The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-09 00:00:00

SECOND REPORT PROM THE SE.;
LECT COMMITTEE ON RAILWAYS AND
CANALS AMALGAMATION. The Select Committee appointed to consider the principle of Ansala;
gamation as applied to the Railway and, Canal Bills now under
the consideration of Parliament, have further examined tho
matters to them referred, and agreed to the following re-.
pert :
Your Committee have stated, in their former report, that there are
about thirty-two Bills before Parliament in which power is sought to
effect the amalgamation of canals with railways. These may bet
classed under the following heads;-
Ist. Bills for the amalgamation, by lease, purchase, or otherwise,
of entire lines of canal with competing lines of railway.
.Bills for the amalgamation of some canal forming a link in di
chain of water communication with a line of railway competing wily
the whole chain.
idly. Bills for converting canals into railways.
The present extent ofinland navigation in Great Britain, by means
of canals, is estimated to be about 2,50 e miles. Up to a very recent
period It afforded almost the exclusive means of conveyance of heavy
goods and merchandise from one part of the country to the &the,
and especially from the principal :manufacturing districts to the
outports.
On the introduction ofrailways, and in the early period of their de-
velopment, when want of experience and the absence of inforrnation "
as to the capabilities of the new system, rendered it Impossible for
the Legislature to impose proper restrictions and limitations on the
tolls and charges of the various companies, the competition which
they had to sustain with the canals checked any great abuse of the
powers delegated to.them. As the railway system extended itself;
improvements in its organization and economy placed in turn a,
check upon canals, and the consequent competition materially re-
duced the expense of conveyance. Instances have been adduced be-
fore your Committee in which the charges for the conveyance ef mer-
chandise have been lowered by these means to one-seventh of their
former amount ; and there are now few parts of the country whirl&
have not derived material advantage from the competition between;
railways and canals.
It is obviously of importance that Parliament should not- lightly
sanction any arrangements which would tend to deprive the public .
of this advantage ; and it has been a subject of consideration with
your Committee, whether, inasmuch as the future maintenance of com-
petition depends in some degree on the complete independence of the
hin,
erfaerenictemigwithhta
nliontkbernathygre
eadutt of lYy
and
dieially affect the whole chain, it might not be the duty of I rlia la veiu--
ment to refuse its assent to all Bills uniting the interests of the now
deaierallly system,
ffec and
any interference
rival parties.
Did your Committee believe that the two systems could be pre-
served in entire independence one of the other, they might be dis
the-
posed to recommend the House to adopt this course. But in
progress of their inquiry, several reasons have suggested theme,'vas ,
showing the difficulty of securing the canal interest altogether front
the interference and control of railway companies, or of affording to
the former a full opportunity of testing its capabilities as a rival
system.
One great impediment has been found to exist in the present dis-
jointed state of the canal interests and the varying systems ender
which they carry on their operations. Some of the existing ..som-
Pastie
greetandh smite
oftake
rgaedsvans. thagigeh
as
sf
to
hseeicrurepecoulitharemspoeslvi position,
large large return for their capital even upon a small amount of traffic.
This practice, while it obliges' the other companies, not so advan-
tageously situated, to reduce theirsratets to such an extent that they
prevents
erteinabnts lseutcoh co. nredduucettttoteneltrnb
tubs
el ng bowlshcflarges of the line as would
profit, at the same time
enable the several comnanies, as. a, to maintain a fair Lioneompeti-
with the railways. _ _
.- ..
•
Instances have also been brought tinder the notice o your
mittee in which railway companies have effected private arrange.
ments with the proprietors of a portion only of a line of canal, andr
thereafter, by raising the tolls of that only
to the utmost linait
allowed by law, have rendered it impossible for the companies in
possession of the remainder of the line of canal to maintain their
traffic in competition with the railway.
Another consideration which must not be overlooked is, that
although it has been stated that with proper management cantles might maintain a successful competition with railways in the car-
riage of heavy goods, still such competition has hitherto been carried.
on under a great disadvantage, owing to the large profits made by
railway companies on passenger traffic, which enables them to submit
in some instances even to a loss on the carriage of merehandise, with
a view to withdraw the traffic from canals.
Even, however, where effective competition has been for a time
maintained, it has been attended with such a large reduction of' profits, that it has become the interest of the rival companies to
combine for their mutual advantage, and hence have arisen
