The Sun.
London, England, 1835-10-30 00:00:00

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.

The first general meeting of the proprietors of the Great
western Railway, took place yesterday at the City of
London Tavern, for the purpose of electing twelve London
rod twelve Bristol Directors, and to submit to the Proprie-
-4.11 a report of the proceedings connected with the under-
`4Llng up to the present period.
At one o'clock the chair was taken by B. SHAWE, Esq.,
Chafrrnan of the Company, who begged to take that op-
rfrtuaity of expressing the strong sentiments of respect
and gratitude felt by the Directors generally, for the very
etecient, support they had received from the Proprietors up
to
tile present period. It was by the very efficient support
theyts had received from the subscribers that the Directors
bad been able to conduct the proceedings of the Company
t'c
their present gratifying stage ; and he was satified that
" subscribers on their part would, in a short time, reap a
v erY considerable profit from their shares.—(Hear, hear.)
s uell, at least, was the view that had been taken of the
prospects of the Company, not by the Directors themselves,
ut by some of the most experienced and practical men,
rid persons who were much better able than the Directors
t judge of such questions.—(Cheers.) It was well knOwn
o e
gentleman present that the undertaking had not
fieeen brought to its present position without many difficul-
ti and without having experienced innumerable opposi-
sn• They had been obliged to contest it through two
from of Parliament, and that not for a few days, but
ere the commencement to the termination of the Session.
greater expenditure might have been thereby occasioned
'ban Would under ordinary circumstances ; but the total
Zeeunt and the results would; he was confident, prove to
a subscribers that the money had not been injudiciously
token the
hear.) Nor could it be considered large
n the opposition they bad to contend against was taken
Satoe consideration.—(Cheers.) He should now beg of the
Secretary to read the Report which was about to be sub-
mitted to the meeting.
fenkr. Saunders, the Secretary, then read the Report as
...ews •
. •
- •

