The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-09 00:00:00

RAIL TVA F INTELLIGENCE.

GREAT WESTERN.

The directors of this company have decided to re-
commend the payment of a dividend at the rate of
31 per cent. per annum for the half-year ending
Dec. 31, 1859, leavinc, a balance of about 25,800/
to be carried forward to the next half-year.

MIDLAND.
The report of the directors of this company states
that a very considerable increase has taken place in
the traffic of the railway for the past half-year.
The increase in the receipts for coaching amounted
to 18,696/, for merchandise to 27,0131, for minerals
to 9,517/, and for cattle to 4,222/; total, 59,448/.
The balance available for dividend was 363,970/. of
which 7,907/ was brought from the previous half-
year.
The directors recommend the declaration ofthe
following dividends (less income tax), payable on
the Ist of March next, viz.:-31 upon each 1001
Consolidated Stock ; 2l Gs. 3d. upon each 100/ Con-
solidated Birmingham and Derby Stock; 3/ upon
each 1001 Consolidated Preferential Stock ; 3/upon
each 1001 Consolidated Erewash Valley Stock ; 2/
ss. upon each 1001 Consolidated 41 per Cent. Pre-
ferential Stock ; 7s. 6d. upon each 16/ 13s. 4d. share,
being a half-year's dividend at 43 per Cent. ; 2l
upon each 100/ Leicester and Hitchin Preferential
Stock ; ls. 4 1-sd. upon each 6/ preference share,
being a half-year on 3/, at 43 per cent. per annum;
leaving a balance of 9,826/ to be carried to the ac-
count of the current half-year. The working ex-
penses have been 39/ ls. 2d. per cent. against 38/
163. per cent. during the corresponding half-year of
1858. Mr. kirtley reports that the rolling stock is in
good working order, and that during the half-year
ending Dec. 31, 1859, the mileage performed by
trains has been as follows : With passenger
trains, 1,679,782 miles ; with goods and mineral
trains, 2,295,693 miles ; total, 3,975,475 miles,
which, compared with the corresponding period of
last year, shows an increase with passenger trains
of 47,648 miles, and an increase with goods and
mineral trains of 232,645 miles. Total increase of
mileage 280,293 miles. The renewals of plant for
the half year had been 14 engines, 26 carriages, 3
break vans, and 123 waggons, the entire cost of
which had been charged to revenue. Mr. Crossley
reports that the relaying during the past half year
had been 14 miles, 7 furlongs, and 5 chains. The
fish-joint had been applied to the rails to the extent
of 10 miles, 4 furlongs, and 16 chains. Instead of
the usual sum of 20,000/, which from June, 1857,
had been annually written off the Permanent Way
• Renewal Fund, 34,772/, being one-half of the sum
at the debit of this account, had been applied in the
last half year in reduction of that debt. The premises
obtained at the Castle and Falcon, Aldersgate-
street, London, were now ready for the reception
of goods. The directors had purchased a plot of
ground, containing more than 20 acres, in the
parish of St. Pancras, London, having frontages to
the Great Northern and North London Railways
and the Regent's Canal. They had introduced a
bill to authorize agreements with the North Lon-
- don, the London and Blackwall, the Eastern Coun-
ties, and the proprietors or lessees of the Tilbury
and Southend Railway Companies, to enable the
Midland Railway Company to use certain lines and
stations of the contracting parties for the convey-
ance, accommodation, and interchange of traffic
between the midland district and the port of Lon-
don. The directors had also introduced a bill to

extend the railway from Wigston to Hinckley,
- there to join the Hinckley and Nuneaton Railway.
The estimated cost of the 11 of Hinckley would be
oily about 118,0001, and they recommended the
shareholders to sanction it. The directors proposed
an outlay of 40,0001 on various works at Sheffield
and Bradford, 10,0001 for additional materials and
permanent way, 37,500/ for 15 new engines, 9,5001
for 40 passenger carriages, and 3,000 for tools and
machinery, making together 100,000/. The report
of Mr. J. Crippa and Mr. A. Allott was very satis-
factory.
The capital account to the 31st of December
showed that 20,845,033/ had been received, and
20,828,397/ expended, leaving a balance of 16,636/.
The revenue account for the half-year ending the
31st of December last showed that 1,008,8251 had
been received, snd 447,804/ expended, leaving a
balance of 561,0211. The interest on loans and pre-
ference shares amounted to 198,085/, the deficiency
- • on the Matlock line to 1,317/, the rent of the North-
Western to 15,055/, and the redemption of mortgage
to 5001, leaving, with 7,907/ from the last account,
a disposable balance of 353,970/, against 328,8911
at the corresponding period of 1858.