private arrangements under which a higher scale of tolls and charges, has been re-established.
It has indecd been shown that in certain cases increased advantaged
might be obtained for the public by the union of a canal and rail-
way through the same line of country, under one management, sub•
ject of course to proper check and control.
The general conclusion, therefore, to which your Committee have
come is, that it would not be politic altogether to refuse the sanction
of Parliament to the amalgamation of railways with canals. They
would, however, strongly impress upon the attention of the Com-
mittees to whom Bills, whether for the amalgamation of canals with.
railways, or for the conversion of canals into railways, may be re-
ferred, that a most searching inquiry should be instituted into the
merits of each case; and that their sanction should be given only in
those instances in which it shall have been clearl
amalgamation y proved that the
can be effected without pre They venture to submit the following p j
oints as ce to the public.
deserving of coneb•
deration in the case of all such Bills :
Ist. The imposition of a low scale of tolls and charges upon all par.
Ctiaesn a
it os
flit
ee scheme.cal
scale
of t 0
111
st
isshoorumldubechgreater mind, that
tiiniantheincthas:t
of
bornei
importancen
railways; for as, in most instances, the public are themselves the
carriers on canals, they are more interested in the tolls than in the
general charges. Subject to this observation, your Committee refer
to the suggestions with respect to tolls and charges contained in their
former report, and which they consider equally applicable to the
amalgamation of railways and canals.
2dly. Strict regulations should be made for maintaining the canals
in an efficient state of repair, and for. securing a proper supply of
water.
:idly. Power should be expressly secured to tine public of carrying
passengers and all kinds ofgoods and merchandise on canal.
4ffily. The privilege of making bye-laws should be subjected to a
careful revision.
Many of the canal companies exercise much power in this respect.'
They are authorised, for instance, under these laws to suspend the
navigation of the canals for various purposes, and during uncertain(
periods; and though this power may be innocuous so long as it is
exercised by a party directly interested with the public in the Molted
exercise of it, it is obviously one which may be used with great and
detrimental effect to fair competition, by parties so disposed.
sthly. In cases of the conversion of a canal into a railway, care
should be taken that no district is deprived of efficient means of gene-
ral communication, and the company should be compelled to afford
due facilites of acmes to canal companies and ether parties who may
be affected by the change.
Your Committee further feel it their duty to advert to the circum-
stance, that powers of amalgamation contained in that large class of
Bills which are not exclusively for amalgamation, have in some cases
escaped general observation, owing to no separate notice having been
gives of the intended application for such powers. They recommend,
that for the future, in all cases of amalgamation, a separate notice
should be required, which should contain a table of the rates pro-
posed to be inserted in the new Bill.
some, t
Your Committee offer these suggestions to the House as affording
hough by no meats a perfect security, to the public interests-
The system of railways and canals is now become so extensive,
and their relations amongst themselves are so complicated, that no
enactments passed by Parliament for their government and regula-
tion can provide for all contingencies, or be properly carried into
effect, unless by the aid of some more efficient machinery than any
which exists at the present moment.
After mature consideration, your Committee have come to the
conclusion that it is absolutely necessary that some department of
the Executive Government, so constituted as to command general
respect and confidence, should be charged with the supervision of
railways and canals, with full power to enforce such regulations as
may from bale to time appear indispensable for the accommodation
and general interests of the public.
Your Committee, in their former report, adverted to the case of
private arrangements between railway companies as requiring
serious consideration. The evidence they have since received has
shown that arrangements of this nature between railway and canal.
companies may affect the public interests to a still greater degree;
and they are cominced that the only effectual mode of obviating the
evils which might arise from an abuse of the powe! derived from
such private arrangements, will be tbund in the constitution of such an authority as they have now recommended. Your Committee entertain no doubt that a department
so-consti-
tuted might, in additions to these duties, afford material assistance to,
Parliament in railway legislation. •
It might save, by preliminary investigation as regards facts, much expense to parties applying for Bills, and much of the valuable time
of both Houses, without in any way interfering with the paramount
powers of Parliament, and its sole adjudication as to the rights of property.
May 6, 1846.

