The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-31 00:00:00

STREET RAILWAYS.

Birkenhead witnessed yesterday the formal in-
auguration of an undertaking which in this coun-
try wears all the aspect of novelty. In New York,
Boston, Philadelphia, and the chief towns of the
United States, street railways—the chemin do jer
Americain of the French, but better known in

England under the designation of horse tramways,
have for some years been established. To the suc-
cess of the experiment in those places in which it
has been tried, the testimony of not only the most
eminent American engineers, but of intelligent
travellers from all parts of the world, has been un-
hesitatingly borne. Encouraged by that success,
attempts have from time to time been made to in-
troduce the system into our own metropolis, in the
hope of thus remedying the serious inconvenience
in its main thoroughfares which is daily caused by
an overgrown traffic. A company was formed, and
bills were brought before Parliament with that ob-
ject. Deputations waited on Sir B. Hall and Lord
John Manners, when they were at the head
of the Department of Public Works, with
a view to its accomplishment. The choked up
streets of London made a silent appeal for some
such change. It was all in vain. Objections to
the scheme were raised on every side. It was con-
tended that it would be utterly impossible to lay
down on macadamized roads the iron plates or rails
on which new conveyances would have to run so as
to render it certain that they would be kept on a
level with the surface ; that, as a consequence, the
lighter description of vehicles running diagonally
against the plates would be liable to have their
wheels torn off, and that the frequent occurrence of
serious accidents must inevitably be the result. It
was, moreover, argued in opposition to the scheme
that the proposed tramways would interfere with
the necessary repair of the streets in which they
happened to be laid down, and that in those cases
in which such repair could no longer be postponed
portions of the rails would have to be taken up, so
that the traffic along the whole line might thus
for days or even weeks be brought to a stand-
still. The supporters of the contrary view ap-
pealed to experience. They pointed with confi-
dence to that which had already been effected.
They drew a vivid picture of the miseries which an
unhappy pedestrian in search of an omnibus to
convey him home has to encounter on a wet day
in London. They represented him as peering im-
patiently in a particular direction, in the futile en-
deavour to distinguish among a crowd of some
dozen other vehicles the object—be it named
" Tally-ho," or " Paragon," or " Royal Blue"—of
his devout expectation. At length it draws near.
He hails the conductor, but alas ! the curt response,
" Full inside, sir," dooms him to a walk of some
10 or 15 minutes more through rain and mud.
Fortunate might he consider himself if at the end
of that time he could secure a place in an omnibus
which would bear him to his destination, although
in doing so he might have to endure the by no
means pleasant regards of some 10 or 11 other pas-
sengers as he forced his way by them, to their
great inconvenience, to the further end of the
vehicle and squeezed himself into a seat. Such
were the colours in which our present system of
street conveyance was depicted by the advocates of
reform. They contrasted with such a state of things
large and roomy carriages gliding rapidly and with
an equable motion over little stripes of iron, and
constructed on such a scale as to afford ample ac-
commodation, with the utmost facility of ingress
and egress for nearly three times the number of
passengers which an ordinary omnibus contains.
They talked of making travelling through the
streets of London a positive luxury, instead of, as
it is in all the great thoroughfares, a tedious and
disagreeable process. The picture was a sufficiently
inviting one to make thousands wish for its realisa-
tion, but then, strongly in opposition to that wish,
rose prejudice and the fear of innovation. In
this position the question of the construction of
tramways in the metropolis, as well as in
our chief towns, has stood for some time.
It remained for a citizen of the United
States to infuse renewed hope into the supporters
of the scheme. To Mr. G. F. Train, of Boston, the
introduction into England of street railways is
mainly to be attributable. But five short months
have elapsed since he laid the proposals on the sub-
ject before the Commissioners of Birkenhead. Two
months later found those proposals accepted. Yes-
terday saw them carried into practical effect. Nor
was the undertaking inaugurated with a success at
all inferior to the expedition with which the neces-
sary works had been completed. The line of rails
—which has been laid down under the superinten-
dence of Mr. Palles, of Philadelphia, and Mr.
Samuel, of London, and which reflects no inconside-
rable degree of credit on the professional skill which
has been exhibited in its construction—extends
from the Woodside Ferry, the landing place at Bir-
kenhead, just opposite the centre of Liverpool, by
