The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-27 00:00:00

GROUP XII.

GLASGOW AND WEST OP CCOTLAND
DISTRICT.
The Committee sat at twelve o'clock, in the Common
Pleas. Members present—,.Mr. V. Smith (chairman), Mr.
Hamilton, Mr. Langston, Mr. D'Eyncourt, and the Hon. W.
Fitzmaurice.

GMASGOW, Xxx,rerauxwocya, a
.B.2aIinCSSAZT. •
The consideration of this Bill was resumed.
Mr. John Williamson, examined by Mr. Sergeant BEL-
LAsis—Witness lived at Edinburgh, and had been employed
as mining engineer for thirty-six years. He had been exten-
sively engaged in making mining surveys, and was well
acquainted with this district. The whole course of the line
was one mineral field of coal and iron, with the exception of
two interruptions, where trap rock intervened. Coal, lime,
and iron stone appeared in regular rotation, as the line pro-
ceeded westward. He had no doubt that iron works would
be built, if the proposed line were once opened. Some smelt-
ing furnaces were then in process of construction at Eglinton,
and no doubt lime works and coal-pits would be soon in
existence.' A ready market would be found for the coal in
the valleia-a the Lavern, as the coal-seams in the neighbour-
hood of Biirrhead were nearly exhausted.
Crossamined by Sir T. PHILLIPS—There were a few
coals left at Hurlet, but Mr. Coates's pit was at present
drowned; in consequence of the late fire in it, and he ques-
tioned if it would be ever worked again. The Barrhead dis-
trict was at present snpplied from the Busby pits. Glasgow
was built upon a continued coal field, but all wcs required to
meet the demand. The iron stone leased on the proposed
line by Mr. Dixon, and others, were then being proved,
and it was stated to be 45 per cent. of iron. The witness
proved
certain coal sections, the seams of which varied in
depth from twenty inches to six feet.
Colonel Mair, of Coldwell, examined by Mr. HILDYARD—
The acreage of his estate was about 1,000 acres. Lugton
Bridge was in the centre of his estate, and the railway
would pass through five or six miles of his property. He
was a director and vice-chairman, and he became so from a
conviction that it would confer great benefits upon the district.
It had been recently discovered that valuable minerals lay
below the surface rear Lugton Bridge. He or his agents had ap-
plications from Mr. Baird, of Gartsherrie ; Mr. Dixon of
Govan; Messrs. Cunningham and Murray, and the Portland
Company, to leave the minerals on the district. Other pro-
prietors had also similar offers to himself. He had seen
specimens of the ore, which yielded from 40 to 60 per cent.
of iron.
Mr. John Mann, nephew to Mr. Dixon, of Govan, and ma-
nager of his iron works, said that his uncle had leased 700
acres on the Lugton Water for the sake of its minerals. They
had tested the quality of the ere, and fou:•d it of an excellent
quality. They foUnd near the surface about three feet of
workable ironstone. He considered that this railway was
required to develop the mineral rssources of the county.
Mr. Chapman, partner in the Portland Company, knew
that the leases had been taken of some grounds on the Lug-
ton Water.

Mr. W. M'Janett spoke to the great benefit to the town
and neighbourhood of Irvine from the construction of the
proposed line. The Glasgow and Ayr was, as respected
Irvine, most disadvantageous.
Mr. Moffat, engineer, and manager of the Andrrssan rail-
way and harbour, proved that the harbour was an excellent
one, inasmuch as it could accommodate six steam-vessels'
of the first class with quayage and forty vessels, of from
500 to 1,000 tons, in a wet dock, twenty feet of water.
If the proposed line were constructed it would add greatly
to the traffic of the harbour. The witness also corroborated
the evidence of previous witnesses, as to the mineral qualities
of the district.

Mr. W. B. Salmond, merchant, Irvine, corroborated the
evidence of a former witness as to the advantages of the
branch to Irvine.

Mr. Baird, M.P,, Gartslierrie, proved the minerals in tbt
district through which the proposed line passed.
Mr. Gairdner, banker, Kilmarnock, proved that an de
had been made to the Ardrosan Railway and Harbour CO
pany by the Glasgow and Ayr Railway to purchase the,
property. Terms were drawn up, of which a copy was It
tained by witness and one by Mr Leadbitter.
Mr. Neil Robson, civil engineer, then described the lis°'
The railway gradient was 1 in 75, the number of tunnelsifr
but they only amounted in all to :14 of a mile. T'°
.
estimated cost per week was 540,0001., &Bowing 10 per eellt for contingencies.. _The.distanc‘s gained would be aboritv
miles, and no possibly better line could be adopted ford?.
country.
Mr. Robson's cross-examination was deferred till to-niorro:'
and the Committee adjourned..

