The Sun.
London, England, 1848-10-18 00:00:00

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
OPENING OF THE GREA. I` NORTHERN.
Yesterday witnessed the opening of the Great
Northern Railway system cf communication in Lin-
colnshire, so long and anxiously looked for by the
agricultural interest of the district. The entire
length of railway thus simultaneously thrown open
for puhlic purposes amounts to 150 miles—an accom-
plishment, as regards distance, unparalleled in railway
achievements. The day, though drizzly, was com-
paratively fine for the fens—such a day as is almost
Indigenous to the climatology of the marsh. The
Dutoh dormancy of the fenmen seemed quickened by
the stimulus of steam. The men of Lincolnshire
begin to look more alive, and apparently to be more
impressed with ideas of progress. It had passed into
a proverb, that until lately they and their neighbours
of other counties were half a century behind other
districts, for want of the regenerating railway but
now it is expected that the steam-norse and the steam-
plough will bring their energies into full play and
positive activity, and place them on a par with other
portions of the empire. The line opened recently is
what is called the " loop line?'
Two well-filled trains left Peterborough at 6 and
9 A. 31., respectively, and were hailed along the whole
length of toe line by crowds who flocked to see them
pass. At 12 o'clock a train with the passengers from
the London and North-Western and Eastern Coun-
ties followed with a considerable number. Among
those connected with the undertaking were Mr.
James Arboin, Mr. Pym, Mr. Mowatt, Mr. Cubitt,
the engineer ; Mr. Scott Russell, Mr. Mowatt, Mr.
Bury, the locomotive superintendent ; Mr. W. Pul-
ford, his manager ; Mr. Williams, and others. The
train arrived at Boston about two, at Lincoln soon
after three, and was greeted between Boston and
Lincoln by bands of music and masses of people.
The entire line is a dead level. There are no en-
gineering obstacles, and the only difficulty that pre-
sented itself has been that of securing a firm founda-
tion in some parts of the fens. The stations are
plain and Inexpensive, and the whole line has been
constructed at about 15,0001. per mile, or a total for
the sixty-four miles, of one million, and consists of
that portion of the Great Northern Railway known
as the "loop line," from its coiling round in that form
from the main point at Peterborough, and embracing
within its circuit of 64 miles, Spalding, Boston,
Lincoln, and the adjacent districts, carrying the
traffic southward; on the one hand by means of the
London and North-Western Railway, and on the
other by means of the Eastern Counties Rail way,
both of which have a terminal extension at Peter-
borough. This, however, is merely a temporary
arrangement for working the Lincolnshire traffic over
the " loop," until the main line of the Great Nor-
thern, now being constructed, is completed from
Peterborough to London. The arrangements are
such that the trains of the Great Northern, on their
arrival at Boston, will unite with those of the East
Lincolnshire Railway, now completed to the latter
point, and will be taken by that railway on to Louth
and Grimsby, and the passengers by steamers over
the Humber to Hull, the great advantage being that
passengers and goods may now be conveyed direct,
and without interruption, to and from London and
Hull, by way of Peterborough, 40 miles shorter than
by any other route, and at a saving of two hours.
Yesterday three trains ran from London to Peter-
borough, by the Eastern Counties, and four by the
London and North-Western. The distance to Peter-
borough by the London and North-Western is shorter
than by the Eastern Counties, so that the former
gain over the latter in running their trains to Peter-
borough ; but to obviate this inconvenient disparity,
or rather the scope that it presents for competition,
the trains of the North-Western out of London are
so arianged as to start half an hour later than those
of the Eastern Counties from Shoreditch. The dis-
tance from Peterborough to Boston is 32 miles, and
from Boston to Lincoln 30. The chief peculiarity in
the structure of the line is, that all the bridges are
built of timber. Yesterday the coaches discontinued
running, and the steam-boats in the navigation of the
Witham, that runs parallel with the railway between
Boston and Lincoln, may be said to have given up the
ghost. The whole line, for its entire distance, is one
of perfect table land, and has been constructed at a
moderate cost. There are none of what is termed
engineering difficulties ; it is, in fact, one of those
particular sort of lines that, had they combined to-
gether for the purpose, the Lincolnshire blacksmiths
and ditchers might themselves have constructed.
The locomotive arrangements under Mr. Bury
are very effitient. The line from Peterborough
and Boston is for 16 miles continuously straight,
besides being level, or pretty nearly so, from Boston
to Lincoln. It is provided at all the stations with
oattle pens for agricultural purposes. The steepest
gradient is 1 in 100. The contractors have been
Mr. Peto, M.P., and Mr. Betts. The line was to have
been finished in February last, having been com-
menced in March, 1847. The railway company have
bought up the Witham and Fosdyke Navigations.
They have leased the former at an annual rent of
