The Sun.
London, England, 1856-11-05 00:00:00

RAILWAY COMPETITION.

The effect of railway competition is just now 'moat
strikingly illustrated in the town of Reading. For seve-
ral years the only railway communication between Read-
ing and the metropolis was that of the Great Western
Company, and a scale of fares was established, high as
compared with those of several other lines. The. Read-
ing and Reigate line, however, was constructed a few
years since, and forming a junction with the South.
Eastern at Redhill established another, though more dis-
tant, route to London. As an inducement to travellers
the South-Eastern Company, who became the lessees of
the line, bad daily a cheap and fast train, enabling per.
sons to reach the city from Reading in two hours, being
less time than occupied by the other route, and the fares
were then considered exceedingly low, viz,, 63. first class
and 4s. Gd. second class, the double journey; and the
tickets were available on the following day, whilst the
single journey tickets were 4s. first class, and' 3s. second
class. At this time 53. 6d. was the fare on the Great
Western line for a single journey to Paddington, second
class. The line of the Ssuth-Eastern has been extended
to the station yard of the Great Western, and since
then has commenced an exciting competition. The
null oe
Bs
te o
nf
Companies issued a tariff of faces e r
South-Western Company this summer also obtained a
line to the town, so that now there are three com-
munications
la both thencethe
e Greatwith
dASt thet
existed on the South-Eastern line, viz., 4s. first
class,
andand 35.45. second
cooenedcnladssn, sllass,
doable journey ; but the
tickets wore only available for the day on which issued,
unless the Saturday tickets, which were available for the
following Monday. This announcement somewhat stai tied
the public, but their surprise was increased by a notice
a day or two subsequently by the South-Eastern Company
that passengers would be conveyed in the first class for
35., and in the second for 25., single journey ; and the
double journey tickets, available to return on the fol
lowing day, 4s. first class, and 33. second class. Taking
the dietance of the double journey on the South-Eastern,
which, is 134 miles, the charge is only one farthing and a
fraction per mile. Upon this the Groat Western on Mon-
day reduced to 2s. first class, and ls. 6d. second class,
single journey; and 4s. Gd. first class, and 38. second
class, double journey. A few hours subsequently the
South-Eastern made a further reduction-2s. first class,
and is. 3d. second class, single journey ; 3e. first class,
and 2s. second class, double journey. 111
--he Great West-
ern therellson immediately reduced their fares again to
the same amount, making two alterations within the
day. The South-Western Company have also lowered,
but they charge is. 6d. for the return journey, being
31. higher tban either the Great Western or South-
Eastern. The low fares on either lines only apply to
passengers from Reading, and not to any from inter-
mediate stations.

pudens ontiuepr,thtehepriNneoirptaherlpn p.erson connected with
the C4fararailway
of France,
has been arrested in a most romantic manner. Ac-
'c
)rding to the report from the Tribune, it seems
that he succeeded in eltaing the vigilance of the
officen and eacaptd to the country, where he dis-
gu'sed himself as a farm labourer, and let himself to
a farmer. He was arrested by a . mysterious person,
melodramatically draped in a large cloak, who fettered
him and brought him to New York at midnight. An
official was aroused from his bed, A
an,., while in a state
of undignified and offended semi-nudity, was required
to receive and take charge of the prisoner, the officer
arresting keeping his cloak draped about his face, and
refusing to give his name. A portion of the money has
also been recovered. J _