which
tunnel
lt
o ofr
deepthe cutting, town
e proposedufficieot provision to b e in-
the public must necessarily be subject during the pro..
gross of the works of any railway, an engagement, with
penalties be required with the company for the com-
pletion of the works within a limited period to be agreed
upon.
The Committee then proceeded to report upon each
separate project as far as they had been able to aster •
tam the designs of the different companies with relation
Birmingham.
At the suggestion of the Mayor, Mr. Henry Smith,
the following was substituted for the first condition:—
. Where it is intended to stop up any street or road in
the parish, an ample equivalent shall be made by the
company," it being thought impossible for them to pro-
vide a street or road which would be " equally conve-
nient to the public in general " as the original one.
The report was received and unanimously approved
of, after which the meeting broke up.