NAVAL IN TELLIGENCE.
,/3 THE SQUADRON OF EVOLUTION.
s PORTSMOUTH, TIIIIIISDAY.—The ward-room officers of the Rodney.
g 92, Captain Edward Collier, C. 8., gave a brilliant entertainment on
i board their ship this day to Commodore Sir Francis Collier, and the
other officers of the squadron of evolution, to which were invited Ad-
miral Sir Charles Ogle, Bart., the Commander-in-Chief, and his fa-
mily circle ; Rear-Admiral Hyde Parker, Superintendent of the Dock-
: yard, and Mrs. Parker; Major-General Pakenham, Lieutenat-Go.
vernor of the Garrison, the lion. Lady and the Misses Pakenham;
Commodore Sir Francis Collier and Sir J. J. G. Bremer ; Lady and
the Misses Collier; General Sir David and Lady Ximenes, and daagh..
tors; Captain Sir Henry Leeke, of the Queen; Lady and the Misses
Leeke; the Countess of Cavan; Lady George Lennox and daughters;
Captain and Miss Corry, of the Superb ; Captain Lockyer, of the Al-.
bion ; Captain Austen; Lieutenant the Hon. and Mrs. Lambert;
Captain Tattnall, R.N. ; Captain Charts, of the Excellent, Mrs.
and the Misses Chads ; Captain the Hon. Mr. Byng, Mrs. and.
Miss Byng; Mrs. Basil Hall, Miss Hall; Flag-Lieutenant Collier
and Mrs. Collier; Captain Collier, of the Rodney; Miss
Ommanney‘ Miss Birch, Miss Inman, Mrs. Hayes, Captain and
Mrs. Creed; Lady Elizabeth Tollemache, Miss Lovell, Mrs. Halford.
Lieutenants Hancock and Mayo, 74th Highlanders ; Lieutenant
ArthurCumming, of the Albion; Captain Kemble, R N.; Lieutenants
) Boyce and St. John, of the Excellent ; Captain Douglas, of the Royal
Naval College; Lieutenant Dashwood FOwler,aotFt
Commodore Sir J. Bremer; Commander Schoenberg, of the Queen;
Mr. hay, secretary to Vice-Admiral Sir W. H. Gage; Capnal
• Willes, of the Vanguard, &e.
gLitheersßuotre.rdenwlane:Thtdata
was provided
in the
pfoarmnT
yheeid,
eq,a_ueramratagsesren-Eudifiebceclkendt.wbaaus
-room,
tehrtaig.aveilyy-accilmoourreedmecagsy ,coarnif_
superintended by Commander
got up and entertainment was
Forster, Winthrop,Nl, and Tattnall.
Clarke, and Lieutenants Moo ,
festivities terminated, and a steam-packet,
ward
banquet, coniprising the choicest delicacies,
hired for time occasion, conveyed
which ample justice,
guests
doasnehobrye.the guests.
ffiof the
asTaii,iisplay of elegant hospitality never surpassed at Spithead.
Ab:eit room,
affai sevenr r .t o'clockhighly the
creditablet Use
to the o ce r s Rodney, find.
We omitted to mention, in our remarks upon the exercise of the
squadron of evolution on Monday, the utter impossibility of making
out the signals of ships when astern of a squadvreon
factly ewareas mroosoticsetraikitonglflynadppthareenkomn
Admiralty have
tniabanlis,hiwnasentpaiona Mr.
theThmeancuhfacildteurrse, 0116,b1e0 151ate'stnien-
ockstnMit:ndthiser hest
principle.
terdcaaptianndssirailsßitchishardeveenirna4orwtoe-rnboeurroevwe, fporuttshetoCarea in advance
t h e yes.
s :
Vincent for three weeks, when he will be relieved at Cork by Cap.
Cape,
taro Sheppard.
Captain Sir Thomas Herbert, of the Raleigh, 50, will, we are in.
formed, proceed shortly to relieve Commodore Sir Henry Blackwood.
of the Fox, and hoist a broad pendant, as second in command of the
China and East India station.
The Devastation steam-sloop, Commander Crouch, having re.
plenished fuel, returned to the anchorage at Spithead this morning.
The Rattler steam-sloop, Commander Smith; left the harbour this
morning at six o'clock, and went round the Isle of Wight under ec.n.
vass and steam.