the Shore-road, through Angle and Conway streets,
and so on to the entrance to Birkenhead Park.
The whole distance is little more than a mile and
a quarter ; it is, however, quite sufficient to enable
those who take an interest in the subject to form
a good idea of the merits of Mr. Train's
experiment. A junction in Conway-street
enables the carriages to return from the park
by Hamilton-street to the point from which they
originally started.
Nothing can well be less complicated than the
machinery which is employed for the accomplish-
ment of this double journey. The tramway itself
consists simply of two iron plates, each being raised
about an inch on the outer side, and running pa-
rallel to one another, as in the caseof the rails on an
ordinary railroad. They are fixed upon longitudinal
bearers, which rest upon transverse sleepers, and
are so let into the street as to run completely on a
level with its surface. They do not, therefore, in-
terfere in the slightest degree with the ordinary
traffic. To ply on these iron plates carriages capable
each of affording abundant accommodation to from
50 to 60 passengers have been built by Mr. Main,
of Birkenhead. They are more than double the
size of an ordinary omnibus, are somewhat similar
in shape, and are provided underneath with
wheels like those of a railway carriage, but
somewhat smaller in size. The plan upon
which they are constructed would ap-
pear to be exceedingly well adapted to street traffic.
Each carriage is 24 ft. long by 7 ft wide ; 7 ft being
also the height of the interior from floor to roof. It
furnishes sitting room for 24 persons inside and as
many more outside, for whose protection a handrail
runs round the top. A space of two or three feet
intervenes between the passengers on each side of
the interior, and this it is proposed to turn to ac-
count by allowing passengers to stand there in the
event of all the seats being occupied; handrails,
with guiding straps attached, being run beneath
the roof for their convenience. It is more than
questionable, however, whether it is expedient to
permit the centres of the carriages to be thus filled
up, and one of the chief advantages—that of ample
accommodation—which they are calculated to con-
fer, as a consequence neutralised. A small platform
at each end of each carriage, raised about a foot and
a half from , the ground, and separated from the
horses—which may be yoked to either end—by a
contrivance somewhat resembling the splashboard
of a hansom cab, affords the means of ready ingress
and egress to the new conveyances on whose deco-
ration as well as on whose adaptation to the com-
fort and security of passengers great pains have
evidently been bestowed. They are nevertheless
fitted up in a style more luxurious than taste-
ful. Gaudy colouring has in their case been
somewhat too freely employed. This, however,
is a fault which may be easily remedied, and
which by no means detracts from their usefulness.
It may in some instances offend the eye, but it can
hardly fail to be lost sight of in that pleasant sense
of freedom from squeezing and crushing in which
our present system of street conveyance will so
rarely permit as to indulge. In the construction
of the new carriages the important question of ven-
tilation, it is but right to add, has not been ne-
glected. Each has its sliding windows, with
" louvres," to prevent a draught. Each is provided
also with a driver and conductor, both of whom
have it in their power to control, by means of a
patent break, the machinery by which the progress
of the carriages is stopped or retarded.
Such is th system of street conveyance which
yesterday began its career at Birkenhead. As a
mere spectacle its inauguration possessed no parti-
cular attraction. Shortly before 10 o'clock two of
the new carriages were drawn out from the depot
in Canning-street and placed upon the line. At 11
two horses were yoked to each, and they proceeded
on their way well freighted with passengers, glid-
ing along the rails at the rate of about four miles
an hour—a rate of speed which might without dif-
ficulty be increased to six or seven miles an hour—
smoothly and uninterruptedly, turning one or two
extremely sharp curves with the utmost facility,
824 landing their passengers at their several desti-
nations in security. They continued throughout
the day to
ply for hire with a success which must
have gladdened the hearts of the proprietors, and
their progress was, at different points along the
route, watched by some hundreds of spectators.
( i)ri the whole nothing; could to all appearance be
p, )re successful than
this experiment of Mr. Train's
oa British soil- That he will be equally successful
is ,ho siznilar undertaking on which he is about to
enter in Manchester, Glasgow,
and some more of
our large towns, there seems at the first blush to be
no reason to doubt. Many of the objections which
have been hitherto urged against the introduction
of street railways into this country the trial at Bir-
kenhead can scarcely fail to do something to obvi-
ate. With the result of that trial before him, no
one can fairly contend that they operate dpedi-
ments to ordinary traffic, inasmuch as the tramway

