The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-02 00:00:00

2. AS TO THE SACRIFICE OF PROPERTY.

The actual demolition of houses, and other premises,
and the occupation by railways of ground now used for
other purposes, may, for the most part, be estimated',
and compensated to the owners by money ; and although
cases will undoubtedly arise, in which the injury sus-
tained, being less direct, cannot be so estimated, or re-
dres 3ed, these would be for the special consideration of
the Legislature, whenever the project may be brought
before it.

But with respect to the general effect produced upon
property in and near London by the passage of a rail-
way through it, we are of opinion, that although in most
cases an injurious one, it is not necessarily and in-
variably so.
If the property is situated on the outskirts of the town,
and is not already crowded with buildings ; if the ap-
proaches to it are well preserved ; and, especially, if the
railway is carried through it in a cutting or tunnel, and
not on a v'aduet, we are of opinion, from
the evidence and examples which have been
brought before us, that its value, even for dwel-
ling-houses, is not universally deteriorated. On the
other hand, we are not disposed to attach any weight
to the assumption which we have found to be a com-
mon one, that districts thickly inhabited by a popula-
tion of the lowest class, and where vice arel destitution
prevail, are sensibly improved by the passage of a rail-
way through them. Where a large extent of such ground
is occupied by a station, approaches, or works of a rail-
way, we believe that ultimate benefit is the result, both
to those who are removed and to the neighbourhood,
though at the cost to the former of much immediate
hardship. But we see no reason to think that the mere
passing
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which such districts most require, viz,, the formation of
new streets, with better built houses, better ventilation,
and better drainage are in contemplation, or are likely
to be effected, it tends, in most cases, to obstruct rather
than to facilitate them.
We have not considered it necessary to determine
whether the expense which will be incurred by the com-
panies in carrying their lines far into the town is likely
to be compensated to them by increased profits, although
we see great reason for doubting it.
The only case in which it would appear that any con-
clusion upon this head might be drawn from experience
is that of the Blackwall Rail way, the extension of which
from the terminus in the Minories to Fenchurch-street,
a distance of only 413 yards, was effected at a cost of
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has increased the traffic on the line by one-half ; but we
are of opinion that other circumstances have operated
considerably towards producing this result, and there-
fore that this example cannot be applied to the greater
part, if to any, of the lines brought before us. The
Blackway Railway is a line of short traffic only,
and has to encounter formidable opposition from the
steam-boats, which bring their passengers to landing-
places at many convenient points within the metropolis ;
and, under these circumstances, it is quite possible that
a very slight promulgation of their line towards the
centre of the city, may, though purchased at the eost
above named, have enabled the company to make head
against competition, and se justify them in considering
the expenditure a profitable one. Such an example
furnishes no grounds for assuming that the promoters of
long lines n)t exposed to a similar competition, would
derive any benefit from advancing their stations, even to
a far smaller cost, within the outskirts of the metropolis.
B. AS TO THE INTERRUPTION OF IMPORTANT THO.
ROUGIIFARES.

The difficulties and ohjrctions which arise cn this
head to the establishment of termini within the metro-
polis nre so folly adthitted by the compa,nius who pro-
pose to execute such plans. that there is scarcely one
amongst the schemes which we have had before us of
which the promoters have not expressed their intention
to combine, more or less with their own works, and at
their own expense, the improvement of existing, or the
formation of new thoroughfares for the benefit of the
public.
It is well known that the thoroughfares of London, in
which the pressure and inconvenience of a too great ac-
cumulation of traffic is most felt, are those that run
east and west; and that the wants of the community are
already very ill-supplied by the few continuous lines of
streets which lie in that direction. It is impossible to
pass along the line of Thames-street, of the Strand,
Fleet-street, Watling-street, and Eastcheap, or through
parts of Holborn, Skinner. street, Cheapside, and the
Poultry, without being aware, that if the number of
vehicles which throng these thoroughfares were at n
any
hour of the day to be suddenly increased, even .
an.
which
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eccutrrtoencth ofec ktsrlffin
dc through those though e
interruptions,
would make them altogether useless to emus to whom
speed and certainty of transit are an object.

'*N