The South Devon Railway, from Exeter to Teign..
mouth, is to be opened on the 13th inst. It is to be worked on the
atmospheric principle.
TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION ON THE MIDLAND
LINES OF RAILWAY.—A single line of telegraphic communicaticu.
from Nottingham to Derby, has just been completed, and a similar
line from Nottingham to Leicester is in course of formation. Tele.
graphic communications having been formed on the London and Dir.
mingham Railway, from Euston-square station to Rugby, the Mid-
land Company are rapidly adopting means for carrying them forward
by seven wires to Leicester, Nottingham, and Derby, where they
will be attached to the northern-telegraphs. A similar communlea-
tion will soon be completed between Derby and Birmingham. Ihe
various station-masters have received information that they IN 11l
shortly be supplied with apparatus necessary for working the signs is.
as well as scales of charges for conveying information from one place
to another. The telegraphic lines north of Derby and Nottingli:inl
are now complete, and a few weeks will see those to the south ready
also for use.
PROGRESS OF TELEGRAPHS.—The portion of Old
materials spared f: om the manufacture of railway telegraph posts la
Hull, is advertised for sale. The communication from London to
of the next Doncaster St. Leger a
etinTeoigirlltAyPOlf the water fowls
asrttd,o,surbetrfenlitnhitnhupge what
Masbio' is nearly completed, and therelbe isknliottwrile dionubLtothndaotnthine resultlitiie
more than an hour aft. r the termination of the race. The coma
Manchester, and York, are
firnomanv:oluEeanneye.fttai
wniscradtiostnastseN.lll.voi Lneccadsst,o3.
ES 'S PARIL,--.
inlamnbotalSul
have been found dead around and ill the ornamental water of St.
it isBsEtaßtledOutbsatLwOististieOr the T iHga
beensEwt Bh
tenipil placed
ea.,:
d'Swa
could have caused such a loss, as it was evidently
was determined to watch, and it was found that a pair of
of attacking the smaller birds, and that one bite
cause death. They arc stated to have very was sufficient to
gjeaelsnee,tri cahrkl: aadndnofot rl
oani:
celerity in running on the grass. As
soon powerful teeth, and great
discovered, they were placed "in cast • as the delinquents were
one of the islands. custody," ," and are now confined to
THE INDIAN ARMY.—The following
"sllowing the number of men is a return,
who had volunteered to regiments In
India from the last five
that country :" regiments that had beenordered home lb , to
13th Foot
2d Foot
40th Foot
57th Foot
39th Foot

447
312
421
327
500

Total

_ XOO7

--.- -
The two last regiments have not yet arrived from India.
Yesterday morning, about one o'clock, an alarmirg
fire broke out upon the premises belonging to Mrs. Sarah Brows',
grocer and tea-dealer, carrying on business at No. 6, Great New-.
street, Fetter-lane, immediately opposite Trinity Church. It wag
not until past two o'clock that the tire was safely subdued, slid nqk
until the shop was burned out, and the stock-in-trade deatroyed.