The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-23 00:00:00

the South-Eastern traffic would pass over it in approaching the
metropolis. Here, however, was a line which proposed to
avoid the Croydon line altogether, while the Kent Atmospheric
used two miles and a half of it. He conten.ed that the
evidence was perfectly germane to the matter in dispute.
It was to show that the Kent Atmospheric pr posed to use
a line which had been laid down for the express 'purpose of accom-
modating the Mid Kent traffic, while the South-Eastern scheme
altogether avoiding it, if the Committee granted that ilne, it would in-
volve an unnecessary expenditure of capital.
The room was then cleared, and after a few minutes' consultation,
The Committee decided that they could not permit the proposed
course of examination to be adopted.
The examination of Mr. Wilkinson was then resumed—Originally
there was a more extensive scheme projected by the atmospheric
company. They proposed at first to go entirely to Dover, and depo-
sited plans for that purpose, but in the autamn of last year it was
.
thought expedient to abandon a portion of the scheme. Accomfpaw
nied by several of his co-directors he went over
tit
elerpelhaentiduapeen.
years ago to inspect the operation of the a
ciple, and so satisfied were they with it that they
take the advice of Mr. Cubitt and adopt it most thagreeedCryt-
don line, ;and successful.
anhedric the experiment
great advantage of the atmospheric principlehadproved tivemuee.
larger number of trains
were always at work, and consequentlya
was, that the engines
in passing from the atmospheric to the
engine. The loss of time
could be run at much less expense than by means of a locomotive
locomotive difficulty would be removed.
line was not more than two minutes, and it was hoped
that in a very short time the
On cross-examination, Mr. Williamson stated
that a portion of the
original scheme was abandoned for the want of funds. The want of
funds was occasioned by a change which took place in the public
opinion of railways ; and railway directors, like other and larger
potentates, were obliged to modify their plans to meet the views and
opinions of the times in which they put forward their schemes.
Mr. CATER proved that the South-Eastern line crossed several
turnpike roads on a level. The traffic in these roads was very ex-
tensive, and he had no doubt crossing them would be attended with
considerable inconvenience. Indeed, the railway crossing in this
way was exceedingly dangerous, and the roads on the Croydon line
which were crossed on a level were diverted at the request of the
inhabitants of the Neighbourhood, and in consequence of several
frightful accidents having occurred.
Sir John Lubbock said the two lines from Bromley to Ockford
were so nearly identical that he could not determine which was the
best. He understood, however, that the atmospheric line was first
in the field. He travelled every day upon the Croydon atmospheric
line, and was convinced the principle had entirely succeeded.
Mr. Ward, of Oldwood, a large landed proprietor, preferred the
atmospheric line, because it was the cheapest of the two, and would
in his opinion give more accommodation to the public.
Mr. Wm. Bell, bailiff to a large landed proprietor at Beckenham,
proved that the inhabitants of that neighbourhood thought they were
amply accommodated by the existing line, and were therefore in
favour of neither line. In his opinion the South-Eastern scheme,
crossing as it did on a level with the Lewisham-road, it would be at-
tended with considerable inconvenience to the public. There was an
extensive traffic upon the road, and all kinds of vehicles, sheep, and
cattle were constantly passing and re-passing along the road.
Mr. Coleson, a farmer at Sydenham, gave similar testimony with
regard to the south ead and Sydenham road, which was crossed on a
level by the South-Eastern line.
Mr. J. W. Hilop, of Bromley, proved that previous to approaching
the Itavenbourne Valley, which it crossed on a high embankment,
the South-Eastern line passed a turnpike road on a level, and as
there was a large traffic on the road, he had no doubt it would be
attended with danger and inconvenience. The road was on a severe
inclination ; and on a recent occasion he witnessed a serious accident
upon it : the weight of a timber waggon going down it overcame the
horses, and the waggon was precipitated with fearful and tremendous
velocity to the bottom. The Kent Atmospheric line avoided this
road, and the inhabitants of Bromley were therefore in favour of it.
Mr. John Atkins, a landholder at Halstead, was decidedly in fevoar
of the Kent Atmospheric line. The majority of the inhabitants In
his neighbourhood, and in the neighbourhood of Seven Oaks, were of
his opinion. The Atmospheric Company was in the field long before
the South-Eastern Company.
Mr. Bryan Burton, of Seven Oaks, and other witnesses, gave similar
testimony.
The Committee adjourned shortly after four o'clock till Monday,
when the engineering evidence is to be gone into.