The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-27 00:00:00

I'OINTS ESTABLISHED BY THE EVIDENCE TAKEN BE-

FORE THE GAUGE COMMISSIONERS.

The Broad Gauge only suitable to certain districts—this fact ad-
mitred by Brunel—with Broad Gauge Break of Gauge inevitable
—Remedies for Break of Gauge proposed by Mr. Brunel—loose
boxes—loose bodies to carriages—narrow carriages to be carried
on broad trucks—Paddington lifting machine—Loose box system
tried on Liverpool and Manchester Railway —at Bolton at
Erewash—at Newcastle-on-Tyne, always failed in practice—Pad •
dington lifting a machine, a toy—would not answer in prac-
tice—a narrow carriage on broad trucks would make 200 per
cent. dead weight-.. Evidence overwhelming in favour of Narrow
Gauge and Uniformity—Obstruction, such as Break of Gauge, de-
feats the object of Railways and of Roads—continuous traffic.
Break of Gauge prevents competition—protects great lines at public
expense —obstructs free trade at home—diversity of Gauge contrary
to common sense—prejudicial to the ultimate interests of the country
employing it—Broad Gauge approved by no Engineer in England or
America, except its projector Mr. Brtmel—Narrow Gauge supported
by all practical Engineers in the world—A Gauge, eleven inches and
a half narrower than the Narrow Gauge, found safe, economical,
and profitable, between Ghent and Antwerp—Narrow Gauge En-
gines have taken from Gloucester loads the Broad Gauge En-
gines could not move—Mr. Brunel admits sixty miles an hour at-
tainable with perfect safety on the Narrow Gauge—more than any
Road will bear, and more than is practically accomplished on any
Railway on any Gauge—Mr. Brunel has adopted Narrow Gauge on
Taff Vale Railway, and on Italian Railways. Dead weight on Broad
Gauge enormous—two tons of waste weight to half a ton carried by
Narrow Gauge—nine passengers in a carriage with seventy-two
seats—the result, high fares and change of carriages at every Junc-
tion. Broad Gauge big trucks—no accommodation for farmers —too
wide for Mining Districts—local traffic neglected on Broad Gauge
lines—broad truck requires broader load to fill than small Stations
can supply—more men to move than a small Station can afford.
What should a Railway be ? powerftl, punctual, economical, and
swift—the Narrow Gauge can draw a thousand tons of merchandize
• the Narrow Gauge can run sixty miles an hour with passengers—
the Narrow Gauge can travel through all mining districts—
The Narrow Gauge can carry the largest loads carriers ever send—
The Narrow Gauge goods' waggon, seven feet wide, is wider by two
feet than the widest waggon used on common roads. The Broad
Gauge costs more money to make—far more to keep in repair—carries
far more unprofitable loads in passengers and in goods, and conse-
quently charges far more for the work done. By the Broad
Gauge the West of England cut off from the rest of Eng-
land—its local traffic undeveloped, its haanlets, its agriculturists
neglected. Broad Gauge charges exclude coal from the West—high
price coal excludes steam—steam excluded excludes manufactures—
Coal and manufactures the wealth of England.
The Break of Gauge weakens the national defences—punctual
celerity, the soul of modern warfare—steam on land the true mode
of repelling steam on sea. A Break of Gauge in military operations
equivalent to a ferry.
The Carriers—declare a Break of Gauge ruinous to their trade.
Pickford's gross receipts nine hundred thousand a-year. Average
detention by Break of Gauge at Gloucester, four to six hours—prefer
any system to breaking bulk. Gauge and Gloucester Line. Extra
carriers' establishment required by Break. With Uniformity goods
would reach Bristol from Birmingham in six hours—forty-eight hours
required by Break of Gauge. Bristol cannot rise as a port without Uniform Gauge—A Broad Gauge truck loaded, requires eight men
Moving
to move—two men could easily move a narrow truck.
trucks part of a carrier's expenses. Cheese injured on Broad Gauge
by excessive superincumbent weight. Road Stations require small
trucks.

*. The National Gauge recommended by the Government Commis-
sion is 4 feet 8 inches—the Broad Gauge is 7 feet. There are at
the present time more than 1,900 miles of Narrow or National Gauge,
and lesa tlO.ll 250 of the Broad or Exceptional Gauge.

On the Ist of June will be published, price 6d., Ne. VI. of the
AL MANACK OF THE MONTH,
A REVIEW OF EVERYTHING AND EVERYBODY.

Edited by GILBERT ABBOTT A'BECKET r.

Among the Contents are a copious and illustrated criticism of the
Exhibitions of the. Royal Academy—A Chart for Railway and Steam-
boat Travellers to Blackwall, Gravesend, and Rochester, with Illus-
trations—A Court Guide fof the People—A Penny-a-liner's Phrase—
Talk, Chronology, and Calendarof the Month, &c., and 16 Illastra-
tons by Richard Doyle.
Published (monthly) at the " Punch" Office, 85, Fleet-street.

On the Ist of June will be published, price Is., No. 111. of
0 If
OWNTI M E S.
Illustrated by GEORGE CRUIKSHANK.
Contents:—l. " Tremendous-Sacrifice !" with an elaborate plate
exhibiting the " Tremendous Sacrifices " occasioned by Cheap
Clothing—ll. A Shot at Shooting —III. Wanted, a Midshipman—
IV. The Overland Indian Mail—V. Advice to Spinsters, by an
Elderly Flirt—Yl. Petition of Young London to the Prince of Wales
VII. My Wife's Pet—VIII. Fashions—lX. High Art—X. Flannel.
London: Bradbury and Evans, 90, Fleet-street.

MURRAY'S ROME AND COLONIAL LIBRARY.
On May 31st, No. 33, Post Bvo., 2s. Gd.
31EMOIRS of a CHURCH MISSIONARY in
CANADA.
On April 30 was published, No. 32, Post Bvo., 2s. Gd.,
LIVONIAN TALES. By the Author of " LETTERS FROM THE
BALTIC." . _

JOHN MURR4Y, Albemarle Street.