The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-06 00:00:00

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE-
EASTERN COUNTIES.
A special general meeting of shareholders in the above
company was held on Thursday, at the London Tavern,
Davit Waddington, Esq., chairman of the company,
presiding,. to consider and determine on the propriety of
uniting with the London and Blackwell Railway Com-
pany in an application to Parliament, in the ensuing
session, for powers to make a railway from Ilford to
Tilbury (opposite Gravesend) and Southend, and fur-
ther to receive a report from the directors as to the
measures intended to be brought forward in Parliament
in the ensuing session on behalf of this company, or by
other parties, and which affect the interests of this com-

Mr. WADDINGTON, in opening the proceedings, apo-
logised for the late preparation of the maps of the con-
templated alterations. The whole blame lay with the
lithographer. The measures about to be submitted
were of great importance to the interests of the
company. The first point was connected with
the Great Northern Company. They had given
that company notice that it was their intention
to pass over a portion of their line, but, in
consequence of the kindly disposition recently evinced
by their directors, it was only intended to hold the
power as a means of protection.—(Cheers.) The next
point had reference to the junction between the East
and West India Docks and Birmingham Junction Rail-
way, and the Southend and Stratford Railway. This
would give them a communication with the North-
Western Railway, by what was called the Willesden
branch, and various other advantages. Much incon-
venience was removed by this arrangement, for which
the consent of the shareholders was necessary. An-
other alteration would give them command of the port
of Harwick, by the Eastern union line. The total cost
of estimated alterations as connected with these junc-
tions would be 50,0001. The next point was their pro-
posed arrangement with the Blackwell Company.
There had Ling been 5 struggle as to who should
have a portion of the Essex traffic, and at last the two
companies had agreed to apply together to Parlia-
ment for a line of thirty-six miles, from Ilford to
Tilbury, to Southend. They would then both be
within a few minutes of being as near Gravesend as
the North Kent line, and, he expected, would get the
great bulk of that traffic. The traffic to Gravesend
and Soathend would amount to about 43,0001. per
annum. Re had proposed to distribute the capital
necessary for the proposed line among their own
shareholders, being sure of the paying nature of the
traffic. But knowing the depressed state of their pro-
perty—(Hear, hear)—he had merely reserved half,
which wouli be created into a 6 per cent. stock.—(Dis-
sent.) This would be offered to the shareholders, but it
would be en,irely optional whether they took it or no, as
there were other parties ready to take up the stock.—
(Hear, hear.) The sum proposed to be raised for this
purpose was 45,000/, in shares of 101. each, with a de-
posit of 255. per share. But the advantages would ba
greats The traffic would pass over their line in propor-
tions of 5,3, and 3 miles respectively, for which they
Would receive toll without one farthing expense.—
(Cheers.) Their security would consist in the facilities
they would give the Blackwell Company in the passage
of their Bill through Parliament. The next point was
one of the greatest importance, and that was their pro-
posed connexion with the East Anglian Railways.
After some negotiation, the following terms had been
agreed on, by which they had anticipated the Great
Northern, which would otherwise have seriously inter-
fered with their trade to Wisbeach. The East Anglian
Company had shown that they earned 35,0001. a year,
and he had entered into a provisional arrangement
with them, subject to the consent of the share-
holders, which would possibly, is the first instance, en-
tail a loss of 5,0001. a year in working the line, but if
they had allowed the Great Northern Company to get '
this line to St. Ives, it would have been absolute ruin
to the Eastern Counties; and he believed that the ar-
rangem, nt would place their property in a perfectly
sound position.—(Cheers.) If, as he expected, they
should be able to work the line at 504 per week, there
would be no loss, but he thought it best to place the
project before the shareholders in its least favourable
aspect. Another point was the arrangement by which
they would obtain a line from Wisbeach to what was
culled the harbour line, by the construction of a small
branch from the River Nene, at a cost of 16,000/. And
the last was their arrangement for working the New-
market and Chesterford line. The only other subject to
which he should allude was the working arrangement
they had made with the Blackwell Company, by which
the Eastern Counties would obtain two city termini, and
he- believed acquire a large residential traffic. The
chairman concluded by reading a series of resolutions,
embodying the above objects.
The CTIAIRMAN said ho would commence by putting
the resolutions respecting the Ilford and Tilbury line to
the meeting, and would then proceed with the others
,seriatim.

Mr. Box said there was a difference of opinion as to
the probabilities of profit from the Southend traffic, but
he wished to know if they had not already a Bill for
the purpose now sought? He saw among the law ex-
penses an item of 9,6291. for Parliamentary expenses for
such a Bill.
The CHAIRMAN said that that item was a fruit of the
past straggles between the Eastern Counties and Black-
wall Companies. It was probable Mr. Box might find
more items of a similar nature. The object of the
preent proceediag was to avoid such ruinous struggles
in future.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. Box said a statement was current that this line
was proposed because their chairman had property near
Southend. He wished to give Mr. Waddington an op-
portunity of contradicting it.
The CHAIRMAN —I have not a shilling's worth there.
Mr. Box then asked whether Southend Pier was not
the property of the Eastern Counties Company?
The CHAIRMAN explained that in the course of their
works at Southend they found they were entrenching on
the grounds of the Pier Company. They had, there-
fore, bought the whole from the head landlords, the
Exchequer Loan Commissioners, and the property was
now paying 1,000/, a year.—(Hear, hear.) They had
paid for it 17,0001.
Mr. IPLAREN said that it was proposed to create a
six per cent. stock for the purposes of the new line. He
wished to know who was to guarantee it.—(Hear, hear.)
He wished to know, also, whether the contracts had
been publicly advertised. Ho thought that the best
plan would be to adjourn the vote for farther con-
sideration.

