The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-01 00:00:00

PROSPECTUS.
THE OTTDE RAILWAY COMPANY,Licnit ed.
To be Incorporated under an Act of

Parliament.
Office, No. 8, Moorgate-street.
Capital 1,e00,000z., in 50,000 Shares of 201., or 200 rupees
each, with power to increase the Capital.
Deposit, Five Sbillhigs per Share.
The Liability of the Shareholders is strictly limited to the
amount of the Deposit.
All Issues of New Stock will be rateably divided among the
Original Shareholders.
itegistered under the Joint-Stock Companies Act, with
limited Responsibility.
DIRECTORS.
CUAIRMAN.—Sir MACDONALD STEPHENSON (Director
of the East Indian Railway Company).
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN.—JOHN CLARK MARSHMAN, Esq.
(late of Calcutta)
James Beaumont, Esq., Director of the East Indian Railway
Company.
John Borradaile, Esq., London (Messrs. John Borradaile and
Co., Calcutta)..
Andrew Henderson, Esq. (formerly of Calcutta.)
Christopher Rawson, Esq. Messrs. Rawson, Sons, and Com-
pany, London ; and Leach, Rawson, and Co., of Calcutta).
John. Stewart, Esq. (late of Bombay).
Alexander Wilson, Esq. F.R.S. (late of the Hon. East India
Company's service).

AUDITORS.
Charles Farquharson, Esq. (Auditor of the East Indian Rail-
way Comm,ny).
Charles Ma'aby, Esq., C.E., F.R.S.
la/V4rcl St Power, Esq., 7, Wilton-place, Belgrave-square.
tifFnew, AUDITOR.—J. E. Coleman, Esq.
SECRETARY.—CharIes Twigg, Esq.
cn.leiroas.—Messrs. J. C. and H. Freshfield.
CONSULTING ENGINEER.--J. Fowler, Esq., C.E.
ACTING ENGINEER.—WiIIiam Pole, Esq., C.E.
BrOcEsaohaas.—Messrs. Scott, Corthorn, and Scotts,
16, Throgmorton-street.
BANKERS—Messrs. Glyn, Mills, and Co.
The object of the Oude Railway Company may be very
briefly defined—to introduce into the newly-acquired terri-
tories of Oude the benefit of railway communication.
The kingdom of Oude has recently been incorporated into
the dominions of the Hon. the East India Company, and the
advantages of British supremacy will be most generally ap-
preciated by the improved means of communication which,
among the other changes, will be introduced.
The late Governor-General of India, in a Minute, dated
3.Bth June, 1555, states, with reference to (Dude becoming a
part of the British territory—" I entertain a confident belief
that they (the Hon. Court) will at length see speedily accom-
plished those happy results which Lord Wellesley too san-
guinely anticipated from the operation of the Treaty of 1801;
and that the British Government will then indeed become
the instrument of restoring to affluence and prosperity one
of the most fertile regions of the globe."
The country lies contiguous to the upper portion of the
East Indian Railway Company's line, which runs parallel with
and at no great distance from the capital of Oude, for about
200 miles, and into which the entire traffic conveyed upon the
proposed lines in Oude would flow, at Cawnpore and Benares.
The following extracts from the Calcutta Review for last
June give the most authentic and recent account of the re-
sources and physical capabilities of Oude :
" Oude is undoubtedly one of the most fertile provinces in
India. Its surface extends over about 23,740 square miles.
"The Tarm forest, as well as the arm branching out from
it and known as the Gogurnath and Khyreegurli jungles, fur-
nishes the finest timber in the world. The sisu or sheethum,
the fine toon, the teak, the sankoo, the dhank, and the mag-
zificent ebony and sandal trees here grow iu unsurpassed
splendour. Little is known out of Oude of the resources of
these magnificent woods. One or two enterprising gentlemen,
less ignorant than others, have, however, taken advantage of
these rich natural resources and acquired fortunes. The ca-
pabilities of the country have never been fully developed.
Under a strong and paternal Government only will all •its
mines of wealth be fully brought to light.
"Now that annexation has taken place, a railroad will be
among the greatest benefits the people of Oude can receive at
our hands. Cities such as Fyzabad and Byramghat might
rival Cawnpore and Lucknow in importance ; and with the
greatest ease our merchants might obtain large supplies of
borax, indigo, and saltpetre, which are now comparatively
high as articles of commerce from the very expensive and
tedious modes of communication."
" Of the articles of commerce which Oude furnishes, we
must say a few words. The trade in hides and horns has
been in existence for several years. Thousands and thou-
sands of horned cattle in a wild state, swarm in the hill
forests of the Tarm and the jungles of the interior. There
hides are rotting by thousands, and horns aro lying about by
hundreds of thousands, only requiring the trouble of being
picked up to be saved from destruction. Under a govern-
ment where roads and a Police are not myths trade in theca
might bo very productive, Tallow, already a considerable
article of commerce, could also be obtained in greater quan-
tities ; for hides, horns, and a good portion of the fat of the
cattle, wild and tame, with which Oude abounds, are now
literally thrown away.
"Dude might yield indigo as to quantity, at least half of
the amount produced in Bengal, and as to quality, as good
as that grown in the Tirhoot and the Doab."
" The great article, however, of exportation is
saltpetre, which, as already stated, is found in
great quantities impregnating the alluvial soil
of the country. -With a European peace, and the
permission to export saltpetre to America, the nitre produc-
ing soil of Oude will be particularly called into requisition ;
for unlimited supplies might be sent to the English, French,
and American markets. From 80,000 to a lakh of maunds
might be calculated upon yearly from this province alone, and
we firmly believe that when Oude is once intersected by-
roads and railways, the Gogra navigated, and its streamlets
bridged, it may become the most productive land of all India.
" We have said enough to show what generally unknown
resources Oude possesses, how, once fairly developed, this
country may become of primary importance in the Indian
mercantile world; how, with a network of roads, railways,
and stea,mersihroughout the length and breadth of the laud,
it could be made to yield large profits to the speculator, and
princely revenues to the government that owns it ; how its
jungles could be cleared, or if allowed to stand, could be
made to contribute to the ends of commerce ; we have
dwelt on the importance of its rivers, the resources of its
trade, and the character of its inhabitants, and have shown
by statistical tables how great improvements may bo hoped
for. We have seen what Oude is, we have shown what it may
become ; we shall be glad if aught we have written shall
contribute to effect the change."

