The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-24 00:00:00

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.pB,ICE 4D. STAMPED, SD.

one. The aggregate yearly earnings of all the lines
in the kingdom are about £25,000,000. Nearly half
goes for working expenses, leaving, say £12,000,000
profit. This would provide a good 6 per cent. on the
ordinary share capital ; but there are other claims
to be satisfied first. The, interest payable on the
great railway debt amounts to nearly £3,500,000,
and other creditors, under the name of " preferen-
tial" shareholders, exact almost as much more. In
the end a bare £6,000,000, instead of £12,000,000,
remains for the regular dividend, which, from a
possible 6 per cent., thus dwindles down ton.
There is the history of railway property in Eng-
Iv nd, and it can be read at a glance. As for the past,
that cannot be recalled, nor is there any longer a
possibility that railway shares should be made what
they might have been. The utmost that can now be
done is to eschew the costly follies which have pro-
duced such mischief, and to strive for moderate im-
provements by good management and judicious
economy. There is no reason why railway property
generally should not pay 5 or even 6 per cent., nor
why shares should not mount to par. Much pro-
gress, in fact, has been lately made. The Share List
now shows nine considerable lines at a premium,
and others at only a trifling discount, but though
this is a material advance upon former reports, it is
not a state of things in which proprietors can con-
0-terrt-edir acquiasee. .The CUSC uthuLt. --gr<iniati.:i*
better still. Accounts might b 3 made more per-
spicuous and credit placed on a sounder basis.
There is nothing which the public desires Vlore
than certainty, and even the worst may be faced
when it is quite certain that the worst is known.
Tnen, again, it may surely be practicable to strike
off something from that ugly item of " compensa-
tions." Accidents at £20,000 a-piece must needs
pull down a dividend, besides the disrepute which
they bring upon a line. The sooner this feature
of " working expenses" is obliterated the better it
will be for all parties.
Let us, hope, however, that, whether these
reforms are successful or otherwise, we may at least
avoid fresh shipwrecks in our new adventures. Let
the fresh £50,000,000, if the money is really to be
found, pay better interest than the old £300,000,000
already embarked. We know exactly the rocks on
which we struck, and it will be hard if we cannot
avoid them. It is our belief that railways, fairly
and honest'y constructed, form about the safest of
all investments for money. We doubt if there are
any two towns in the kingdom between which a
line might not be made to pay if its cost were
strictly limited to necessary works. Strike out of
the account law expenses, " preliminary" charges,
Parliamentary contests, extravagant designs, and
the thousand forms of professional rivalry—confine
the proceedings to the actual business of the con-
tractors, and we believe a certain interest of money
would be forthcoming in any imaginable case.
Improve upon these conditions—that is to say,
make the line where it is clearly wanted for the
traffic of the district, with a good selection of
stations and termini, and remuneration is Ps safe
as possible. It has bean now thoroughly esta -
blished that railway communication is sure to pay
if the capital invested is kept within reasonable
%ifs. That is the o-re condition to be satisfied,
and. es it is perfectly compatible withfist-rate
work and liberal accommodation, we do trust it
may be observed in futr-e.— Times.

THE RECENT OUTBREAK BY THE

CONVICTS AT CHATHAM.