GROUP XIV.
NORTH =ram,

The Committee on this group of railways met at Wei°
o'clock.
Mr. MEaßwormen, after briefly addressing the Der
mittee, proceeded to adduce evideote in support of a petition
presented against the proposer; line by Messrs. Hall, iron'
founders and machinists in Dartford.
Mr. Loftus stated that he is a purveyor, and has surveyed
the property and premises of Meyers. Hall. The propose.
railway would run quite through Messrs. Hall's premises.
Mr, James Snowden stated that he is draw ht an, to'g srn Messrs. Hall, at Dartford. Has prepared a plan
and distend
of the premises. The North Kent line would pass throng
the foundry attached to them. The moulding-room
also be injured. Cannot say whether, in the event of the
moulding-house being destroyed, the Messrs. Hall would be
enabled to rebuild it without pulling down some other Pert
of their premises.
A long diectiseion here ensued concerning the correctness
of the datum line, as laid down on the plan of Messrs. HID"
foundry, the promoters maintaining that the line would only
interfere with a few feet of the outer portion of the foundll'
and the counsel for the petitioners maintaining that the flee
would encroach so far as to materially interfere with the oer
rations of the foundry.
The CHAIRMAN at length intimated that the question TWO
be Fat at rest by a re-examination of Mr. Vignoles.
Mr. Viguoles Stated that the line, as it was to be 1811
down, would make very trifling encroachment, and the prr
sent road to the foundry would be very little diverted froto
its present peeition.
Mr. Cornelius Day, a draughtsman employed by Messrs
flail, stated that he had been employed 22 years in the fee'
tory: The new foundry was built in 1825. The world
h eve be en continually increasing since he has been there'
If one part of the building were removed, the whole of
building would be useless. Messrs. Hall employ from 15,
to 200 men, If one of these buildings was removed, there's
no other place where it could be rebuilt, so as to be of any use'
The proposed viaduct along the lane would interfere with the
free access to the foundry. The lane is already too narrow.
By Mr. TALUoT—Cannot say whether the fane belongs t°
Messrs. Hall. Believrs that it is a public road. The build-
ing of the viaduct would be a cdnsiderable inconvenience,
but would not have such au effect as to cause the workmen-
to be turned out of employ.
Mr. Hawter stated that he was an iron-founder, and ILI
been in the business forty years. Had known Messrs. Ban'
premises forty-five years. They have gone on increasing
for that period. The line as it is proposed would interfere
very materially with the carrying on the works.
By Mr. TALBoT—Does not know the course of the ill'
tended line, but cutting away part of the foundry would in-
terfere with the business. The, business could be carried ea
under a viaduct, but it would be a great interference. Mr. Callow also proved the injury that the line
would ,
to the foundry. The factory is beneficial to Dartford, es rG
employs a great number of hands. The feeling of the
habitants of Dartford is against the proposed line.
By Mr. TALnor—Haebeen employed for theSouth-Easters
Railway. Did net give any evidence in favour of the pr'e'
sent line last year. Gave it as his opinion that a railway
was necessary in Dartford, but did not give any preference'
any particular line.
BIL Locke, an engineer, stated that he had made niadat
through foundries iu cases similar to the present one, andes";
each case the premises had not only sustained no damage,u"
had been improved.
By Mr. MERE ETHER--Believed that the space give;
under the arches of the viaduct will counterbalance any ur
convenience that might be caused.
By Mr. TALBOT—It is the " most unmitigated moortshis,l
that was ever uttered " to say that the viaduct would err
the operations of the foundry.
Mr. Slisavirre, who appeared in support ofa petition presented
against the proposed line by Mr. Stevens, of Peckhel!
who possessed 290 acres of land, all of which would be sr
fected by the line, then briefly addressed the Committee, so'
characterised the estimates for the line as insufficient. v
Mr. Wreakin, a surveyor, producea a plan of Mr. Stevens
property. The formation of the railway would materially ill.
terfere with this property, which is good building land.
Mr. Stone, the district surveyor of Camberwell,
that there had been 500 houses built within the parish duria:
the !alt year.
The Rev. Mr. Dailey, the incumbent of St. Mary MI.
anion, at Camberwell, proved that the embankment of tb.".
railway proposed to be erected at Peckham would interfere
with the vicarage-house, and also darken the windows of the
church. It would also interfere with the road to the chore.'
By Mr. TALBoT—The site of the railway is not betweell
the road and the church.
Re-examined by Mr. SELIWTN—The line of deviation
would be within two or three yards of the churchyard. 're'
height of the embankment would be 40 feet.
Mr. Driver, a surveyor, stated that the railway would
totally ruin the property in the neighbourhood of Hanover*
park, near which he lives.

.
By Mr. TALBOT—The property there belongs to Sir Claude
de Crespigny.
Mr.:TALBoT—Sir Claude de Crespigny is an assenting party
to the Bills.

