The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-06 00:00:00

RAILWAY COMmarrEES.
(THIS DAY .)

GROUP XXI.

LONDON AND OXFORD, AND V7'7001'43=
A.-ND T.TXDRIDGM (BRANCHES) 01' THE

GREAT WESTERN.
The Committee re-assembled this morning at the usual hour.
Present, Mr. Finch (Chairman), Capt. Layard, Mr. Lawson, Mr.
Wodehonse. and Lord A. Hervey.

NORTHERN & SOUL KERN CONNECTING.
Mr. MILLEa, who has not been seen in the Committee room since
the commencement of its sittings, said—Sir, I appear here for a com-
peting Rue (the Northern and Southern Connecting Railway),
which has not been referred to, owing to the Committee of Classifica-
tion having omitted it from the Group which has been referred to you.
This statement perfectly astounded the Committee, and
Mr. LawsoN, one of its members, said, we cannot take into con-
sideration any railway which has not been sent to us by the House.
Mr. AUSTIN—If it is a mistake it must be rectified by the House,
not here; but I am glad to hear there is another competing line,
because two or three lines are required to supply the wants of the
important tract of country which lies between the Great Western and
the Birmingham Railway.
Mr. LAwsoN (to Mr. Miller)—There is no other competing line
before us.
Mr. MILLER—The mistake will be rectified in a few hours. You
will find that all which you have done will have to be gone over
again.—(Roars of laughter.)
The CHAlRMAN—Whenever the House sends the line you appear
for to us, we shall be bound to attend to it, but not before.

The subject then dropped.
The Committee then proceeded with the first-mentioned line.
Mr. W. Cubitt, C.E., was then called and examined by Mr. AUSTIN.
He believed the strata, up to the 10th mile, was London clay.
Should set slopes in this clay at 3to 1. He had estimated the slopes
at 3 to 1 in the London clay, through which the London and York
was proposed to pass. Considered that slopes trom 1 to Iyg would
not stand in this clay. Ile was well, acquainted with the cut, ing Ia
London clay on the Croydon line, at New-cross, which was originally
laid out in slopes of from 2 to 1, but it would i of stand, and had
been benched, and was now very irregular, the average
being 4to 1. Slopes of from 4to 1 would scarcely stand in ft,,y clay.
Knew clay in which slopes would stand from one to one and a half.
Looking at the gradients on the Great West. rn and the London and
Oxford, he considered the same load on the former could be carried
with half the power requisite on the latter ; in short, it would require
double the power to work it at the same speed where a single
engine was required on the first, two engines would be necessary on
the latter.
By the CHAIRMAN The improvements in locomotives enabled
them to overcome many bad grad.ents and difficulties with a single
engine which formerly- required two engines.
By Mr. AusTiN—On the proposed line lie found gradients of 1 in
100, and 1 in 136, meeting together, with half a mile in a level, inter-
vening. The momemtum obtained by a train in descend-
ing a steep incline v, ouid materially help it up another which
immediately followed. But if there was a station at
the bottom of the first. incline the momemtum would
be destroyed and the train would have no assistance save its
own inherent power in ascending it. Looking at the gradients on
the Great Western and the London and Oxford, and taam,, into
consideration their respective length, he was of opinion that a
train on the former would reach London sooner than
a similar train on the later, on account of its flatness. Considers
that 17,0001. a mile would. be insufficient to construct suet a ;
20,000/. was nearer the mark. lie had made estimates for lines
a ith better gradients, and had averaged their construction at
20,0001. tc 21,0 0/. a mile ; 17,000/. was a very low estimate. The
Folkestone viaduct cost between 35,, 001 and 37,000/.
The witness was cross-examined by Mr Hudnall% but the only
thing elicited of any consequence was, that he estimated the whole
cost of the London and York line at 6,300,00 n/., and that the go-
verning gradient was 1 in 200. The lane he aeopted was
nine miles longer than the one recommended by the Board
of Trade, but he considered that the line laid down was
preferable, as it would accommodate a greater number of im-
portant towns than the other. iron had been reduced about 2/.
per ton during the lag six weeks, thus 440/. per mile would be
saved on the estimate of 12/. per ton made by Mr. Addison, supposing
this reduction to continue.
Mr. Gibbs, civil engineer, was called, and examined by Mr.WELas.
—He said he had examined the whole of the line, but particularly
between London and Wycombe, the soil of which was composed of
London clay. Considered that the slopes in the yellow clay should
nut be less than three to one, and two-and-a-half to one in blue, and
one to one in chalk The first part of the sand or clay, about the
Brent Va.ley, was of a very bad kind. Considers that the line could
not be made, according to the returns, for 840,000/.
By Mr. Hunuan—There are a number of " pot holes" or dislo-
cations in the earth. Some of these holes stand at one to one, but
they was where chalk and loams were mixed with the clay. Many
engineers considered Lila chalk cuttings were better perpendicular
than in slope. For 17 miles on the London and York, from London,
they had slopes of three and a halt. '
Mr. Miller, civil engineer to the Edinburgh and Glasgow, the
Glasgow and Ayr, and the North British, and other railways, was
next called and examined by Mr. VENABLES—Considered that
slopes of 1% to 1 in the London clay would not stand. He corrobo-
rated the evidence of Mr. Cubitt with respect to the advantage which
the Great Western line possessed over its opponent on account of its
easy gradients.
Mr. Hunt, a brickmaker, at Uxbridge—AA Horsenden the line,
passed through a hill which was composed of London clay, and
through a pit of the same clay fifty feet deep.
Mr. I. K. Brunel, C.E., was then called, and examined by Mr.
WELLS—He said, looking at the sections of the two lines there could
be no comparison between them as to power and speed, and as to
which would be quickest and eheapest. Though the Great Western
was eight miles shorter titan the Lot-don and Oxford, it was the most
preferable, both for the speedy transit of passengers and goods. He
believed the proposed line, if made, would not be preferred to the
Great Western.
By Mr. HILDTARD—Was the engineer of the Oxford, Worcester,
and Wolverhampton Railway, which he estimated to cost 15,306/.
per mile, and on the broad gauge. 2,717 yards of tunnelling were
originally proposed, but they were reduced in Committee. He was
also the engineer of the Rugby and Oxford, which he estimated at
11,880/. a mile, which was a very easy line. The width of the tun-
nels the broad gauge lines was 27 to N feet, and in the nar-
row 24. _ _

