The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-25 00:00:00

LISLE RAILWAY.

A meeting of shareholders in the Edinburgh, and
Glasgow Railway Company, and of parties friendly
to the proposed line from Glasgow to Carlisle, by
Dumfries, was convened by circular, and held at one
o'clock yesterday in the ex-committee room, in order
to meet the Chairman and a deputation from Glasgow
of the promoters of the proposed line. Amongst the
gentlemen present were Messrs. J. B. Smith, Joseph
Crewdson, M'Connel, Samuel Walker, G. Grundy,
Peet, Higgin, Cardwell, Standring, John Ogden, John
Duncuft, &c. The deputation consisted of John Lead-
better Esq., Chairman of the Edinburgh and Glasgow
Railway Board,!and also Chairman of the Provisional
Committee of the proposed line, and Mr. William
Logie of Glasgow, interim Secretary. Mr. G. Grundy
being called to the chair, Mr. Leadbetter entered
into a statement, with a view to show that the pro-
posed line by Dumfries was the one most for the
interest of English shareholders in the Glasgow and
Ayr line, and in the Edinburgh and Glasgow line, to
support. He noticed the survey four years ago by
the Government engineers, with Sir Frederick Smith
at their head, and their instructions being, in con-
formity with a resolution of the House of Commons,
to report as to which was the best line of communi-
cation from England with Edinburgh and Glasgow
(which instructions did not leave them at liberty to
decide between the merits of an east and west coast
line) ; they reported in favour of the centre line (the
Caledonian). But since then circumstances had
changed; the East Coast Company had got up their
capital and went into Committee yesterday, for a line
as far south as Berwick, and it was understood that
capital was made up for carrying it on as far as
Newcastle, Mr. Hudson giving the latter por-
tion his powerful influenoe. The Caledonian,
or centre line, was backed by the Grand Junc-
tion, North Union, Preston and Lancaster, and.
Lancaster and Carlisle Companies, which he be-
lieved subscribed a portion of the capital for it, and
which supported it, hoping thereby to get a portion
of the east coast traffic ; but they would have that ad-
vantage if the east coast line were carried, and the Bill
for it was not impeded by the efforts of the Caledo-
nian Company. This reduced the question to this :
Shall Glasgow have its intercourse with Lancashire
and other parts of England, carried round by Edin-
burgh? He thought every one would see the neces-
sity of a west coast line, and then the question arose,
what ought that line to be ? There could not be a
doubt that a line coming upon the Ayrshire line
at Ayr, or Kilmarnock, must be benelcial to the
interests of the Ayrshire shareholders. Then, would
it. pay ? The proposed line would pass through a
very rich part of Scotland, with a considerable
town population, besides abounding in agricul-
tural and mineral wealth. One part of it would pass
through a large bed of coal and of the most valuable
iron-stone (the black-band). It was therefore more
likely to pay than the other lines. The Caledonian
line had much less favourable gradients; its recent
alterations gave it a gradient for some distance of one
in 75, besides 18 miles more at an average of one in
128. They would have to pass over the Beattock
summit. Taking the statement of the Caledonian
Company, that line would be 24 miles shorter than
that by Dumfries; but the Ayrshire line would have
much more favourable gradients, be less expensive in
forming, and the engineer said, would be worked in
the same time as the Caledonian. Up to Wednesday
last, nearly 5,000 shares, or 120,0001., had been
subscribed in Glasgow • the Ayrshire Company, at
a meeting, on Wednesday, agreed to subscribe
200,000/. to the undertaking. In London they had
had applications for 2,000 shares (50,0001.), and there
was the fairest prospect of the subscription being
taken up. He was aware of the great array of names
on the committee of the Caledonian line, and that
they were backed by the chairmen of the English
lines ; but for this line it was preferred to have a
provisional committee of merchants, who would work
like men of business. Lord Eglintoun (a large pro-
prietor in Ayrshire) was to be the Governor or
Chairman, and Lord James Stuart (representing the
Bute family), the Deputy-Chairman. They hoped
also to have the assistance and interference of the
Portland family. He hoped, therefore, the Ayr-
shire Railway shareholders in Manchester would
give the proposed line their substantial sup-
port. Then the Edinburgh and Glasgow Rail-
way Company, whose capital was almost en-
tirely in England, would have their interests vi-
tally affected by the decision between the Cale-
donian and the Ayrshire line. The former, by its
diverging east and west from Lanark to Edinburgh
and Glasgow, would be really a competing line with
the Edinburgh and Glasgow,—besides making the
distance between the two cities more than 60 miles,
instead of 46 or 47 as at present. It was clearly the
interest of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Company
to appose the Caledonian Company, which also pro-
posed to carry a line across the Edinburgh and Glas-
gaw line, direct north to Stirling and Perth. In
answer to questions from various gentlemen, Mr.
Leadbetter added that the Caledonian Company would
have 112 miles of new line to make, after taking ad-
vantage of 20 miles of mineral railways in the neigh-
bourhood of Glasgow; their capital was to be 1,800,000/.,
or 16,0001. a mile. The Glasgow, Dumfries, and Car-
lisle Company had only 92 miles to execute, which their
engineer assured them could be done (paying four per
cent. during execution to the shareholders) at
1,300,0001., or 13,0001. a:mile. Some further state-
ments and conversation ensued, in the course of which
Mr. Leadbetter stated that the total amount sub-
scribed was about 400,0001., or nearly one-third of
the whole amount required, though the scheme had
been before the public only for a few days. It was
ultimately resolved, that that the best thanks of the
meeting be given to Mr. Leadbetter and Mr. Logie,
for the valuable information, and that they be
requested to take an an early opportunity of convening
another meeting of proprietors of the Edinburgh and
Glasgow, and the Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr
Railways, and of such other parties as are favourable
to the the western line from England to Glasgow, by
Dumfries and Ayr.—Manchester Guardian of Sa-
turday.