itself does not monopolise the space on which it is
laid down, the track, on the contrary, being used
by vehicles of all descriptions—which are under the
necessity of diverging from it only when one of
those passenger carriages is seen to approach—as
affording greater facilities for their easy and rapid
progress than the general surface of our roads.
Another fact which the mode in which the new
system is carried out in Birkenhead would seem to
establish is, that tramways may be so constructed
on longitudinal bearings that the line may without
difficulty be diverted at any particular point from
one side of a street to the other in the event of any
necessary repairs in the street rendering such a
divergence expedient. To those who witnessed the
actual working of the scheme yesterday none of its
features appeared so prominent as the improvement,
so far as increased accommodation is concerned,
which it has introduced. Travelling by one of Mr.
Train's carriages, as contrasted with one of our or-
dinary omnibuses, is like quitting a narrow and
confined room for a commodious and well-ventilated
apartment. To ladies especially it would be a great
boon that they should be brought into general use ;
but whether Mr. Train will he able to accomplish
that object yet remains to be seen. On the score of
cheapness, it may be added, the new system pos-
sesses a decided advantage over that which at pre-
sent prevails in this country, while, so far as the
question of security to passengers is involved, it will
be sufficient to state that 34,000,000 of persons who
travelled by the street railway of New York and
Brocklyn in 1858 only 12 met with accidents.
At a grand dejeuner which he gave in the course
of the day Mr. Train received the congratulations
of his friends on the success which he had just
achieved—a success to which the indefatigable
exertions of Mr. Peniston, the secretary to the un-
dertaking, to no small extent contributed.

LADIES' FASHIONS FOR SEPTEMBER,

(From Le Follet.)

Notwitstanding the dulness of the weather, and
the want of harmony between it and the date of
the almanac, every one is occupied with prepara-
tions for the sea-side season, and none but light
fabrics are thought of.
For instance, barege is the principal article for
demi-toilette, either sprinkled with small bunches
of flowers, or embroidered peas, of a darker colour
than the barege itself.
Poplinette is much admired, and very elegantly
worn; the beautiful folds in which it falls produce
a graceful effect.
Grey barege, embroidered in colours,with flounces
bordered with the same colour as the spots, is much
in vogue.
Flounces have achieved a decided success, and
will probably be continued during the winter.
There are many different ways of disposing them.
Sometimes a flounce, 15 or 16 inches deep, headed
with two or three narrow ones ; or nine narrow
flounces, placed by threes, one set at the bottom of
the skirt, another at the knee, and a third just be-
low the waist.

Both of these styles have their partisans, but we
prefer to either of them five flounces, four inches
deep, headed by a ruche, and placed so as to leave
a space of about two inches between each flounce.
We noticed lately a grey poplinette with one
deep flounee set in box plaits, and edged with black•
velvet. It was headed by a narrow one of four
inches in black silk, pinked.
The chicore ruche is the trimming par excellence
both for dresses and mantles.
Shawls and scarves of the same material as the
dress are generally worn with light fabrics. As to
thick materials, generally speaking, such as pique,
nankeen, and stuffs formed of wool and silk, they
are accompanied by long basquines or paletots.
The pique dresses are opened over an elegant
petticoat, and should be trimmed round with a wide
biais of the same colour as the pattern on the dress.
With this skirt a Zouave of the same material is
worn. Should the skirt be closed, a deap basque,
trimmed like the skirt, is then substituted.

