The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-14 00:00:00

GROUP XIII.

This Committee met to-day, at twelve o'clock—Sir W. Clay in the
chair. Other Members present—Earl Jermyn, Mr. P. Ainsworth,
and Mr. Curteis.

CALEDONIAN (EXTENSION AND
BRANCHES).

The further evidence in support of this Company, and against the
Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle scheme, was proceeded with.
Mr. William Pare, examined by Mr. HOPE—He had been engaged
for ten or twelve years in calculating railway traffic. For the last
three years he had been repeatedly in Scotland—all over the country
—but especially in the southern district. He had taken the traffic of
the Caledonian in 1844. and also that of the rival line, his object being
to calculate whether there was a Kolaithillty of through traffic to
support a second line. _ The present Dun4riesisclieme was similar in,

it; so urse to the one of last year. He took great pains to collect in-
formation by referring to Official tables at the stamp office; the several
coach offices, &c., and also by posting parties to take the traffic. He
had also, last winter, gone over the district a second time, with a
view to the Caledonian Extension, so that he had gone over the route
of both lines minutely. The first time he estimated the through
traffic in passengers and goods along the Caledonian line from Glasgow
to Carlisle at 89,3741., and that from Edinburgh to Carlisle at 20,9481.
18s. 10d. This was the traffic both ways. This return he submitted to the
Committee last year. The through traffic along the Nethsdale line
he estimated, to and from Edinburgh and Glasgow and Dumfries, at
7,8111. 115. ld. and from Dumfries to Carlisle at 6,7191., making a
total through traffic on the Dumfries line of 14,530/. 16s. 104, The
total through traffic on the Caledonian scheme he estimated at
124,856/. 4s. 3d. The local traffic on the same line he set down for
passengers, goods, minerals, &c., 101,1581. 13s. 5d., making a total
on the Caledonian of 226,0121. 17s. 6d. For the through traffic on the
Caledonian line, there was no doubt that the Nethsdale line would
be a direct competing line. Supposing the Nethsdale line
to be sanctioned, and the Caledonian Dumfries branch re-
ffised, then would the former line take all the Dumfries
traffic, and one-half of the Glasgow traffic making the amount of
59,2181. This would leave the revenue of the Caledonian 166,8041
This estimate was of gross revenue. Deducting 47 4 per cent. on the
original estimate, an amount of about 100,0001., then there
would remain but 66,8041. He went upon the calculation
of Mr. Locke, that with half traffic the expenses of
working of the line would be nearly the same as if
there was no competing line. This would leave three per cent. on
the capital of the Company, 2,100,0001. If the Hawick extension was
carried out then would there be not only a competition for the
traffic proper of Edinburgh, but also with that of the north by
means of the Edinburgh and Northern. From his inquiries be was
satisfied that the local traffic would neither support the Nettesdale
nor the Caledonian schemes. The traffic tables of the Dumfries line

last year showed an estimate of 128,5101. This was 58,5951. for
through traffic, and 69,915/. for local traffic. This year, for their
scheme as a; local line, they set down the traffic at 102,0001. The
scheme last year was the same as the one this year, only it extended
to Kilmarnock. The increase of local traffic was about 32,0001 In
place of the portion of last year, from Kilmarnock to Cumnock,
which was struck off, there was the Crawick branch, but it went
through a district almost totally destitute of population. The Kil-
marnock part struck off was one of the best portions of last year's
scheme for local traffic and a considerable reduction should be
made on the account. With regard to the passengers, he did not
agree with the evidence of the Dumfries Company. He knew
something of the Standard coach, and he had examined
its money settlements and had estimated its passengers. He
considered the number of passengers very much overstated.
The passengers, from the pains he had taken to ascertain the real
traffic, the amount should not have been set down at near the num-
ber stated. The same applied to the Dumfries coach. He considered
their tables also faulty with regard to the traffic by chaises, gigs,
&c. ; this had reference to table 5, which instead of being set down
at 8,197/., should be but 2,7501. The principle which he adopted,
which he believed a sound one, was to take only the half of those
seen in private vehicles, whereas the Dumfries Company took credit
for the whole. With regard to table No. 6, the Ayrshire and Fleet-
wood passengers, he considered that much overstated. He was cer-
tain a considerable portion of Glasgow through passengers were in-
cluded in the table. He considered also that on the Ayrshire
traffic by the Glasgow steamers was exaggerated. The same applied
to the Dumfries and Annan and Liverpool steamers. Where the

steamers ran at very low fares as here, he did not assume for the
steerage passengers. He only calculated for the cabin passengers,
but they took all, and added 100 per cent. for increase. In table 7.
instead of 6,7231. for general merchandise by land, the amount
should be reduced by 2,1761. This was independent of the 50 per
cent. put down for increase. General merchandize by water was also
much exaggerated, both that taken by steamers and sailing vessels.
He had not only exaggerated the quantity, but fixed the ratesest too
high. The total deductions from all the items in their tables ha i-
mated to be, on passengers, 19,062/. 19s. ; and goods and merchan-
dise
3,9381. 19s. sd:; making a total reduction of 23,001/.. leBas.tuade: Thanid
had no relation to reductions on account of minerals.
sheep, or tile drains, to which he could not spenagkt.
Ifs admitted, however, that some
The witness was cross.examincetraedtuscotimnen
should lbfey MmardeMiAsn rthnie.
calculated the the Nlthedaie scheme
traffic, as some slight
error had been made in his calculation ; still the deductiOnwoald not
wanOuoludnttaokfetfrorafame thwehlicuhmricsbaadnd
much affect the sum of 59,2181. which he had estimated the com-
pletion of a second line would take from the Caledonian traffic.
g
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the in
ertiatßoxia°cmrceEination, when, at the suggestion of the chairman, the
ocrordsetsrrt:
farther conaideratian of it was postponed till to-morrow at twelve
o'clock.

GROUP XL
This Committee met to-day at the usual hour, Mr. Sotheron in the
chair.

WINDSOR, SLOUGH, AND STAINES
ATMOSPHERIC.

Mr. Jesse, the surveyor of the Woods and Forests, having been
cross-examined by Mr. WAB.REN on the evidence he gave yesterday,
Mr. Richings, a solicitor, was then examined by Mr. MacsuLsi—
He had resided fer twenty-three years at Staines, and his business
frequently led him to Windsor. There was great inconvenience felt
by the present deficient means of communication between the two
places. The journey to and fro occupied nearly a day at present.
Daring the floods a circuitous route by Englefield had to be taken,
and this caused delay. The communication between Statues and
Slough would be great accommodation, as affording the means of
easy transit by the Great Western Railway to the west, and also to
the north, as a railway was about being made between Oxford and
Birmingham.
Ma. Richard Ibbotson, a proprietor of paper-mills, Mr. Buckton,
land-surveyor and valuer, and other witnesses, were examined, with
the view of showing the great advantages which would bet conferred
by
as
to
thegreat by the proposed line. They all concurred
railway accommodation for the district, and were of opinion that the
desideratum
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