The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-08 00:00:00

CROUP VIII,

The Select Committee appointed to consider the merits of the Bills
oompr6ed within this group met at the usual hour this morning,
Mr. B. Hawes in the chair.
ZDINBURGH AND X.ZITII ATIVZOSPECEEL/C.

The while of the day was occupied with evidence to show that
the proposed line was unnecessary, inasmuch as the existing Edin-
burgh, Leith, and Granton lice was amply sufficient to accommodate
the traffic of the district.
The Committee adjourned at four o'clock.

GROUP XI

The Committee assembled at the usual hour this morning, Mr.
Henley chairman.

AIRDRIE AND T3ATEGATE JUNCTION,
AND Exonvnuman AND BATIIGATE.

The time of the Committee was occupied the entire day in Being
through the several clauses of these two Bills, all of which were
agreed to.

The Committee at Its rising. adjourned until Monday, the 25th ins

GROUP XIII

The Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock, Sir W. Clay In the
chair. Members present, Carl Jerznyn, Lord Shelburne, Mr. Cur-
Ids, and Mr. P. Ainsworth.

GLASGOW, Dunrziczs, AND CARLISLE.

The evidence on b, hail (if this Mie was resumed.
Mr. Blythe was recalled and briefly examined on the estimates
for constructing the Dm%

Mr. Miller, civil engia.er, ex imined. —tie,
,agreed with the eel.
deuce of Mr. Blythe. The line was laid clomp ii i the best way to
suit the convenience of the country. He estimated the working of
the line at 33 per cent, on the gross receipts, the
agreeing to work it at the. rate. The line, by Ayrshire Company
this arrangement,
could be worked more econoinica l y than by independent arra
menu.nge-
Cross.examined by Mr. Mora—lre calculated in the arrangements
he proposed that the whole scheme would tie traversed four times
each way daily, with about six pa•tsein,er carriages to each train.
He could not give the average width of the line throughout. The
scheme was substantially the same as Ltst year, only shorter at each
end, a portion having been cut off at Clunnock and Carlisle. Last
year the line was classed as a competing line with the Caledonian
Railway, but it was so classed against his will. He then admitted that
the Dumfries line would take ptts engers as expeditiously as the Cale-
donian liar, and, therefore, that the former was the one that ought
to be made. The Committee, however, did not a lopt this view, as it
was considered the Caledonian was better f,,, national
objects, as di-
rectly connecting the north with the south. The Caledonian scheme,
if perfected, he admitted woul:i
give all the advantages of the present
scheme, with the exception of the portion between Cumnock and
Dumfries.

The CIIAIRMAN, coked if the promo:ers had any traffic tables to
put in, showing the receipts expected from the different parts of the
line ; that was the expected trailic on the Dumfries and Cumnoc%

portion, the Carlisle and Dumfries portion, and the two branches
separately ? _ _

Mr. TALBOT said they were Rot prepared with those tables at
present, but should the Committee not be satisfied with the evidence
already given, they had more witnesses to call, who would furnish
the details.

Mr. Comostris said that the case of the promoters had been placed
before the Committee on the supposition of there being sufficient
local traffic to warrant the construction of the line. It had been
brought forward on its own merits. That there was such traffic as was
alleged, he, on behalf of the Caledonian Company, totally denied, and
maintained that the Dumfries line could not be worked without taking
away a considerable portion of the Caledonian traffic, to the great
prejudice and loss of that company. It had been proved that year
that the through traffic would be more than sufficient to pay for the
construction of one line, and give a fair interest in the capital in-
vested by the latter company.
The Crtsrastatt was of opinion that if the promoters of the Cale-
donian scheme considered that their case materially depended on the
question of local traffic, and that the company on the Dumfries line
must depend on the taking away a portion of the Caledonian througll
traffic, then the Committee would order the room to be cleared an
decide upon the point raised as to the detailed traffic tables being
furnished.

Mr. TALBOT had not the slightest objeetoo whatever to sup-
plying further evidence on local traffic should the Committee
require it, but he was not then prepared with tables to the effect re-
quired.
h If time
wouldmewas
ggo on with thelventhtables
furtherwo uldbee,goidtenee, ready,w harcdh,inwtihthe
meantime
that already given, the tables would be founded.
trusted the
traffichetable was expected, as h
tables would precisely
maintainedselythpar-
tic3ullra.rCrouKrceßuss N tnisfrom which
there was no local traffic to warrant the construction of such a line,
and that if it were formed it would only lead to a ruinous competi-
tion between the two companies, that would end in an amalgama-
tion, in which, from the double capital invested, would lead to rates
by which the public interest would be sacrificed. He hoped the
tables would be furnished by to-morrow morning, as the Whole case
C
at issue depended on the question of traffic under consideration.
°c
After some further conversation pro and con, to the same effect, it
was arranged by the Committee, in compliance
application, that tables of the details of traffic should be made oat, to
with
In
be supplied in the morning, and shat, the meanM time, evidence
s
might be taken as to the points on which the tables would be based.
Mr. Agents then called Mr. Geddies, who was giving general evi-
dence in support of that tendered by Mr. Christie yesterday, when
The CHAIRMAN interfered. This was general evidence, which they
had had already before them. What was wanted were the particu-
lars on which the tables were to be founded. He thought it would be
I better at once to adjourn, and have the tables put in, when any evi-
dence the promoters of the Bill thought best calculated to prove
them might be submitted.
The Committee, in consequence of this, adjourned till to-morrow
at twelve o'clock.