13,6001., besides taking thirty-two miles of the land
alongside to make their line. The line both at Peter-
borough, Boston, and Lincoln commands fine:views of
their noble cathedrals. The chief town between
Peterborough and Boston is Spalding, seated on the
river Welland, carrying on a large trade in wool,
corn, and coal, employing a population of some
12,000. There is a difference of distance between the
road and the rail between Boston and Lincoln of six
miles. The stations at Algakirk, Swineshead, and
Donningtan, eleven miles from Boston, are particu-
larly neat. The river Glen-bridge and that at
Horsley Deeps are good specimens of timber-bridge
structures. The whole of the works have been
carried out and constructed by Mr. Cubitt, the
engineer, in conjunction with his son, Mr. Joseph
Cubitt. In alliance with the Manchester, Shef-
field, and Lincolnshire line, and by means of the
East Lincolnshire line, its own limb from Boston to
Louth and Great Grimsby, the Great Northern took
its passengers from London direct on to Hull, thus
connecting the market towns of Lincolnshire with
the manufacturing towns of Lancashire. By means
of powerfel steamers passengers were ferried over
from the Great Grimsby line to Hull in ten or fifteen
minutes. Owing chiefly to this and other causes
there was a delay in all the trains throughout the day,
in some cases averaging upwards of forty minutes ;
nor was the loss, of course inseparable from a newly
opened line, recovered throughout the journey. Until
lately Grimsby was an obscure port, but, owing to
its possessing great natural facilities, it has been se-
ducted by the railway company for the purpose of
improvement. It is situated at the mouth of the Hum-
ber, and possesses a natural shelter or breakwater,
called Spurn-point. Vessels of all descriptions may
here anchor in safety, without the trouble of proceed-
ing 20 mi!es up the Humber to hull, and unload their
esx;Toes at the ship's esige into the railway waggons.
Grimsby is looked upon as a far more formidable rival
to Hold than ever Birkenhead will- be to Liverpool.
In a few years its custom dues alone have risen from
3,000/. to 7,0001. The intention is to make it a port
for the Baltic trade, between Liverpool and London,
and at the present moment ships come to it from
Russia and Prussia. Huge masses of stone, making
it look like a modern Stonehenge, are now lying
there, preparatory to the commencement of the works
by Mr. Bendel, the engineer, and the laying of the
first stone, at an early day, by Prince Albert. By
nines of the Great Northern system of railway now
opened, Hull, and the whole of North Britain will
have unbroken access to the south. There are to be
130 acres of dock accommodation for the shipping, to
which the port will be always accessible at quarter-
tide ; whereas the port of Hull is only accessible to
ships at one hour before, and one hour after high
water. There will be room for 300 sail, and upwards
of 150,0001. bas already been expended on the works.
The New Holland ferry at the Humber is two miles
in width, and the train goes over a pier 1,500 feet to
meet the steamer.
The men of the marshes came out in multitudes to
see the first trains. There was a full show of that
great agricultural interest that furnishes the food at
one end of the line for the mouths at the other. By
means of the Great Northern they will have a ready
interclaauge of cotton, coal, and cutlery for their cattle
and corn, working on that great principle of trade,
reciprocity. The line, by means of its local accom-
modation, will raise the price of land, and from ana-
logy of what by the same method has been accom-
plished in Norfolk will greatly benefit the landowner
and farmer. Hitherto, nearly all the trade of Lin-
coln has gone to the north by water, until it got to
Wakefield, on the Lancashire and Yorkshire line, and
via Boston, Spalding, and Lynn, by sea to London.
Now it will all be accelerated direct by railway.
The dealers in fat cattle will find this greatly to their
advantage. The loss of time and produce by the old
method was very great. There is a loss equivalent to
81bs. on every sheep driven to London, and of 281 b).
on every bullock, or from 255. to 305., besides the loss
of time, the journey taking eight days instead of one,
as it will in future. These eight days on an average
are equivalent to three or four market day and
during this period the chances for the market ;Ur the
farmer might be much affected, Moreover, duringmade,
the year at least double the journeys may
double the number of animals may be conveyed, and
the dealers will be able to regulate the demand and
supply cif the markets. Still greater advantages will
arise from not taking the animals to market alive,
seeing that they become deteriorated by the bruising
they receive per railway ; and hence there is no doubt
that, as in Norfolk, abbatoirs will be established in
connexion with the great stations in Lincolnshire,
where the beasts will be slain and their carcases
brought to town. The conveyance of large droves
_ .by rail instead of road will prevent the cattle from
taking what is called the "murrain." The railway
facilities opened up will also enable the farmer to im-
prove his land by availing himself of the science of
soils, and bringing chemical manures to bear upon it.
In consequence of the want of proper communication
the farmer has been compelled to sell his corn at a

