The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-02 00:00:00

EIMNBURGZ AND PEEBLES.

Mr. HOYE opened the case on behalf of the promoters, and in doing
so stated that in the district of Peebles there was water power of up-
wards of 3,000 horse power, which gave employment to 500 people,
and that the construction of a railway there would of
course develope the traffic very considerably. At present
the district through which this line would pass was almost exclu-
sively Zagricultural, and the farmers were in a great measure
deprived of lime, coals, &c. The present price of coals there was
between 17s. 6d. and I/. per ton, but if this line were formed the
price would be reduced to 6s. per ton. The same remark would
apply to lime. The farmers would also have better opportunities of
importing artificial manures from Leith. There was also a considerable
quantity of freestone in that district, and if this railway were con-
structed the result no doubt would be the erection of several villas, as
the country was very picturesque. The line would also afford ac-
commodation to the paper manufacturers of Esk. The quantity of
paper manufactured there annually amounted to 3.50,0001., the duty
alone being 50,000/. The Company also proposed throwing off branches
Rosslyn and Rosawade, where the traffic was considerable. There
would also be a branch to Gilmeurton Greenlaw and the neighbour-
hood, where there were extensive coal mines. If this line were per-
mitted to be made, some 100,000 people would have the benefit of
railway accommodation. This line would join the Edinburgh
and Hawick, which would give the most valuable access
to Edinburgh which could possibly be devised. They would
also, by that junction, have an excellent communication with Glas-
gow and the East Coast Railways, as well as the Aberdeen, &c. This
brought him to speak of the Hawick line. The Hawick Company
were quite willing to enter into an amalgamation with this Company,
which, if it were permitted by the Legislature, would be
most advantageous to the public and the two Companies.
It would be found, from the evidence of the engineer, that the
proposed line was the very best that could be formed for the purpose
of connecting Peebles and the district with Edinburgh, and although
the gradients were difficult, they were such as were sanctioned by
the Legislature in the case of the Hawick line last year. The esti-
mated cost was 317,0001.
Mr. Parr, the constructor of the traffic tables, estimated the gross
revenue of the line at 22,4601., which, after deducting one-third for
working expenses, would give 414 per cent. on the estimated cost of
317,0001.
Mr. David Stephenson, engineer on theline, described its character.
Its length was 21 miles. The steepest gradient lin 40, and the nar-
rowest curve was a quarter of a mile.
Captain Moorson considered the line to be well laid out. It was
Impossible to avoid the decline proposed by the promoters. The
deepest graclielt, one in forty-five, could be conveniently used with
locomotive engines, such as were used on the Manchester and
Leeds, and several other lines. Six-wheeled engines were at this
moment traversing similar curves to that on the proposed
line at 40 miles per hour. He believed that it would be found that
no more accidents occurred on curved than on straight lines,!although
the theory was the reverse. The engines could be worked better on
this than on the Manchester and Leeds line. There would be eight

trains daily, four each way.
To Mr. ENTWISLE —This line would be a remunerating adjunct to
the North British Company, but he could not say that it would be

very valuable to them:
Mr. HOPE said that he was prepared to submit further engineering
evidence, if necessary.
The Committee decided that they had heard sufficient evidence of
that description.
Mr. William Somerville, jun., paper manufacturer in the neigh-
bourhood of Esk, then depos,ed that there were several paper
and other manufactories in that district, the annual value of
the paper manufacture being 272,0001. Me believed that about
one-twelfth of the white paper used in Great Britain was manufac-
tured in that district. The manufacture had to be carted to Edin-
burgh, &c. If the projected line were formed, and the Company
united with the llawich and other companies, there would be a direct
communication with Edinburgh.
By the CHAIRMAN—Was notta shareholder in this Company, nor
did he know the value of the shares, but he believed that the project
was a fair one. Messrs. Chambers and other paper manufacturers
were the principal shareholders. The shares had aot been allotted
to the North British Company.
The Secretary stated that, of the shareholders, there was a vast
number who were locally interested in the_ line, but he could not
state the precise portion. Me had ne means of knowing how often
the shares had changed hands. There had been no meeting for the
purpose of giving the shareholders an opportunity of expressing their
opinion of the project.
Mr. Cowan stated that he and several other paper manufacturers
in the district of Esk had projected the line for the purpose of ob-
taining a better communication with Edinburgh, &c. The share-
holders' respectability was beyond all question. It was not a specu-
lative project.
To the CHAIRMAN —I am not a director of the Company. I con-
sider it a most desirable undertaking. If the line is not sanc-
tioned my decided opinion Is that we shall in a few years
be obliged to transfer our manufactories to some other
district where the means of communication with the principal
towns of Scotland and England are better. I have increased the
number of ray shares lately, but I am not prepared to say tkat I
have done so merely because of the guarantee offered by the North
British Company. The Kent paper-manufacturers, who till lately
had not the same advantages as these of Esk, can now, in conse-
quence of the railway accommodation furnished to that district, suc-
cessfully compete with us.
Mr. Wm. Stuart corroborated the above evidence, and also stated
that tho district of Peebles was sadly deficient in coals and lime,
which were of the greatest consequence to the farmers of Peebles.
To Mr. ENTWISLE —I firmly believe that this is a fair commercial
scheme, projected by commercial men. I believe that the landed
proprietors in the district are decidedly in favour of the line.
Sir Graham Mcntgomery gave similar evidence, Was now and
had been since the commencement a shareholder in this project.
This ended the evidence.
The room was then cleared. On our re-admission,
The CHAIRMAN said, the Committee have passed the preamble of
the Bill, and will proceed with the clauses to-morrow at twelve.
The Committee then adjourned.

