The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-13 00:00:00

HUNGERFORD AND LAMBETH
SUSPENSION FOOTBRIDGE COMPANY.
A special general meeting of the Proprietors of this
Compaey was held yesterday, at the offices in Villiers-
street, Strand. Mr. W. Hawes was !in the chair.
The Directors in their report, which was read to the
meeting, said they had called the Proprietors together,
under the provisions of their amended Act, to obtain
from them their sanctign for raising the sum of 10,000/.
for the purpose of improving the approach to the southern
terminus of the bridge. The Directors said that, while
asking for this additional capital, they thought it right
to state, to prevent any misconceptione their decided opi-
nion that the original capital would be amply sufficient
to complete the bridge, and all the works connected
therewith, as originally contemplated. It might be
necessary (the Directors went on to report) to apply
to Parliament for power to take possession of the pro-
perty required for the approaches, although negotia-
tions hitherto fruitlessly attempted by them (the Di-
rectors) had at the last rnomeet been received in a
spirit that induced them to hope such an application to
the ,Legislature would be unnecessary. As another spe-
cial meeting must, by their Act of 'Parliament, be con-
vened to confirm whatever resolutions might be passed at
the present meeting, the Directors stated they did not con-
sider it advisable at this time, and presiou,ly to their
plans being adopted, to say more than that they consi-
dered it would be most advantageous to the Company,
and convenient to the proprietors, to issue 3,200 shares,
of 31. 2S. 6d. each, amounting to 10,000/., in one-eighth
shares, subject to calls not exceeding 11. per share. The
Directors said they could not allow the meeting to
separate widn!: congratulating the Proprietors on their
prospects since the determination of the Directors of the
South-Western and Richmond Railway Companies to
bring their termini almost to the foot of the bridge had
been approved by their respective Propi ietors, as well as
on the further prospect that in a short time the South-
Eastern and Brighton lines would have their termini in
the same locality. The large number of passengers
coming from or going to Charing-cross, who would use
these railways, would alone be a valuable addition to the
traffic of the bridge, but when the facility of embarking
and debarking at all times of the tide from the bridge,
its convenient and commodious pier, as well as the vast
number of omnibussespassing every minute the entrances
to Hungerford Market, were considered, and by which
the passengers might go at almost any moment to every
place between Chelsea and Woolwich, it must be evident
there would be over the bridge an amount of traffic which
would raise it high in public estimation.
The Ceteereeete said, the original estimated cost of the
present suspension-bridge was 104,5001., which the pro-
jectors had stated would, in their opinion, yield a net
income of 12,9601. The Directors were now able to in-
form the Proprietors that the work would be completed,
including every expense, for the net sum of 102,8001
(Cheers)—which they would see was less by 1,700/. than
the estimate of 1838. But the Directors had now to ask
the Proprietors to give them a sum of money to do that
which was not originally contemplated—they wanted to
pass from the Belvedere-road to Sutton-street (a fine
thoroughfare of 35 yards wide, and built since the bridge
was projected), so as to obtain a good access to the York-
road. The Directors found they would be able to carry
oat this desired approach for less than 5,000 L, including
all expenses, and since the report was written, negotia-
tions had taken place which led the Directors to hope
that the property required would be obtained without
the expense of going to Parliament for an Act for the
purpose. The Chairman then went at some length into
statistical matters to show that the origir.al traffic case
of 1838, which gave a net income of 12,960/., would not
be in any way materially affected by the reduction which
had since been made in the Waterloo-bridge toll from a
penny to a halfpenny. The foot traffic over that bridge
at the time alluded to amounted to 10,400/. per annum,
and since the reduction -of the toll to a halfpenny, the
receipts for the passenger traffic had amounted to
11,0421. per annum. There was therefore every reason
to bo satisfied with the original calculations respecting
the receipts from the traffic across the suspension-bridge.
To the original traffic case would be added the increased
number of passengers that must be nece,sarily brought
to the bridge through the extension of the railways to
the spot, and the increased facilities which the bridge
would afford to the steam-boat traffic.
The report was unanimously adopted. A resolution
for raising the additional capital required was also car-
ried nem. con.
A vote of thanks was then given to the Chairman, and
the meeting broke up.

FATAL ACCIDENT on the DOVER

RAILWAY.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.

This unfortunate occurrence bas attracted the most
serious attention of the officers and Directors belonging
to the line, as well as of the other metropolitan railway
officials, several of whom inspected the spot yesterday
for the purpose of collecting information, for it has not
previously occurred that the boiler of a locomotive, while
running, has exploded.
We wish it to be distinctly understood that we give
publicity to the following on the faith of information
furnished us by one of the officials :
In the examination of the engine by Colonel Pasley and
the engineers, part of the inner casing round the fire.
box was found to have been blown away, and the same
piece to have been forced through the viaduct into the
arch beneath, a considerable distance from where the
et,gine laid. The current opinion then was, that the
explosion had been caused either by some flaw in the
c.,pper casing or by some defect in the rivetting of the
same.

Yesterday, boa ever, upon further 'search being made
by Mr. Cubitt (the engineer of the line), Mr. George,
and other gentlemen, it was diseovered that the safety-
valve was hard down, from which it was inferred that
the explosion arose solely from the circuAstance of the
engine-driver having neglected to open it. The steam
then having no means of escape, had caused the casing
to collapse, and the explosion that followed. Upon fur-
ther consideration, this might have resulted from the
engine capsizing, and making a double turn over, as she
must have done previous to going off the viaduct. The
drum of the engine, it is quite certain, struck one of the
iron rails, for the indentation is still clearly perceptible,
and that might have driven the valve in the positron as
described. The most unaccountable circumstance is, that
the engine was found with her steam shut off, by which
some of the railway officers conclude that the driver had
suspected something was wrong, and had shut it off at
the moment of the explosion. Be this as it may, nothing
but the most searching investigation before the coroner's
jury will satisfy the public mind.
The remains of the engine, tender, and waggon, with
the injury done to the viaduct, is left in the same state
as after the accident, for the inspection of the coroner

• and jury.
The engine was quite new, and had only been shipped
on the line a few days since, from Liverpool.
The inquest was expected to hive, taken place yester-
day, but it being doubtful whether the body was lying
in Mr. Payne's district, or that of Mr. Carter, some time
was lost before information was sent to the right coroner,
and up to last evening the warrant for impannelling the
jury bad not been received. The body of the engine-
driver, which lies at the Bricklayers' Arms station, is
that of a fine young man upwards of six feet in height,
and from the appearances it is probable that death was
instantaneous. The neck was broken, and also the left
arm where the waggon wheel passed over. A very re- I
markable circumstance is that he was not in the least de-
gree scalded, whilst his unfortunate companion was
severely so. During the time that the men were em-
ployed in removing the waggons off the line, another
accident occurred, which nearly cost an excavator his
life. He with several other men were clearing the line,
when a waggon slipped from the top of another one, and
to save himsvlf he ran forward, and fell through one of
the holes to the bottom of the viaduct. When picked up
he was found to be perfectly, insensible. Without loss of
time he was conveyed to Guy's Hospital, where he re-
ceived surgical assistance, and he was enabled in the
course of the morning to walk to his own lodging.
'rho damage done to the viaduct, engine, tender, and
waggons was roughly estimated at 5,0001.