,
In silks for simple dress, the Indian foulards,
plain or figured, are worn, and plain silks of rather
a dark shade.

Moires in light colours, and the taffetas Pompa-
dours, are only used for occasions when a greater
attention to dress is necessary.
Dress in which there are various colours require
black trimmings, and a basquine or paletot trimmed
with same colour.
Robes for full dress are trimmed with narrow
flounces or ruches and guipure, and admit only of
lace shawls or white silk scarves covered with lace
being worn with them.
Paletots with sleeves are still worn even in jaco-
nets or muslins. When made in light materials, they
are accompanied by a deep pointed collar, trimmed
with a flounce, which is repeated round the mantle.
Tight sleeves are not much in request, except for
out-of-door dress. We have seen large open sleeves
set into the arm, with one large box plait, and a
tight sleeve worn underneath for out-of-door dress.
Almost all dresses are made low, and worn with
fichus. Sometimes a low silk body is worn with a
thin dress, either over a guimpe or a tight-fitting
body of the same material as the skirt. It is made
with a very small basque, merely as a foundation
for a ruching just below the waist. This style is
very distingue, but it requires an elegant figure to
display it to advantage.
Bonnets are still worn very forward on the top.
The curtains are narrower and not much orna-
mented ; the gold and silver ornaments are adopted
by some, but are not bien portes, or considered at all
in good taste. The bonnets are made in crape,
trimmed with silk, straw, or tulle. White and
black continue to be worn together, and are very
distingue in appearance.
Hats are very much worn at the sea-side and in
the country, but are not allowable in town. The
most stylish are made in rice straw. With these are
worn long drooping feathers. We have seen an
elegant hat in this material, trimmed on one side
with a drooping white feather placed so as to hang
over the brim, and droop on to the shoulder. It
was fastened in the front by a bunch of small pink
roses surrounded by black guipure. Neither strings
nor bows are worn by ladies or children under the
hat.

Ball-dresses for young ladies are made in tarla-
tane or gauze, very simply trimmed ; sometimes
with one deep plissé, at other times with
several narrow ones. We have seen a very
elegant white tarlatane dress with three deep
flounces, each headed by a bouillonne lined with
blue ribbon of a light shade. On the edge of each
flounce were placed three fluted frills about two
inches deep. This dress was worn over a pale blue
silk slip. With this skirt was worn a blue silk body
with a berthe of bouillonnes and little frills, like
those on the skirt. The coiffure was composed of
forget-me-nots and lilies of the valley. This dress
was intended for a young married lady.

The bodies of tarlatans dresses are either made
square or with a corsage a l'enfant. Wing sleeves
are not much worn, except with fichus, but they
have not entirely disappeared.
Apple green is a very favourite colour, but it is
not suitable to all complexions. Silks of this colour,
trimmed with narrow flounces, with black guipure
sewn on flat, are very elegant and recherché. A
black lace should be worn with them.

Grey dresses, trimmed with a deep ruche a la
vieille of violet, placed quite at the bottom of the
skirt, have an elegant and simple appearance. A
ceinture a la duchesse in violet, is worn with it.
The gold bands and clasps, having become common,
are entirely placed on one side by the grander
dames. The skirts are as large as ever, and fall in
a graceful sweep from the waiLt, so as to support
the shawl. In-door dresses are made very long
behind; out-door dresses are not worn so long, ex-
cept in silks, and then they are worn with a slight
train.

A very elegant fashion has lately made its ap-
pearance. It consists of a low silk body, of the
same colour as the trimming on the skirt. It is
trimmed, as a matter of course. We noticed one
worn by a lady in mourning. It was grey-trimmed
with black. The body was of black silk, trimmed
round the top and down the front seams with a
chichoree ruche. Down the centre of the ruche
was placed a drooping trimming of jet. The cor-
sage had a very slight basque, slightly pointed
before and behind, and merely long enough to
place the chicoree trimming upon it. We need
scarcely say that the sleeves were short. The cor-
sage was intended to be worn either over a tight-
fitting body of the same material as the skirt, or
over a guimpe and sleeves.

