The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-09 00:00:00

GROUP D.

FOREST Or DEAN AND GLOUCESTER LINE,
AND SOUTH WALES LINE.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition.)

On re-examination, Mr. Hall stated that he hid under-
stood the quantity of land of this estate was about 540 acres,
and that the money demanded was 40,5001., although he had
been given to understand that when the property was offered
by -dr. George Robins for sale, in 1843, a very much less
sum was bid for it.

Mr. BAKER, Chairman of the Company, deposed generally
as to the merits of the line, and stated that the line
as now proposed was what it originally was, with
the exception of the Bilston branch. which is now aban-
doned. The reason why this branch was adopted was because
the directors were not aware that they could get any other
access to the Forest of Dean from Gloucester. That branch
had always been objectionable from the severity of its
gradient and the extent and expense of the tunnelling. But
when it was ascertained that they had other means of
access, on the recommendation! of Mr. Brunel they had
adopted the longer but the cheaper route, because had they
not done so, they would have had to impose a greater rate
f toll upon the whole of the route.
Mr. Atkinson, clerk of the Crown for the Forest of Dean,
stated that the forest comprised 48 square miles, and that it
was rich in minerals, especially coals, and that the best seams
lie in the upper series. The annual produce was rated at
300,000 tons. If this line were made it would take the
heads of the two valleys which drained the forest, and thus
provide an outlet for every part. The Woods and Forests
were favourable to the project.
Mr. Sturge, a merchant at Gloucester, stated that much
commerce was kept away from the city by the deficiency of
means of communication.
Mr. Cleagram, clerk of the Gloucester and Swansea Canal,
testified that the commercial business of the place is very
considerable, therhaving been as many as 1,700 seafaring
vessels in the port during the last year. The exports at
present were only one-third of the imports, but the ex-
ports would be very largely increased, if there were greater
facility of access. This concluded the case for the promoters.
Mr. COOKE then addressed their Lordships on behalf of
Mr. Hoskins, the object of his address being to show, not
only that this line was unnecessary, but it was longer than
the other also.
Mr. Brunel was then recalled by the Chairman, and stated
that the line from Newport by Monmouth, by Ross, to
Gloucester was about
.equal to the coast line, and that the
gradients on the inner line would be most decidedly worse
than on the other. The inland line, although by Hereford
and Gloucester it might have some merits, yet it was absurd
to suppose that all the minerals in that district could be car-
ried by it. Mr. Brunel produced a comparative drawing of
the gradients on both lines.

This closed the case, when the room was cleared for the
decision, and on the re-admission of the parties the Chairman
declared that the Committee had decided that the Bills were
proved.
Mr. Brunel then put in a statement of the several roads
crossed on a level by the South Wales line. The capital to
be raised for the several deviations is 700,000 L, with 200,000/.
for excess. For the Forest of Dean line the money to be
raised is 200,000/., with power to borrow 660,000/.
The formal proofs of the Forest of Dean line were then
put in. The line is to be fifteen miles four furlongs in length,
and the branches are to be two miles, two furlongs, and two
chains, no tunnels, and no highways passed on a level.
The reports were then ordered to be brought up.