The investigation ordered by the Home Secre•
tar), into the recent disturbances and mutinous
conduct on the part of the convicts at St. Me.i's
convict establishment, Chatham, was commenced
on Monday by Captain Gambier, the Dii•ector-
General of Convict Prisons, who arrived at
Chatham on that day, the investigation being held
in the Governor's office at the prison. Since Sun-
day the utmost tranquillity has prevailed through-
out the entire establishment, and no return of the
outrageous behaviour on the part of the convicts
which was witnessed last week has been attempted,
order and quietness taking the place of the former
turbulence and riot. There is now no doubt that
had it not been for the firmness and energy shown
by Captain Powell, the Governor, Sunday last
would have exhibited another fierce outbreak by
the convicts. Captain Powell, however, having
learnt that something of the kind was intended,
directed the whole of the warders to remain on
duty in the establishment on that day, and at the
time the men were allowed to exercise themselves
on the parade-ground an extra number of warders
were stationed among the convicts, the remainder
being judiciously kept out of sight, but in readiness
to act immediately their services were required.
This man oeuvre had the desired effect, and, after the
convicts had taken their hour's exercise, they were
quietly marched into the chapel, where the service
was decorously performed, the Governor adopting
the same precaution during the exercise time in
the afternoon. From the result of the investiga-
tion instituted by Captain Gambier it has been
ascertained beyond doubt that the recent outbreaks
were led by a few most ruffianly characters,
an account of the failure of the plot which
had been concocted to enable a number of them to
effect their escape. The convict Peters, who was at
the head of the affair, was intrusted with the skele-
ton key for releasing the others from their cells.
As previously stated, this skeleton key was manu-
factured by one a the convicts employed in the
dockyard, where of course they have access to any
tools they may require in the work on which they
are engaged. Since the occurrence strict orders
have been issued to all the warders to use the ut •
most vigilance over the convicts working in the
dockyard, in order to:prevent any of the tools being
used for an improper purpose. In addition to the
four convicts removed to Millbank on Saturday
last, Captain Gambier has directed three others of
the most notorious character, who took a leading
part in the late riotous proceedings, to be removed
from Chatham. Their names are Durant, Bayle,and
White. Durant has accordingly been removed to
Pentonville, and the two others to Millbank, where
:hey will be flogged, and be reduced to the lowest
class; and their period of probation commenced
again. It was expected that Captain Gambier would
have ordered a severe example to be made of several
of the ringleaders, by directing them to be flogged
in the presence of the convicts at Chatham, but for
certain reasons this course has not been adopted.
The leaders, however, will not be allowed to escape
condign punishment, 12 more liaving been selected
to be sent to Millbank, where, on their arrival they
will doubtless be flogged and also reduced to the
lowest class. The number ordered to be reduced to
this class, and all mitigation of their punishment
lbabiLed, 1$ believed to be nearly 30. It should be
stated that a great number of the convicts refrained
from taking any part in the recent outbreak, and
among these is Pulling(); who has not long been
an inmate of the prison, where he was sent
from London, having completed his probation.
A murderous assault was yesterday com-
mitted by a number of convicts on a convict
named Harold, while at work at St. Mary's Island,
adjoining Chatham Dockyard. Harold was believed
to have given some information respecting the
recent disturbances, whereby several of his fellow-
convicts were implicated. This deeply incensed
them, and yesterday a party of convicts, headed by
two men named Young and Johnson, seized a heavy
stone each, and rushing past the warders and
qrd, reached the place where Harold was at work,
and c,mmenced a murderous attack upon him.t
Harold wt.',
soon overpowered, and there isno d obi's%
hinajsuterende,diftonohtis killed,
would have b.:,en serioUslY
assistance
not several of the warder's
and rescued him, seir.ing „ optthe
employed
leaders in the oge-
er
A stonecutter named CrOwth
'CUOUI3 in defending
island, who made himself c0i;.4% convicts that he
Harold, was threatened by tL vortunity for his
should be murdered on the firsetot. red, be removed
x
wage ilw
assault was made
interference. Harold will,it 1:q not safe at
to another establishments_vn
Chatham. The same
udva9
ic a mulatto, on g Warder,
in the prison by a_
named Denbow. The convict had just left the bath
conducted across
room, and was being
ent when he dd 'v turned
su eni) ,
0 another
part of the estabhs
on the warder, knocking him down, and decking
and otherwise attacking him in the most say.
manner. The cries of Denbow brought some on:
to his assistance, when it was found that he was
so seriously injured as to necessitate his removal to
the prison infirmary. The convict has been placed
in the punishment cell, to await an investigation
into his conduct.

DOCK-ACCOMMODATION AT HULL.--The construc-
tion is proposed at Hull of an extensive dock and basin for
the' accommodation of steamers and shipping on the fore-
shore ;0 the westward of the Humber-dock basin. Lines of
railway aim" t',9 be laid down to connect the new dock with
the local railwa 's, and street and approach improvements
~
are also contempi;:kted. Altogether the expenditure will be
upwards of £500,000:.