By Mr. SELWYN—The feeling of the inhabitants is veil
much against the railway.
• hag
Mr. PETEESDOEF then addressed the Committee on be
of a petition against the proposed line by Sir H. Oxenclen•
He said that he had great pleasure in informing the Core'
mittee that he would call no witnesses, but would rely 011
the admission of those witnesses who had been already eat'
mined. The line was projected to pass through a park
longing to Sir H. Oxenden, and also within a very short
tance of his mansion ; and the Learned Counsel commented
on the fact that there was an alternative line which could be
adopted, but the Company declined adopting it because °t
the additional expense it would cause to them, and there"
fore preferred cutting through Broom Park, the propert4
of his client. Mr. Vignoles had offered to bide 03,
railway which would intersect the park by a series et:
artificial mounds. The effect of that would be to cut the par'
completely in half, and destroy it altogether as a park to
gentleman's mansion. •

Mr. BACON then proceeded to address the Committee in
support of a petitionpresented against the proposed line, b,'
the inhabitants and wardens of the parish of St. Saviour*
Southwark.

Mr. GOLDSMID objected to Mr. Bacon's being heard, en
the ground that the petition bad already been submitted to
the con4deration of the Committee. A solicitor had a,treotty
appeared befor the Committee for this petition.
The CHAIRMAN said that he thought the petition 125 d al:
ready been considered, and therefore could not be again hear d
,h
Mr. BACON submitted that the petitioners alleged s,'•,,
grievance , that the Committee could hardly pass their Pe""
tion without further notice.

The CHAIRMAN said that the Learned Counsel had bettelit
recapitulate successively the heads of the grounds on whits
the petitioners claimed to be heard, and the Committee: iron
then decide whether he could be heard. Mr. Ord
r. Sergeant WRANGRAM said that if Mr. Bacon was
it would be ageinst all precedent.
The CHAIRMAN, after a short consultation, said thilit the
case submitted by Mr. Bacon was so very similar to the oD
presented the other day, that the Committee could not h asrlt
The Committee then adjourned until twelve o'ciceck
morrow.

GROUP X V 7.

The Committee assembled 23 NCB. to-day at
Charles Douglas, Bait, in the chair, whentwelve 0 elatie,
South
Mr. Farmer, a magistrate, was called on behalf of the So°,-6
Western Company, confirmed the testimony previously gi,s;
as to the desire of the inhabitants of Epsom to have Ida „
-a
proposed by this Company, as also of those residing in t be °,O
!'i
trict to the sovith. In acdition, the witness expressed hi,;
that those residing at and about Dorking and Leath( e-ho„
would prefer this line to get to London either to the route w
Kingston or Croydon.
To Mr. Moorte, Mr. Farmer expressed his belief that the
petition which had been presented to the House of Co.es°ll
in favour of the Croydon and Epsom line, and that he his
withdrawn his opposition to that line in consequence 0,f.,4
arrangement with the Company. He also stated tm;:
with respect to the Guildford coach, the circumstances we_t,'
,;
that although taken off the road to London, it was now drivv-
from Bookham, where the proprietor lived, to the Kings":
station, then back to Epsom. and then again to Kingston,
accommodate the public in that neighbourhood. He did Ilti"
however, believe that the traffic would support both lines- es
On re-examination by Mr. BILL, Q.C., Mr. Farmer stat ic
that he had withdrawn his opposition to the Attnospber
Railway, because his counsel had advised him, under the hni
pression that the Committee were so decided in fav,vr,A°
that line, that his property would suffer if he did not yien
He thought that the terminus at NI aterloo-bridge was
_,,
,t""
one best for all the resident gentry, whether ping to "‘;
east or west, although, of courts, those who had business
to do in the City would prefer the London• bridge terminus.
Mr. F. Taylor, brother of Mr. William Taylor, of W 01::
cester Park, through which property the Epsom Branch
intended to pass saicl,en this estate there were several gunP°l°,,;
der mills, in the working of which five hundred tons of °°'"
were used in a year. The formation of this railway
would enable them to procure coals at a cheaper rate, and
this was of great importance, as enabling them to keep the
market in the competition with other mills which enjoyed the
advantage of railways near to them. He confirmed the
tes-
timony respecting the probable convenience of the brunch,
and the feelings of the upper classes residing in the ilelg"li
boorhood.
To Mr. MOORE the witness replied that the powder-mills
were half a mile from Maldon.
To kr. Beßwrrr Mr. Taylor stated that they now Paid
.
20s. to 21s. per ton, and he conceived that they would sa`"
4s. 6d. a ton by bringing them on the railway.
Mr. Page, a farmer at Merton, churchwarden and trustee.
of the charity land, found chalk very beneficial in rnixi
nt
with the soil. He got his chalk from the pits at Chean?,ll'
distance of six or seven miles. The Wimbledon stat'°
would be near his land. At present one journey occupied
the whole of the day, during which not more than _,.
tons a day, as they could only send a cart,
consequence of the • badness of the road and tr‘
steepness of the ascent from the chalk pits. If this sort
manure could be procured with facility and cheapness, he h
lieved it would be used in a tenfold greater degree, as it wall
useful both for light and for heavy land, cooling the former
l
in
nn
wethot weather,
eensens. and disintegrating the latterfrom its tenacity
To Mr. MOORE, the witness replied, that the railway song
not prevent the necessity of drawing it part of the way, buC
he believed that the expense of nutting it on the railtiva.f
would he trifling, and he expected that there was a depos!
of chalk at Wimbleton. The distance of Guildford was t 0..;
great, being twenty-four miles off. There was chalk
ti
Ewell, through which the railway was intended to pass, ail,
from wl.ence it could be brought, and might be delivered a"
2s. 6d. a ton, while by the wear, tear, and expense of a tet
of three hoses, with -a
mar and a boy, the cost was 16s for
two tons.
lime-P6 at Mr. S. Bothwell, lessee of the celebrated
00
Dorking, said he generally sent about 5,000 or 6.
tons, but last year his business fell off to 3,500 tons, in Co
sequence of the facilities possessed by the Kent limetAis
through the neighbourhood of the railways. He Phork-
coals by barge to Kingston, and then carted them to
ing, a distance of thirteen miles, an impediment
„i"its
greatly limited the consumptien of coals. This lire_d it
used in the erection of the new Houses of Parliament, a" •
was a common covenant in building contracts to secure
e.eina
use of Dorking lime. The building going on at a,
of London was so extensive that he believed that
fully two-thirds of the lime would be sent to the sir
iraco,
.Iniveer ev4ifirt e sr
terminus for the buildings now pill on at Battersea,s Lee
and even beyond both those places on both side five
river. If coals were brought to Epsom, of which from
thousand to mix thousand tons were purchased by "