The following extract from a communication received from
General Sir James Outram, K.C.8., the English Resident at
Oude, upon the subject, fully confirms the accuracy of the
ter, going statement

"I do not hesitate to say that the early introduction of a
railway into that country will do more to secure its prospe-
rity than any other measure that could be devised."
" Oude is an extensive and fertile territory, only requiring
improved means of communication to develope its great re-
sources. It is perfectly tranquil, and as secure as any other
portion of the East India Company's dominions
support and orninions ; and the
Railway Company may rely upon my cord
as-
sistance, whenevertitimay be required, towards attaining so
important an object, and securing so great a benefit to both
the Government and the people."
The sketch map shows the proposed lines of railway ; their
connection with the East Indian Railway, and with the lines
proposed by Captain Yule for Rohilcund ; from which it will
be seen that they together constitute a comprehensive system
of railways, without any conflicting interests, and each con-
tributing to the prosperity of the other, and of the comities
traversed.
The country is unusually favourable for railway works.
There are no engineering difficulties. The levels are almost
uninterrupted throughout.
The lines proposed to be constructed connect Cawnpore, on
the East Indian Railway, with Lucknow, the residence of the
Governor-General's political agent ; whence three lines radiate
—one to Fyzabad, another by Kyrabad, Shahabad, and Shah-
iehanpore to Bareilly and the Rohilcund Railways ; and a
third by Sultanpore and Juanpore to Benares, where it again
again joins the East Indian Railway.
The entire length of all the proposed lines is about 450
miles : but the company propose to commence with the sec-
tion from Cawnpore to Lucknow, about 50 miles-
The desirableness of extending the railway system through-
out India as rapidly as possible is acknowledged by all who
have given the subject serious consideration ; but the impe-
rative necessity for the earliest completion of the great trunk
lines renders it a measure of policy to limit any new lines to
the construction of the shortest and most important sections
at present, and that their further extension should be depen-
dent upon, and that they should be executed in the order of,
their relative importance in the great system or network
which will before long cover and connect the entire country.
The cost of these lines will not, it is believed, exceed an
average of 9,600/. per mile, inclusive of envying stock ; and
the practicability of working Indian railways at a moderate
expenditure has been alreadY fully established by the ex
perience of the East Indian and Bombay lines.
In compliance with the Principle sanctioned by Parliament,
with regard to the constitution of the East India Directors, in
the last India Bill, and with a view to secure the necessary
amount of local knowledge and experience, one-third of the
directors must have been resident in time Bengal or the
North-west provinces of India.
The directors are in communication with the Hon. East India
Company, with a view to place this company upon the same
under a guarantee
imirs as the other Indian railway companies,