THE SUN,

loss, instead of being enabled to take advantage of a
rise in prices, and transport it to advantageous mar-
kets. The cost of transmitting a quarter of wheat,
by the old modes from Boston to London, was Bs., by
rail it will be 4s. 61., in about a quarter of the time.
Again, the supply of coals for the entire district
depends on water communication, which is impeded
by drought in summer and by frost in winter, when
coals have been known to be 403. and 50s. a
ton ; but by means of the rail they will be supplied
at from 10s. to 205., and even at London for 20s.
The traffic in corn may be expected to be large, when
it is known that 200,000 quarters of corn are annually
exported for a distance of seven miles around the
railway between Lincoln and Boston. An opinion
appears to prevail, that now the loop line is nearly
completed, it is all the Great-Northern Railway need
do ; and that with two trunk routes into London, the
one by the London and North-Western and the other
by the Eastern Counties, a third of their own from
Peterborough into London is rendered unnecessary.
Nevertheless, the works upon this, the main line, are
proceeding vigorously ; and upwards of one million
sterling has already been expended on them. When
complete, which will not however be until the dawn
of 1850, it will furnish the shortest and cheapest
route from the north. The present " loop line" has
cost about one million. The advantage of a third
trunk line will be to give the public a choice of route,
and make them independent of other lines, though it
is doubtful whether there will be sufficient traffic to
enable a third line to support itself.
The express train leaving Hull and Boston at 4.30
did not arrive in London until past twelve, instead of
half-past ten, owing to the delays on the Great
Northern. _ _ _

RAILWAY COMTRNSATION.—An important trial of
compensation sought from the Southern Terminal
Railway Company (now the Barrhead Railway), by
William Dixon, Esq., of Govanhill, on account of the
deterioration of his lands of Ingleield by the con-
struction of the railway, in so far as the lands are
severed, and certain roads altered, came on on Tues-
day, before the Sheriff Alison and a jury, in the
Court-house. After some preliminary pleadings by
counsel, and the jury having viewed the ground, the
case for Mr. Dixon was opened by Ar. Moncrieff,
and various witnesses were called. The Court ad-
journed soon after six o'clock until next morning.
On Wednesday the case was resumed, when a number
of witnesses were examined for the pursuer up till
three o'clock. Several were then examined for the
defence. The remainder were examined on Thurs-
day, and the Lord Advocate was then heard in sup-
port of Mr. Dixon's claim. On Saturday Mr. H. J.
Robertson addressed the jury for the defenders. The
Sheriff summed up the evidence. The jury then re-
tired, and after being absent upwards of an hour they
returned the following finding :—The jury unani-
mously find that Mr. Dixon is not entitled to any
damages in respect of the railway crossing from
Pollock3havvs-road to Langside-road, along the banks
of the Polloc and Govan Railway; also find, by a
majority, that he is not entitled to any damages in
consequence of any alterations which have been made
by the railway company on the Langside and Butter-
biggins roads.—Scotch Reformers' Gazette.
It is now said that the Southampton Railway
Company have made a proposition to pay the 60,0001.
agreed to be paid for the privilege of carrying the
continuation of the Richmond line across the Home
Park by instalments of 10,0001. per annum for the
next six years, which proposition has been accepted
by the Government, and the work is to be immedi-
ately commenced, but with some deviation in the
direction of the line from that originally intended.
Instead of coming right across the level plain under
the north terrace to the terminus near the foot of the
hundred steps, it is now said the line will make very
little encroachment upon that fine portion of the park,
and that the idea of devoting the remainder of it to a
place of public recreation for the public generally is
given up.
LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH COAST, AND LON-
DON AND SOIITEI-WISTERN.—The conjunction of these
two lines at Portsmouth seems to be working very
well, but very great inconvenience is and will con-
tinue to be felt until the new grand terminus is
erected. This will occupy some acres of ground,
and will open to the wall of the ground of the
Commandant Royal Engineers, in the Landport-
road. The trains on these lines only run as suits
the traffic of the other, and their being so blended
is a point of great convenience to the public.
Thus the first train from Portsmouth is Par-