GROUP IX.
WEST or SCOTLAND JUNCTION.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition.)
Mr. Hawkshaw, civil engineer, deposed briefly to the advantages
of the proposed junction. It was important to concentrate traffic as
much as possible at central points. He thought it a good and
effectual scheme. Any line on the south aide, and only touching the
city, would not do away with the necessity for a connexion through
Glasgow.

Cross-examined by Mr. FoasyTu—lf the connexion with Edin-
burgh proposed from the south side was a mile shorter It would be
a mile better. He did not attach much importance to the gradients
of the Wilsontown and Coltness line. They could be easily worked.
Mr. M`Guftle, valuer and builder in Glasgow, deposed as to
the value of the land along the line. If the ono line was
constructed the value would be 75,0001. ; and if the alterna-
tive line was taken the amount would be 66,0001., or 9,0001. less. lie
valued the property with Mr. Lindsey and Mr. Bell.
Messrs. Bell and Lindsey deposed briefly that they concurred
with the previous witness as to the valuation.
Mr. Gibb, builder, was examined respecting the present Glasgow
bridge. He built it, along with his father, about ten years ago.
The foundation was of good hard sand, and would easily admit of the
construction of such a viaduct as the West of Scotland Junction
proposed.
Cross-examined—lf the west of Scotland viaduct drove a founda-
tion lower than that of the present bridge, there would be some
danger to the latter, but by driving piles and by the construction of
coffer-dams the danger as faras possible would be obviated.
This closed the case for the Bill, with the addition of the evidence
of Mr. Lyons, respecting the foundations of the bridge, which was
put in from the minutes of the Committee who sat en this scheme last
year, those minutes having been referred by the Standing Orders
Committee to the present one.
Mr. Sergeant BELLASIS said the opposition were arranging a com-
bined case, to save the time of the Committee, and therefore would
not be ready to proceed till next morning.
After some conversation, it was arranged that, under the circum-
stances, it would be best to go on with the opposition of the Glasgow
and Greenock Company, as landholders, to the West of Scotland
Junction, that being the only case ready to proceed. Mr. Talbot and
Ilr.Forsylh appeared fer the petitioners.

Mr. Locke, civil engineer, examined—He deposed that the e junc-
tion would go through the Bridge-street station, and d
coal and coke shed, besides destroying a portion of the goods ir
station.wn i
The junction would also take the mineral traffic over their branch t 4
the Polloc and Govan, in fact, destroy it.
The cross-examination of this witness elicited that the small
branch on to the Polloc and Gavan Railway, which it was said would
be destroyed, would be supplied by the junction line ; but he com-
plained that the arrangements fur the mineral traffic would be more
imperfect, on account of the connexion at the goods station. The
existing branch was on a sharp curve, and has a severe gradient;
aad, in point of engineering, any of the proposed connexions were
bet ter.
Mr. Errington. civil engineer, followed to the same effect. He
had laid down the Glasgow and Greenock line. It had cost about
800,000/., and had, since the opening, conveyed four millions of
persons without an accident. If the West of Scotland Junction was
formed, it would destroy the best part of their passenger station, take
down their engine, coal, and coke sheds, and join with their rails in
a most inconvenient manner. It would also take away part of the
goods station.
At the close of the examination of this witness, the Committe ad-
journed till to-morrow at half-past eleven o'clock.