The CHAIRMAN said that his object at present was
merely to take the opinion of the shareholders as to the
propriety of taking the stock. No contracts had been
taken or offered, and it was perfectly optional whether
the Eastern Counties shareholders took any of the stock
or not.
Mr. APLAREN said that they lost 10,0001. a year by
the North Woolwich and Thames Junction, and it was
the proprietors of that line that were the instigators of
the present.
The CHAIRMAN said that the proposed line would not
involve a shilling responsibility to the Eastern Counties
shareholders. They might or might not take the stock
as they thought fit. All they were positively asked to
do was to approve of the application to Parliament, and
to facilitate its progress.
After a long discussion, in which Mr. Sainsbury, Mr.
Helps, the Chairman, and Mr. Howes took part, the re-
solution was pat and carried.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed a resolution to the
effect that the meeting approved of the proposed expen-
diture of 50,0001. on the branch lines specified in the
statement

Mr. li2nowt seconded the motion.
Mr. Box • said he hoped that the works would be
let by private agreement.
The ad-
vertised,and not
The CHAIRMAN said he quite approved of the principle
of advertising contracts, because he wanted to have them
executed as cheap as possible.
Mr. HELPS protested against the motion as being il-
legal, stating that it could not be discussed at that
meeting.
The SOLICITOR said they might discuss the question,
although they could not then legally pass the resolution.
Mr. Sergeant GASELEE agreed with his Learned
Friend Mr. Helps, and proceeded at some length to
oppose the motion amid hisses and expressions of dis-
approbation. He concluded by moving that " the meet-
ing do now adjourn."
__M. r. HELPS seconded the amendment, which, on being
Put to meeting, was negatived by a large majority.
.;_4 CHAIRMAN said he had no wish to force resolu-
ibr_l_,lZte the meeting, but he had come forward with them
'-'° quence of a pledge given to the shareholders on
a fanner
The motion
ion —(Applause.)
resolutions approving was then put and carried, as were also
branch to the Vi9ivatg of the outlay of 16,000/. on the
0001 river, the payment of 5 per cent.
interest on the
on the
station
to be expended by the Black-
well Company
at Fenchurch-street ; also
with regard to the appatait°ill
to Parliament for per-
mission to enter into agreements with the Newmarket
nd Chesterford and EAn
that the working expenses on
guau Railway Companies.
Tlnherealy:eatoiniqLssttiaont:i, ast
id. The the line had been considerably reduced,
locomo-
tive expenses were now at the rate of
compared with 16d. at the corresponding peprlordnule, as
of last
year. Up to the 1603 of November, 1851, the expendi.
tare in that department amounted to 45,066 L, and
the
number of miles run were 968,667, being at I.ld, per
mile. At the corresponding period of last year the „,z_
penses amounted to 59,7891., and the miles run to
874,817, being at the rate of 16d. per mile, showing an
increase in the mileage of 93,850 miles, and
It a redwasuction
in the the expenditure o 14,723/.—(Applause.)
pected that the perm anent way of the East Anglian line
could be maintained for 601. a mile per annum, and if
that and other thin; gs could be done there would be no
loss the East AN ;lien agreement.
th:ek j?rooeedings c oncluded with a vote of thanks to
""aan and di rectors.

BIRMIN
GUAM, WOLVERHAMPTON, AND
A long correspeSnridlOUß VALLEY.
of this line has take: nee on the subject of the opening
.
North-Western Rail,' 1 place between the London and
and Birmingham Rail wl'aYComPany and the Shrewsbury
y
esters dated the 22d of Nove ether, e°l3l-1 and emanates from the
Company.
-xv
t,stelBC6,
odmPany, stating that the
The first letter is
London \and North
, directors anthat in order to prevent
line was about to be of ,ene d
Any misunderstanding thewere advised that
the event 13,,d happene d upon whioh
weacamplrovided by
the Stour Valley Act of 1847 that thelts
given to the Shrewsbury andp Birmingham
ofm
using the lino
Company should net 693, and the directors felt lintgthaeir
duty to act upon tb A,t advice. In answer to this the
Birmingham. Company on the
Shrewsbury and
24th November g s;ve. notice through their soli-
citors of their int elation to run ever the Stour
Valley line on th e Ist of December., stating that
the directors did not consider that the company
1.-; had either relinquished or forfeited the right which
-- it obtained to use t ;hat railway; and that the question
"uld be decided in A court of law by consent of both

AIA)44)

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