liamentary to Brighton, and express thence to
London. The first train from Portsmouth to
Waterloo-bridge is Parliamentary to Bishopstoke,
and express thence the rest of the journey. The five
in the evening train is express to Brighton, and Par-
liamentary to Portsmouth, reaching that terminus at
a quarter to nine ; whilst the five o'clock train from
London is express to Southampton, and reaches
Portsmouth at a quarter to eight. All the other
trains throughout the day run on the two lines in a
corresponding manner, and although both trains set
down and take up at the same platform at Ports-
mouth, such has been the superior and complete cha-
racter of the arrangements made by the directing
superintendent of the joint companies (Gleave Sutton,
Esq.), that not a single casualty has occurred since
the joint working of the trains commenced. This
gentleman (Mr. Sutton), by his urbane deportment
and studious attention to the accommodation of the
public, as well as diligent performance of those
arduous duties which the arrangements between those
two great companies has occasioned his being called
upon to fulfil, has reaped the respect and grateful
consideration of the public, especially that portion
residing in the more immediate vicinity of his office;
to mark their sense of which upwards of sixty gen-
tlemen, including many of the magistracy and civic
authorities of the borough of Portsmouth, invited Mr.
Sutton to a banquet at the Bush Hotel, Southsea,
Hants, on Monday evening, at which James Hoskins,
Esq., the late mayor of Portsmouth, presided.
EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY.—Return of cattle,
grain, &c., for the London markets over the Eastern
Counties Railway for the week ending October 14,
1848 :—Cattle Department : Beasts, 384 ; calves, 79 ;
sheep, 7,019; pigs, 847. Granaries department :
Malt, 3,740 qrs. ; wheat, 1,839 qrs. ; barley, 870
qrs. ; oats, 942 qrs.; beans, 327 qrs. ; peas, 128 qrs.;
total, 7,846 qrs. (15,692 sacks) ; flour, 6,912 ; seed,
460 ; total, 23,064 sacks. General merchandise :
Meat, dead, 211 tons, 3 cwt., 1 qr. ; poultry, 31 toes,
2 cwt. ; fish, fresh, 325 tons, 1 cwt,; fruit and vege-
tables, 672 tons, 11 cwt., 1 qr.; ale and porter, 226
tons, 16 cwt. 3 qrs.; wines and spirits, 88 tons, 17
cwt.; wool, 62 tons, 3 cwt , 1 qr.; general merchan-
dise, 2,701 tons, 19 cwt., 1 qr.; total, 4,326 tons, 13
cwt , 3 qrs. Milk, 17,928 quarts ; bread, 62 cwt.
SOUTII-EASTERN RAILWAY.—Gross traffic receipts
for the week ending the 14th October.—Passengers
First class, 13,475 ; second class, 36,816 ; third class,
4#;432; total, 94.723 ; amount, 8,3591. 10d. 5d ;
carrying account, 2,941/ 18s. 9d. ; total, 11,3011.95. 2d.

RAILWAY SHARE [VEARKETS.
BRISTOL, Oar. 17. _ _

STOCK EXCHANGE. —There was as evident improvement
in the share market, more particularly in Great Western,
Quarters, which were done at 614 dis.—Ditto, 17/. Shares,
4,4 dis.—Midland, 6 per cent. Stock, 1131/2—London and
North-Western, 104—York, Newcastle, and Berwick (Ex-
tension), No. 1,4% dis —Taff Vale, Quarters, 26—Ditto,
New, 14, dis.—Ditto, 6 per cent. Stock, 31,4 per cent. dis.
Caledonian, Preference, 10s. per share.
LI VERPOOL, Ocr. 17.

Srocit EXCHANGE.—The market this day showed a ten-
dency to improve, and there was a brisker 'demand ; London
-Stock-was- most in request, however. The sales are—
Caledonian, Preference, 2 dis.—Great Northern (A Shares),
Deferred, 21,4—Ditto (B),. 4 dis. Lancashire and York-
shire (late 'Manchester and Birmingham), Fifths, 51;t—
London and Nortk- Western, 1014—Ditto, Fifths, 134.—
Ditto, New Quarters, 2 dis.—Midland Stock, 7214 ..—Ditto,
_New Halves, 13N, c. dis.—Sonth-Esatern and Dover, No.' 4,
Thirds, 61. 3s. 9d. c.—York, Newcastle, and Berwick (G.
N. E. Purchase), 3/. 18s. 9d. c. dis.
MANCHESTER, Ocr. 17.
STOCK ExcirAwor..--The sales are—Caledonian, Prefer-
ence, 1 15-16 dis.—Manchester and Birmingham, Quarters
(C), 1,4 p.—South-Eastern and Dover, No. 4, 6 3-14—
, North Staffordshire, B—Great Northern (A), 24 —West
Riding Union, 6% a. dis.—Leeds, Fifths, 53i die.

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