The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-24 00:00:00

markets for timber—elm timber especially, large quantities of which
were grown in those districts.
Mr. Dowding, meat salesman, of Newgate-market, was in the
habit of receiving from S to 10 tons a week of dead consignments
from his son, who resided at Gillingham. It occupied one day and
two nights to make the journey to London. Ile had often lost as
much as 501. in a day, in consequence of the delays that had fre-
quently taken place by sending meat, first to Andover, a distance of
28 miles, and then by the Great Western Railway, that being the
course they were obliged to adopt. If the railway went through this
district, they would, of course, be able to receive the meat quicker

and fresher.
Csoss-examined by Mr. SLADI—The Great Western Rallway
Company had refused to compensate him for the losses he had sus-
tained by their delay.
Mr. Mom-crania then proposed to call Mr. Oliver, butcher, of
Southampton, bit
The Cnalnman stated that there was no necessity for calling any
further traffic evidence. The Committee were quite satisfied upon
the point, and were quite sure that no evidence which could be
Drought forward by the opposing parties could shake the evidence
which had been given. The filets spoken to were incontrovertible
by their very nature.
MT. Manstrerwrafra then proposed to call the engineering evi-
dence.
Mr. Locke, engineer to the South-Western, was then called.—The
lino before the Committee had been laid out by him with a view of
affording the best mode of communication between London and
Exeter. It was also proposed to carry the line from Exeter west-
ward to Falmouth. The total length of the line between Exeter and
London was 170 miles ; the distance by the existing route was 193 N
miles. On that portion of the line between Salisbury and Basing-
stoke, a distance of 32 miles, there was no gradient steeper than 1 in
180. On the line between Salisbury and Yeovil, a distance of 41
miles, there was no gradient more severe than 1 in 106—that gradient
only occurred once. The line between Exeter and Yeovil, whieh
was a very difficult country for the construction of a railway, was
47 miles in length. The steepest gradient was 1 in 81,
The steepest gradient upon the line between Exeter and Yeovil was
lin 78. There was no really substantial difference between the two
lines in an engineering point of view. There was no curve upon
the line of a less radius than 20 chains. The amount of tunnelling
on the line between Exeter and Yeovil was 2,950 yards. On Mr.
Brunel's line, between Yeovil and Exeter, the quantity of tunnel-
ling was 4,565 yards. From Yeovil to Salisbury there were 1,830
yards, and on the line between Salisbury and Basingstoke 1,160
yards. The three lines iorming en integral and competing scheme
between London and Exeter affected also the means of communication
through districts entirely destitute of railways. The estimate for the
Basingstoke and Salisbury line was . ................ £700,000
Salisbury and Yeovil /1 200,000
Yeovil and Exeter .. ....... 1,300,000

Making a total of ............. ..... .................. 2,900,000
There was a surplus of nearly 300,0001. on the line between Exeter
and Yeovil, in consequence of one of the branches being thrown out
in the house of Commons. The actual estimate would therefore be
2,600,0001., which he considered amply sufficient for the purposes of
constructing the line.
Cross-examined by Mr. TALBOT—Yeovil was placed upon a branch
of almost two miles in length, proceeding from the main line. For a
distance of six miles between Sherborne and Yeovil the proposed line
would:run parallel tothe existing line of the Wilts and Somerset Rail-
way. They did not propose to effect any junction with that line. He
thought there should be a narrow gauge line between Bridport mad
Dorchester, in order to complete the chain of narrow gauge commu-
nication. He did not think that a line could be constructed north-
ward of Sherborae with a gradient of 1 in 98, or if it could be, he
was sure that it would be attended with very great expense.
As there was no probability of the cross-examination being con-
cluded to-day, the Committee adjourned till eleven to-morrow.

Room F.