ar, o poll
.y he obtain

to 3,000t0n
present he 1
for that arti
reasons he T
any. He
w, en man:
Comp,:ulY l
14},atrobert.:3,p:e'oarbiiisidoree.,,omd,ti:iNthnindos:,,iie,tascg,00ii:i
tomar - to E
Way, N.,:r hcre
I little longs
square,ad
acres,tcommon
i 1 eatpb
Landon sta
first chu=s.
legs raised
tios,in norm
way to Rich
year would
For builling
Was requisite
lime,
at pre,
lime, which
darker colou
Where the (
used, the 1
:._ , .11

1C on,
Itkr'irst wit
t tho zna
pmt
dry of Coal_
1/417 h_ Coa
tpt,vul,r bels
u
N ,equeuec
-44411:,

ieraLs in tv

lat an offe
"hour CO;
chase the'
Dpy Was Tr

ed the lira
f tunnels a,
mile. lb°
10 per cent;
be about
pted for the

to-morrols''

t at twelo

th J Corn
f a petition
Hall, iron.

s surveyed
to propose
.emises.
;htstnso w
ad drawing
ss throued
oorn A oa'
ant of the
11 would 18,
other PI"

correctoeits
ssrs. Hall!
would 0011
fouudli,
at the 13138
lithe opr

Lion "rola

to be laid
d the pro'
erted from

Dy Messrs'
n the file'
Ch. work,
!en there,
ole of as
from 159
d, there Is
Df any use,
a with Os
o T 1 arroW•
belongs to
he build-
Iveniencer
workmen.

r, and has
,srs.
increasing
I interred'

)f the in'
would or
&tiled 0

would b.O
'Ord, a 5. 16
of the ur

b-Easters
r the prr
e railere
ferenee to

s viaduct
se, and'
maga, b°

.ce giceri
e any 1'

:oonslii►sa
uuld SLOP

prevented
Id be a';
ittee,

t. ,
Steveto.
rially
prOVe'
ih during

ry Mar
nt of the
interfere
ws of the
e church.
betweel

leriatiol
rd. The

Lv would
lanoaer'

r Claude

,ng pirti

i a verf
In bells°
lxendeo•
le Cow'
_

rely
td v Wl'

park be'
sort
=lent&
could be
'cause of
d there.
Propene
1
*de th,
series of
the 13114‘
ark to I

&tee ill
line, bi
tviour'Of

ard► en
fitted "
a:treedf

hsa 2,1-
heard'
,d sUCh
pet-

L better
whiCTh
..,10014
&i
3 be-

tatt the8
he °II
est it.
Lyzlc to

$"

Satil
r gioces
;he line
he dir
be.rl-
ef
i
Tll Cady