The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-07 00:00:00

RAILWAY COMMITTEES.

(YESTERDAY.)

GROUP VIII.
This Committee mat at three o'clock to-day, for the purpose of
settling their report on the Edinburgh and Peebles branch, which
being done, they adjourned till Wednesday, the 29th instant.

GROUP IX.
This Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock, Lord Worsley
hn the chair. All the members of the Committee were present.
WEST OP SCOTLAND /UNCTION.
The evidence on behalf of this Bill was then resumed.
Mr. Joseph Home, M.P., was recalled and examined, in continua-
-Zion of his evidence of Friday last—He had not seen the letter in
which it was represented the Admiralty did not intend interfering
with the promoters proving their case before the Committee. He
could hardly believe, from what he knew of the sentiments
of the Admiralty, that such a letter was a correct
representation of their feelings. He would wish to hear
the letter read, and the name of the writer. (The letter was then
read, which was to the effect that the Admiralty would not interfere
with the Bill proceeding before the Committee, and signed by Mr.
Law.) The witness said the signature was that of Lord Ellen-
borough's private secretary. He thought that yet the whole area
between Glasgow Bridge and Stockwell Bridge, fifteen acres in ex-
tent, would be thrown open into a large dock for the accommoda-
of shipping ; and the Glasgow- Bridge be made of two arches, with
a centre arch capable of being opened for the passage of
vessels upwards and downwards. He thought that it would
be much better to carry a railway over the Clyde, above
Rutherglen. If the West of Scotland viaduct was passed, the lot-
provements
he proposed in the river would be at an end. He had
presented a petition, signed by 26,000 persons, against the Bill; also
a petition from the merchants' house.
Cross-examined—No man in his senses would incommode the
navigation of the river by creasing it with a bridge, when all the ad-
vantages of the junction could be obtained by a short detour. The
tidal course of a river was a public highway, and ought to be kept
clear for their accommodation.
Mr. Sprat, a director of the Glasgow and Garnkirk Railway, de-
posed that the proposed abandonment of the mineral branch on the
north side of the river, would be a great inconvenience to the rail-
way which he represented. The directors of that line had obtained
powers to form a union with the junction scheme, which, if the
harbour branch was given up, would be rendered nugatory.
Mr. Anderson was examined generally as to the proposed viaduct
over the river being:an " eye-sore" to the beauty of the river at that
place. It would obscure the view altogether of the present handsome
bridge. Besides he did not think it could be built without interfering
with its foundations.
Cross-examined—As a trustee of the Glasgow. bridge he would not
object to the proposed viaduct if it did not endanger the present
bridge. He believed that the majority of the trustees decided not to
oppose the Bill, providing the crossing of the river was effected be-
low, and not exactly over, the present bridge. He was in the
minority on that resolution.
To Mr. AacußoLD—He did think it would be of much advantage
to take large vessels above the bridges. It would, in his opinion, be
best set apart for small vessels.
Mr. Charles Atherton, civil engineer, said be had carried on the
works of Glasgow-bridge as resident engineer at the time it wall
building. In boring for the foundations he found that a great por-
tion was quicksand, especially on the south side of the river. Mr.
Telford considered the building of the bridge a work of great difficulty.
The expense of that bridge under water-mark was greater than above
it. The piers of the existing bridge were so light, in order to give
as much water-way as possible, that If the piers of the proposed
viaduct were to be but a continuation of them he could not see how
they could stand with such elevated arches.
The Committee at the close of this witness's examination ad-
journed till to-morrow at twelve o'clock.

GROUP XIV.
SOUTH-EASTERN.
The Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock. Present—Mr.
Protheroe (chairman), Lord Emlyn, General Lygon, Mr. J. O'Con-
nell, and Mr. Grogan.
Mr. Sergeant WIANGHAM resumed the examination of Mr. George
Bidder -The witness stated that there is a road running between the
South-Eastern Railway and the Arsenal at Woolwich. That road by
the Arsenal is 10 feet above the level of the rails of the proposed
South-Eastern Railway. The branch line to the Arsenal would
therefore be 10 feet under that road. There is also a road running
between the Dockyard wall and the South-Eastern line. That road
has various levels, it is in one place from 10 to 12 feet above the level
of the railway. The worst gradient on the South-Eastern. between
London and Woolwich, is lin 121. The ruling gradient is I in 150.
The gradient of lin 121 is a mile and a half long. The worst gra-
dient on Mr. Vignoles's line, between the same points, is 1 in 118.
That is not the ruling gradient. The South-Eastern line to Wool-
wich is 38 chains longer than the North Kent line. Last year the
South-Eastern line was to cross the Croydon Raiiivay upon
a level, but it was to be altered. Mr. Vignoles proposed
to go under the line. The South-Eastern Company propose to form
their line under the Croydon line this year. Mr. Vignolea' line passes
from cutting to umbani:ment between Crayford and Erith. A station
there would necessarily be on the natural surface of the ground. A
station at that point would be most inconvenient and remote from
the heavy traffic. Cannot say whether the South-Eastern line, as
proposed this year between Dartford and Stone, is the same course
of line as the one proposed last year by Mr. Vignoles. Has not seen
Mr. Vignoles' plan since last session. Had agreed with the Rochester
bridgewardens to make such a bridge as the one proposed by Mr.
Vignoles, or, rather the one proposed by the Admiralty. Has not
seen any letter from the Admiralty to the bridgewardens, requiring a
bridge to be made according to the plan by Mr. Vignoles. The bridge
proposed by the South-Eastern this year differs from the one pro-
posed by them last year, but only in csnsequ,nce of the wish of the
bridgewardens that the bridge should be made of stone and more or-
namental. Cannot say If the South-Eastern crosses the river in the
same line as the North Kent, as proposed by Mr. Vignoles. Cannot
say what number of level crossings occur en the South-Eastern Com-
pany. About 52 occur in the length of 53 miles. When the train
stops at Canterbury, on the South-Eastern line, it would have to
(start up a gradient of 1 in 79. -