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THRTVALTVORT.H MURDER.

Yesterday, Mrs. Bevan the landlay of the house
No. 16, Manor-place, Walworth, in the upper apart-
ments of which William Godfrey Youngman com-
mitted a series of the most determined, as well as
the most unnatural murders that have taken place
in modern times, applied to Mr. Elliott, at the
Lambeth Police Court, for his advice respecting
some goods still in her house belonging to John
Youngman, the father of the culprit, and. which
gave the owner a pretextto come there to the great
annoyance of herself and family.
The applicant, who seems a very respectable wo-
man, said she had a son afflicted with consumption
and heart disease, who had been turned out in
curable from the Brompton and other hospitals, and
her own health being also far from good, her hus-
band and herself were induced to take the house in
Manor-place from the openness of the place and the
benefit of the air, but she much feared the dreadful
murders unfortunately committed there would lead
to their total ruin. They had lost all their lodgers,
and the shocking state the place was in was any-
thing but beneficial to her health, while it was most
injurious to that of her son, and the least allusion
to it, or the presence of the father of Youngman,
made him much worse.
Mr. Elliott—Have you given notice tothe owner
,o take the things away ?
Mrs. Bevan—l have, sir ; but he has not done so.
Mr. Elliot—Having given him proper notice to
,ake away the things, you are not obliged to keep
hem. _ _

Mrs. Bevan—l did not expect to sae Mr. Dann
here, but being present, and as he has had much to
do with the case, will your Worship kindly direct
him to remove the things ?
Inspector Dann said that his employment in the
case of the late murders gave him an opportunity
of seeing a good deal of Mrs. Bevan and her family;
he had no doubt whatever of the truth of her repre-
sentation, that the affair of the murder would lead
to very serious losses on their part. Indeed, he had
heard that already they had suffered a good deal,
and he conscientiously believed the family deserving
of sympathy, and of assistance from the poor-box.
On hearing this Mr. Elliott kindly ordered the
poor woman a sovereign out of the poor-box, and
told Mr. Dann to see to the removal of Youngman's
things from her house.
From authentic sources it has been ascertained
that the culprit has not undergone the slightest
change in his manner up to the present moment,
but that he eats, drinks, and sleeps as usual, and
appears still to labour under the delusive hope that
his life will not be taken, while at the same time
the order for his execution -at Horsemonger-lane
Gaol on Tuesday next, at nine o'clock in the morn-
ing, is in the hands of the Governor. His only,
visitors are his father and brother, and at an inter-
view with the latter in the beginning of the week
the culprit requested him either to write himself
or get his solicitor to write to Captain s—,
an officer with whom he once lived, to interest
himself with Colonel Phipps, so that the latter
might intercede with her Majesty for his par-
don or a commutation of his sentence. The
brother, however, intimated that it was no use,
and told him to recollect what the Judge had
said—that on getting away the knife from his
mother, he had no need to have used it against her.
Upon which the culprit remasked that he, the bro-
ther, would have done the same to save his own
life ; but the brother dissented, and said that on get-
ting away the knife he could easily have held his
mother by the hands until he could get assistance,
and should not have thought of using it against his
own mother.
A communication has been made to Col. Phipps,
and the reply to it has been, that the matter is in
the hands of the Home Secretary, to whom all com-
munications are to be made.
Mr. Waghorn, the solicitor who conducted Young-
man's defence, has, with much humanity, endea-
veured to ascertain whether the mother of the cul-
prit had evinced any symptoms of insanity that
might be made available to his client, but he has
failed in doing so ; and his last advice to Youngman
is, that he devote all his attentions to the exhorta-
tions of the chaplain. His notions of religion, how-
ever, may be judged from the fact that some days
ago some benevolent lady forwarded to him a reli-
gious tract, in which some passages applicable to
his case were marked, but on taking it up he said,
" I wish she Ind sent me something to eat instead, as
I could do a fowl and a piece of pickled pork."