GROUP XIV.
NORTH /CENT DISTRICT (SOUTH-
EASTERN LINE).
The Committee to which the lines traversing the North Kent dis-
trict are referred, met to-day at twelve o'clock, in Room No. 30 ;
present, Mr. Pretheroe, chairman, Lord Emlyn, Mr. J. O'Connell,
and Mr. Grogan.

Mr. Sergeant Wasnessm proceeded in his address to the Com-
mittee in support of the North Kent case. His observations referred
chiefly to those engineering details which have been already fully
given in Mr. Vignoles's evidence. In conclusion, the Learned Ser-
geant urged on the Committee the necessity of not en-
trusting the important district of North Kent in the
hands of a Company which was impoverished by its
gigantic speculations and schemes, and which, having another
line of access to the termini of the North Kent line, could not
possibly feel so mach interested in accommodating the public
as a company which possessed that line alone, and which knowing
that it was theirs all, would leave no means untried to secure the
patronage of the public.

- Mr. COCKBURN said, that with the consent of the Committee, he
would put in a letter from the Lords of the Admiralty, assenting to
the passage of the South-Eastern line through Greenwich Park.
Mr. Sergeant WRANGHAM objected to the admission of any such
document, as the proceedings in both cases were closed, and more
especially as he did not consider that portion of the South-Eastern
line as having been actually brought before the Committee.
The CHAIRMAN decided that the document could not be admitted.
After some deliberation on the part of the lion. Members forming
the Committee,

The Climax/az announced that the Committee would give Its de-
cision at half-past three o'clock to-morrow.

GROUP XVIII.
SOMEILSETSHIRE MIDLAND.

-
This Committee resumed its sittings this morning, at 12 ()clock,
Mr. D. Denison in the chair.

Mr. Sergeant KINGLAKE commenced by cross-examining Mr. Hill,
the engineer. On his cross-examination, Mr. Hill admitted that an
original prospectus, stating ;.he capital of the Company to be 150,0001.,
and describing the proposed route of the railway, which was then
surveyed to a considerable extent, had been published without his
sanction or authority, before the line was surveyed by him, or any
estimates made of the probable expense. He could not remember
going into any details with reference to the amount of earth-work or
the number of bridges. He merely walked over the line for two days.
The only report that he made to the directors with reference to this
preliminary survey was, that the sum of 320,0001. (the sum proposed
by the directors), would be rather a low sum, as the gradients and
cuttings would be severe. In the estimates before the Committee he
had estimated the total amount of earthwork at 1,590,194 cubic
yards ; of this quantity there were 154,525 cubic yards of limestone
cutting, at 3s. 6d. per yard; 98,560 yards of freestone at 3s. ; 204,020
yards of a mixture of freestone and marl at Is. 6d. per
yard ; of hard clay there would be 242,465 yards at Is. 3d
marl mixed with gravel and stones at Is. 4d. per yard ;
there would be 290,215, and 292,579 yards of common earth
which he had estimated at Is. 2d. per yard. He had made six
borings, In order to determine the several kinds of earthwork. The
slopes would not be more than Ito 1. There were six miles of an
ascending gradient of a bad character. He did not know of any
existing railway with a worse gradient considering the length ; there
was a descending gradient of three miles of 1 in 104.

Captain Moroson, R.N., was then examined on behalf of the pro-
moters. He knew several lines where, the gradients were more
severe than the present one. The Hartlepool Railway had a gradient
of one in thirty for two mlless in length. There would be no
danger if proper care were taken in working a single line. He
was acquainted with the working of the Taff Vale Railway, which
was a single line of rails. He did not consider it absolutely ne-
cessary to the safe working of the line that there should be an
electric telegraph along it. He had estimated the cost of con-
struction at about 20,0001. less than the estimates of Mr. Hill, and
could obtain responsible parties to complete the works for the cam
which he had estimated.

Mr. Miller, C.E., had examined the sections of the line. He did
not think, although of an inferior character, that they would be of
serious inconvenience. He was working a line himself with a gra-
dient of one in forty-two, and found no difficulty.
Mr. Lewis, a contractor for the construction of railways, proved
the general accuracy of the estimates of earth and bridge work fur-
nished by the engineer.

Mr. Barge, a contractor, also proved the same, and would be
very happy to undertake the contracts on the terms mentioned in
the estimates.

Colonel Coles, a magistrate in Somersetahire, and a director of the
company, was the neat witness called, who proved that the directors
had endeavoured, as much as possible, to meet the wishes of Mr.
Somerville by changing the route of the railway, he being a peti-
tioner against the Bill.

TMs witness closed the case of the promoters.
The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow at twelve.

GROUP XX.
The Committee met this morning at the usual hour ; Mr. Sotherou
in the chair.

WINDSOR. SLOUGH, AND STAINES,
ATMOSPHERIC.

This day was occupied with the cross-examination of Mr.
Vignoles, on the engineering works and the plans, up to four
o'clock, when the Committee adjourned till 12 o'clock to-morrow.

GROUP XXVII.
The Committee re-assembled to-day at the usual hour ; Sir Charles
Lemon in the chair.