. -
By Mr. Delve°iv (who appeared in support of a petition by Mr.
Evelyn big:Mist the pnposed line)—On leaving the Greenwich line
the South-Eastern Railway will cross Mr. Evelyn's land on an em-
bankment. Knows a road called Coney Hall-lane ; that lane need not be
lowered. The line will pass over it an elevation of 20 feet. It is
succeeded by aerne garden ground, over which the line passes on an
embankment. There is also a lane called " Loving Edward's-lane,"
which will be lowered three feet, and crossed at au elevation of fif-
teen feet.
By Mr. 'ALVERT (who appeared in support of a petition presented
by Mr. John Sydney Smith and Mr. Angerstein against the proposed
line)—Mr. Smith's land is by Lewisham, near Mordaunt College.
The land is passed by a cutting of twenty-five feet in depth.
The wall of the residence is also affected, or is within
the limit of deviation. There is a tunnel at about one
hundred and fifty yards from either property, which is a very
pretty ornamental villa and grounds. Mr. Aragersteln'S property
is a little further on. It is called Woodlands. Woodland House is
about a quarter of a mile from the railway. The like is a tunnel on
entering Mr Angerstein's property, and continues 600 yards. It then
opens into a cetting 60 feet deep, on emerging from which it proceeds
90 yards on the surface, and again descends into a cutting 180 yards
long and 40 feet deep. Does not know how Mr. Angerstein's house
and property i, supplied with water. The ground rises from Mr.
Angerstein's house.
By Mr. Bien (who appeared in support of a petition by the Maid-
stone and Rochester Navigation Company, against the proposed line)
—The river, near 31aidstone-bridge, is to be crossed by a viaduct of
780 yards. There will be five arches over the river, and three or
foar piers will be in the water. The viaduct is about 77 yards from
the bridge. That distance does not include the limit of deviation.
The piers will be formed of brick or stone, and will be six
feet in thickness. ine cover dam required would not be
more than two feet from the work. Would not attempt
to form all the piers at cure, so as to obstruct the river. It is abso-
lutely necessary that the river should be crossed by the railway. If
the Committee were to refuse to allow the South-Eastern line to
cress the river, their Mid Kent scheme would still demand the
same powers.
By Mr. NEREWETREIt (on the part of the promoters) —The line
and viaduct will not affect the navigation of the river. The line does
not actually cut through the ornamental property of Mr. Angerstein.
The field traversed by the line is separated from the ornamental pro-
perty by a public road. Mr. Sidney Smith holds his property
under Earl St. Germans. Ample compensation would be given
to them, and ample accommodation would also be given to Mr.
Evelyn. With regard to the branch line to the Arsenal, it could be
worked by locomorive power, if such should be the wish of the au-
thorities. '1 here is no road at Woolwich which would be at all in-
jured by the line. Last year the South-Eastern proposed to cross the
Croydon Railroad on a level. The atmospheric pipe has since been
laid down to the South-Eastern. Consequently it passes under the
line this year. If Mr. Vigneles' line were in the centre of the vil-
lage of Crayford the approach to it would necessarily be extremely
inconvenient. Mr. VL,-noles approaches Rochester-bridge on a
curve of 10 chains radius. Any great degree of velocity would be
unsafe on such a curve. The approach of the South-Eastern line is
under more favourable circumstances. The lines near Chatham run
very close to each other as there is only one course fur a railway to
pursue in that neighbourhood
Re-examined by Mr. AUSTIN—The area of the London-bridge sta-
tion is four acres, exclusive of the Greenwich station. That includes
the approaches. The South-Western station is five acres, but there
is an acre and a rood that may be made available in case of enlarge-
ment. Ills estimate for the metropolitan property to be occupied
by the North Kent line is correct. It is impossible to estimate the cost
Of acquiring what may appear trumpery property. At the junction
of Mr. Vlgnoles' line with the Croydon, there is a gradient of 1 in
74, and also a gradient of 1 in 100 near Woolwich. There are also
gradients of 1 in 100, and also of 70 and 80 on Mr. Vignoies' al-
ternative lines, and witness believes that one of the alternative lines
is to be adopted. Witness considers that good gradients or spots
where there is heavy traffic are very desirable. Would lay out
100,0001. to secure a good gradient on say spot where heavy traffic is
concentrated. The cost of working on the southern loop of the
South-Eastern would not be 4 per cent. on the cost of the North
Kent expenditure on the Boughton-hill cutting. He (Mr.
Bidder) had so adopted his gradients to the localities
as to derive a considerable advantage to the mo-
mentum of the trains on arrival and departure. The South
Eastern would, therefore, have a decided advantage over the North
Kent. Is decidedly of opinion that the South Eastern could be
worked in a manner in every way superior to the North Kent. In
the first year of the opening of the Gravesend and Rochester Rail-
way, the number of passengers carried was 395,000. The weekly
returns of this year show an increase of 70 per cent. on that number.
The Committee then adjourned until twelve o'clock to-morrow.