The Sun.
London, England, 1844-11-30 00:00:00

ORLEANS, TOURS, and BORDEAUX

RAILWAY.

Three of the Directors, accompanied by the engineers
of the Company, have just completed a tour of inspec-
tion over the section of this line between Orleans and
Tours, preparatory to the delivery to the Company by
the Government.
Of the 114 kilometres (72 miles) comprised in this
distance, there are 94 kilometres ready for the imme-
diate commencement of the ballasting and laying the
rails. The remaining 20 kilometres are in an almost
equal state of forwardness, except in the immediate
vicinity of the city of Tours, where the earthwork is
very light.
Tho stupendous bridge over the Loire, at Mont Louis,
had the last arch keyed-in in the presence of these gen-
tlemen. It is a noble structure of 12 arches, each 25
metres span (82 feet English), and is built with the
beautiful stone of the country. It reflects the highest
credit, as indeed do all the works on the line, upon the
Government engineers, MM. Foulon and Moraudiere,
upon the latter of whom, more especially, has devolved
the direction of the lower part of the line.
Not only the masonry, but the;earthwork also is com-
pleted, with the exquisite finish which characterises all
the work of the French engineers. The embankments
are constructed in successive layers of from half a metre
(20 inches) to a metre in thickness, laid in from barrows
or carts. The slopes are dressed off with the most care-
ful precision, and the cuttings are faced with stone
pitching tamest to the very top ! This mode of con•
struction is much more expensive than is usual in our
railway works in this country ; but we are not quite
sure that it is not cheaper in the end. At all events the
Company, who have tojwork and maintain the line, have
abundant cause to rejoice at the carefulness and solidity
of the construction throughout.
After much deliberation and considerable difficulty
with the department of Public Works, the joint station
at Tours for this and the line to Nantes is definitively
fixed to be at the very gates of the city, which will be an
immense convenience to the public, and no small advan-
tage to the city itself. The plans are approved, and the
erection of the buildings will be commenced forthwith.
The Company will have an independent station at Or-
leans also, communicating, if needs be, with that of the
Paris and Orleans Company. The other stations will be
commenced without delay, and have been deferred
hitherto only that the wishes of the Company might be
consulted as to the sites and general disposition of the
buildings.

About 100,000 metres cube of coarse sand and gravel,
for ballast, extracted from the bed of the Loire, during
the summer months, is already carted on the line ready
for use, and excellent material is at hand for forming
the bottom layer, to bed the sleepers en. We hope,
probably in our next, to be able to announce the ratifi-
cation of a formal contract with Messrs. Mackenzie and
Brassey, for the completion and stocking of the whole
line to Bordeaux, leaving still a good margin on the
capital of the Company. This would, indeed, be the
crowning act of the prudence and good management
that have characterised all the operations of this Com-
pany, if, in the face of seventy millions, estimated by
the Government engineers as the requisite capital for
completing and working this line, and of seventy-fire
millions, estimated by more than one of the competing
Companies, the Directors can accomplish it for less than
sixty-fire millions of francs, of which their capital is
composed, they will have earned the lasting gratitude of
the shareholders. It will be a novel feature in the history
of railways for the shareholders to have a guarantee, at
least six years beforehand, that the capital is sufficient—.
that there will be extra bills to be paid, and no loans
raised or shares created to provide means of payment.
We use the word "guarantee" advisedly, because the
well-known wealth, as well as skill and experience, of
the firm in question, can leave no doubt that they will
accomplish, and in the least possible time too, whatever
they undertake. It is confidently expected that the
section to Tours will be opened in the month of August
next year.

gong congsifdreemrabtlheeeh
grandange . entrance Alargteo .
New Palace-yard is at the present time under-
iextendin
Westminsteru e o f
ground,
iial
1
to the corner of Judges' Chambers, has since yesterday
been enclosed with a high paling. lt is understood that
workmen have received orders tb
commence on Monday
morning the erection upon this site of range of tem-
porary buildings. It is intended to apportion twelve
rooms for Committees of the House of Commons, an
others for Vice-Chancellors Bruce and Wigr
arerersod two
conversant with the subject are of opinion thatttes
number of Committees which will sit next session, will
be altogether unprecedented. With regard to the new
Houses of Parliament, though there are persons who
speak of their being ready for use within a few months,
an examination of their present state cannot but dispel
any such idea, and convince even inexperienced persons
that their completion will not be witnessed for a very
considerable period.
ESCAPE or PEISONERS.—Two prisoners, Robert
Stephenson, and Thomas Pearson, under confinement
for trial at_ the ensuing sessions for the North Riding
of Yorkshire, charged with three separate acts of
larceny, effected their escape from the lock-up at
Mahon, during the night of Tuesday last. They
were labourers, formerly residing at Seamer, but have
latterly been living at Cayton, near Scarborough. Ste-
phenson is about twenty-eight years of age, five feet ten
or eleven inches high, fresh coloured, and walks erect.
I'earson is about 30, stiff built, five feet six or seven
inches high, has dark hair, and a sallow complexion.—
Durham Chronicle.