—. ....
By the CHAIRMAN —These estimates were made when railways
were constructed at a cheaper rate than now. When they were
made the Oxford line had just been finished, at a cost of 1,2001 a
mile. Since that period there had been a great increase in the cost
of labour.

Mr. HILDTARD—But you made these estimates last year.
Mr. BRUNEL - We were then buying iron at 81., 91., and 101. a ton.
I refer more particularly to the price of labour, and to the di culty
of getting contractors. lam sure railways will not be constructed
at less than 501. per cent. more than last year.
IMPORTANT DECISION.
The CHAIRMAN then intimated that the Committee wished to give
their decision on the London and Oxford line. The Committee were
unanimously of opinion that the preamble of the Bill had Nox been
proved.

Sub-Committee No. 1.
The Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock in room No. 7. Pre-
sent, Mr. Strutt (chairman), Mr. Brotherton, and Mr. Yorke, and
proceeded to the consideration of the
FORTS AND CLYDE.

To which there was no opposition, and the standing orders were
complied with.

Sub-Committee No. 2.

The Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock in room No. 6. Pre
sent, Sir J. "I arde huller, Mr. Kemble, Mr. liramston, and other lion.
Members. They resumed the consideration of the

STAIN S AND SEN.GEY.

Further evidence was given in support of the allegations already
ment.oned.

Sub-committee No. 3.

Tie Committee met -to-day at twelve o'clock in room No. 8.
Present, Mr. E. Butter (chairman). Mr. Broaldley, and Dlr. Stuart, and
proceeded with the consideration of the
WORCESTER, = ERE 08,,, ROSS, AND