ti
The Directors have called a general meeting at an
Prier period than lias been usual in similar undertakings,
?cause it appeared to them highly desirable to afford the
I?Prietors the earliest information of the steps which have
teep taken, and of the present state of the undertaking.
o doing so they have to congratulate the Company upon
t, successful termination of a contest arduous and pro-
04e led beyond all precedent. And although it is a matter
44418r,et that the expenditure incurred has been consider-
-4%4611 it has not been wholly unproductive of advan-
ba es; inasmuch as the rigid scrutiny to which the details
ijte been subjected has afforded an opportunity both to
Public and to the Proprietors of ascertaining the merits
'the
i undertaking, and of appreciating the advantages
e'l will probably be derived from it, and has established
following important points :
th`!. The general excellence of the ground through which
ane will be carried.
10‘‘ 2. The moderate amount of excavations, not exceeding
,000,000 cubic yards in the whole line.
1,4114- The general approach to a level and the favourable
re of the curves.
4. The great amount of traffic, particularly of passen-
and the number and importance of the population
'l4 will partake in its benefits.
ttle_.s- The great extent to which the agricultural, corn-
wiPl, and manufacturing interests within its influence
e
bkomoted.
ex\„4 6. The sufficiency of the capital to carry the work into
rilvk'ution, supported by the concurrent testimony of the
124 eminent engineers, and confirmed by the valuable ex-
rvrieneo of the London and Birmingham Railway Company.
e,c` 7. And, finally, the probable establishment of branches
kamunieating with it.
In adverting to the past it is impossible to disregard
ejff.Peculiar dbligation of the Proprietors to Lord Wham-
Ivi Lord Granville Somerset, and Mr. Charles Russell,
1„•I'• for Reading',,,. for the invaluable aid of their services
presiding over the several.Committeerof Parliament on
'ls Measure durit, the two Sessions.
te4 The plan which the' Directors have adopted has been,
NPrepars for completion, with. the greatest rapidity, the
krdtt°ns of the railway between London and Maidenhead,
between Bristol and Bath.
From the peculiar facility which the country between
I,ol'llon and Maidenhead affords, they anticipate that this
11,0'1°11 will be open for the use of the public within twenty
aths._ Codtracts for a viaduct, with which it is proposed
cross the river Brent, have been already advertised.
klieg 'ine line between Bristol and Bath will, the engineers
Ittsin no doubt, be opened by the end of 1837, or early
4838.
in,
Trilultaneous operations are proposed to be carried on
n,
n7uer parts of the line, by which it is expected that the
eillunication will be extended to Reading early in 1838,
qaat the entire line will be completed in 1840.
kte The advantage of opening the railway at the earliest
litle,tieable period upon the most frequented portions of the
to bp obvious, when it is considered that the revenue
1),:11, so derived, after defrayipi the current charges, will
the at once among the ProOrietors; as a return upon
,capital then paid up.
The extent of existing traffic between London and
enhead as the great thoroughfare to the West, and
C.,betvveen the cities of Bristoland Bath, places it beyond
Wilt that no inconsiderable profit will accrue to the Pro-
,e,t;?rs from that arrangement.
thatin adjusting the survey of the line, it has been found
the advantages may be obtained by some deviations, which
toe have ascertained can be made with a diminu-
°f expense, and for the mpst part with the consent of
tees of the land ; they do not hesitate in consequence to
klettnend an application to Parliament with the least pos-
e,,,clelay.
fors The terms of the arrangement contemplated in the Act,
Iteita‘sking use of a portion of the London and Birmingham
ited 4y• are under the consmderation of the two Boards,
on a basis of mutual accommodation and advantage.
tihiet The Directors have availed themselves of a most eli-
tieOPPortunity for securing in the City a central situa-
rnlor the general depot connected with the traffic of the
IIea,PPY- The recent improvements in Prince's-street,
'"e Bank, which connect the great thoroughfare of the
tY with the new road leading to Euston-grove, and in im-
hes, ate contiguity with the Royal Exchange, indicated the
heel for that purpose, and freehold premises have
1141. secured with a considerable frontage, to which all
04, ic conveyances will have free access, constituting at
Da: the general office for the ordinary affairs of time Com-
he,3'd and the receiving-station for passengers and light
Proceeding at or from the railway.
ta, 'lle premises so selected have also the peculiar advan-
k,,cr distinct entrances from Mansion House-street and
vellst• Mildred's-court. The former will embrace a eon-
-I,l6:Pee for passengers from all parts of London and the
tiltY, which alone would be a sufficient recommendation,
tDirectors think, of the step they have taken.
%It Eder the provisions of this Act, the Directors have
time P'eted the allotment of the shares, and have obtained
~sgee,ertificate of a Magistrate that the whole sum of
„,fOOO/. is subscribed.
kwereheY deem it right to add that the Company is em-
°4l,4 by a clause in the Act to borrow to the extent of
‘vbei,',L., of the capital, if it should be found expedient,
their (die proprietors shall have paid 50 per cent. upon
14113,44 Y have appointed Mr. Brunel engineer to the Com-
-444‘v..,110 has been actively employed in setting out and
IlthePnating the land, preparing the contracts, and making
other Preliminary arrangements. They also appointed the
ot:l,", facers.
1-4 e Directors have appended to this report a statement
geir Nee-
at th receipts and disbursements, by which it will be seen
lag eia.e total expenditure incurred, including all outstand-
, 1. AutlB, anIOULAS to the sum of 88,7101. 10s. 11d.
o°Pan, company has already been formed 'to establish .a
mlattiet 1•„(n Swindon, to communicate with the clothing
'f G 1 °I Gloucestershire, and with the important towns
ce4t(lnoueester and Cheltenham. Another branch is in
kete Plation from Oxford ; a railroad from Bristol to
ti ewer also before the public, under most favourable
ate le aces. A Company is formed for another from
'f 'LILT:* Cardiff, and, finally, a Company is in possession
Itie,44 et to earry a railroad from Limerick to Waterford ;
~regures likeV the interests of the Great
to promote
'eamma rn;Railway, mid to realise the expectations enter-
of its value au4 importance.
1111,7_4'l conclusion, the Directors venture to hope that the
cx „ with which they have been intrusted have been
lireued •
- such manner as to promote the interests of the
the`ttQ„
11,140 , and with increased confidence in the success of
they now resign the trust confided to
e "e'ettin'Y then read an abstract of the receipts an
Perlair
tire of the Company. It appeared that the re.