The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-02 00:00:00

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

BOMBAY, BARODA, AND CENTRAL INDIA.
The directors, in their report for the meeting to be
holden to-morrow, present to the shareholders the re-
port recently addressed to them by the consulting engi-
neer, Lieut.-Col. J. P. Kennedy. That officer writes
that :
" Although the half-year just elapsed has been the
comparatively idle season in India, including the sum-
mer heat and the monsoon, still sufficient has been done,
both there and in England, to confirm the anticipations
held out to the shareholders in the last report of the di-
rectors as to the efficiency of the general plan laid down
for the execution of the works on our line. Mr. Fordo,
the chief engineer in India, has ascertained that the
earth works may be executed at about the rate formerly
stated. The most important precautions in the whole
of the operations will consist in the measures adoptedito
secure a faithful and methodical execution of our con-
tracts for iron materials in England. Eight such con-
tracts have already been executed, and 20 are now in
progress. With regard to the English supplies of ma-
chinery and iron materials, calculated to absorb above
three-fourths of the construction capital, a suffieieut
number of contracts, embracing nearly every class of
material, have been made to give grounds for an accu-
rate practical estimate, having reference to the detailed
working plans and sections. The revised estimates may,
therefore, Low be substituted for the original estimates
of 1853, which were based upon the-trial sections. This
1 substitution brings out the satisfactory result, that
1 whilst the average cost in reference to the first trial sec•
tions was cautieu4y estimated over 7,0001. per mile, the
revised estimate goes to prove a very large reduction
upon that mileage rate, whilst it includes c :implete rolling
stock for one train in each direction daily, and the bridg-
ing of all rivers north of Surat, comprising the three
most difficult on the company's entire coat line between
Bombay and Ahmedabad, namely, the Taptee, Ner-
budda, and Mhye. It is deeply to be regretted (says
Colonel Kennedy) that we should not yet have re-
ceived sanction to construct the Bombay and Surat
Junction line, and if it be further delayed we
shall shortly find ourselves in the position of having
completed 150 miles of railway in a remote district,
whilst we shall have omitted to oinnect it with the focir-
of trade at Bombay. It is right to lay before the direc
tors the consideration of a mode in which the operations
we are carrying on may be made, irrespective of our own
interests
of largely beneficial to the general
of the districts we are working in, without cost to the
company, provided the Government think fit to contri-
bute towards the result. It is necessary, with this view,
in the first place, to explain that the large, populous, and
fertile districts lying between Bombay and Ahmedabad,
upwards of 300 miles in length, and bounded for about
160 miles by the Syhadree range on the east, and on the
west by the sea, is without any continuous mane road,
and that the intercourse of the population through these
districts is intercepted for a large portion of the year by
the absence of bridges across the numerous rivers, with
the exception of that lately constructed near Kaira, and
three old wooden bridges supported on piers of two
piles each, which I found when exploring the district
had resisted the fury of the monsoon floods for the last 18
years in some rivers to the southward of Surat. The proof
of these rude and ill-prepare I structures having thus re-
sisted was a most gratifying fact, considering the inves-
tigation I was then making in India ; and the absolute
destitution of the large population in respect to roads and
bridges throughout the fertile dis-rict between Baroda
and Damon was no less striking. It occurred to me
then, and I still am of opinion, that our railway works
may in a great measure be made to supply this deficiency,
at least so far as facilitating the bridging of the river Lir
ordinary cart traffic, as well as for railway purposes; and
there is no doubt that it behoves na for our own inte-
rests to stimulate the industry and prosperity of the dis-
tricts we pass through, as it does the government for the
interests of the people whose destiny they rule. Tne
Bombay government has concurred in our suggestion fur
waking the piers and abutments of our bridges suitable
for double tracks of rail, laying down, for the present,
girders to span the openiugs for a single track only.
What I would now suggest is, that government should
be invited to lay down a second line of girders on the sur
t plus half of our piers, to furnish the districts with an ordi-
nary roadway for carts, &c. If we should ever require to
lay down a second track fir trains, we could refund to
the government the outlay they had incurred, and there
would be no difficulty in outrigging a third line then for
carts. The mode in which this could be accomplished
will be understood by inspecting a model which I have
had prepared at the company's office in Liverpool-street.
The cost of supplying the iron girders, &c., for a single
railway track on piers already existing, would be about
51. 10s. per foot run. Timber, trusses, &c., for a cart
road could be furnished at a much lower rate."
The directors remark, " The shareholders will observe
that certain important portions of our great schemes fir
affording railway communication from Bombay to Surat,
where our line now commences, have not yet been sanc-
tioned by the government at home. The directors can
now only express their hope and belief that at au early
date the authorities will see the necessity of rescuing
the I,rge and flourishing cotton producing provinces of
Goozerat from the predicament of being annually for
from three to four months shut out from the only ex-
porting and importing harbour on the coast, during the
prevalence of the monsoon. The directors regret to
have to state that the company have suffered a severe
loss since-the last meeting, in the death of Mr. Andrew
Stewart, Mr. J. H. Lloyd, and Mr. J. H. Stephens, three
most zealous and able officers. It is satisfactory to find
that the moderate calculations of the average cost p-r
mile, based upon the trial sections, may still be reduced
upon more minute examination and experience of ex-
penses actually incurred ; and, upon the whole, the di-
rect:l's may safely congratulate the proprietors upon the
favourable prospect before them. The directors having
applied to the Honourable Court for an extension of
capital, have received authority to raise a further suin
of 250,0001., with a guarantee of 5 per cent. per annum
interest. The allotment of this additional capital ha,
been offered to the existing shareholders of the cons-
',any, in proportion ti the number of old shares held by
each, that is, one new for every two old. The cirectors
propose to take steps, as soon as way be, for corererti, g
paid-up capital into stock, and they are now in commu-
nication with some of the other Indian railway compa-
nies on the important matter of giving the greatest pos-
sible amount of security in the registry and transfer of
shares. Annexed to the report is a balance-sheet of
receipts and disbursements for the period ending respec-
tively 31st May, 1856, in India, and 31st Aug., 1856,
in England. This statement hae been duly examined,
with the books of the company, by the accountants of
the Hon. East India Company, in addition to a minute
audit by the cramp my's auditors, Means. Goodchap and
Fisher."