The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-12 00:00:00

INTELLIGEVC4

BOMBAY, BARODA, AND CENTRAL INDIA.
The half-yearly report of the directors of this
company is as follows :
"By the following extracts from the resolution
of the Bombay Government the proprietors will be
glad to learn that the long-vexed question of our
approach to Bombay has been satisfactorily settled:
—' completion of these plans, and the estimates
based on them, has established the following points
in favour of the direct line from the Veturnee river,
via Bassein, to Dhadur, as compared with the line
adjoining the Great, India Peninsula railway at
Purseek The direct line will cost less; 2. It
is shorter by eight miles ; 3. Its curves are few
and easy, while those on the other line are
many, and sharp; 4. It maintains the gradient
of 1 in 503, which rules the line from Ahmeda-
badearer while the alterna-
rivtohis lordship in council
ruling pradient of 1 in 100.
,
Tt
vlee s tel
nadvantagesthe
Veturnees
aap
quite conclusive in favour of the direct line between
the Veturnce river and the Dhadur station of the
Great Indian Peninsula Railway, and Government
sanction the adoption of that line accordingly.' On
the 3d. Oct. last 15 spans of the Nerbudda-bridge
had been finished, and arrangements were in pro-
gress for the vigorous prosecution of the works.
extract, from Mr. Forde's re-
portllhe followingo n
the
sisubajildet :_ 11. Every preparation is
being made for the erection of the Taptee viaduct,
and I consider that I am now in a position to say
with confidence that both these works (the Taptee
and Nerbudda) will be completed before next mon-
soon. 12, The first iron bridge north of Broach
will be ready in a few days for an engine to cross,
and I have sent up parties to commence all the
bridges between Broach and Baroda, in the hopes
that they may be so far advanced before materials
arrive for the Nerbudda as to be able to have all the
tackle at liberty for the latter work.' The progress
reports to 31st Aug., 1859, give the following state-
ment of works executed, viz. :
Between Surat and Ahmedabad, 143 miles.
Of earthworks
„ brickwork and masonry 9S per cent.
ft ballasting spread on line
„ fencing .
„ permanent way
Between Surat and Veturnee-117 miles.
Of earthwork 4O per cent.
„ brickwork and masonry .. 8 per cent.
„ fencing
In reference to the supplies of iron materials, &c ,
from England, over 67,000 tons of weight and mea-
surement have been shipped for Bombay up to the
19th Nov., 1859. The directors regret to have to re-
port the loss of the ship Jessica, with over 1,300 tons
of our materials on board, including four ballasting
engines ; the risk of this company was, however,fully
insured. By our Act of Parliament, which received
the royal assent on the 16th August last, the neces-
sary powers for the conversion of the fully paid-up
shares of the company into stock 'were granted;
and in conformity with its provisions in this re-
spect, a resolution will be submitted to the decision
of the shareholders for the conversion or consolida-
tion into stock of such shares of the company as
shall have been fully paid up before the 31st Dec.
inst. The directors cannot close their report with-
out adverting to those satisfactory symptoms of na-
tional improvement which are seen in India. Since
the negotiation of the late loan by the Government
the public have become better acquainted with the
vast resources of the rich territories \ve possess in
India—resources which only require t few years of
peace to be developed in an extraordhary manner.
That loan is now daily rising in the estimation of
the capitalists of this country ; and they cannot
examine into the securities, upon which it is based
without feeling satisfied that the guaranteed stock
of the Indian railway companies has become even
more secure vf receiying the stipulated interest, And