The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-23 00:00:00

RAILWAY COMMITTEES.

(YESTERDAY.)

Group ER.
DUNDEE AND PERTH (NORTH) LINES.
The Committee on these railways resumed this morning at the
usual hour ; the Right Hon. F. Baring, chairman.
The Hon. F. Ponsonby said, that a meeting had taken place
since the Committee separated yesterday upon the subject of the
terminus, as suggested by the Right Hon. Chairman, with a view
to make some arrangement between them. Hitherto all negotia-
tions had proved abortive, and even that commenced this morning
had concluded without a settlement, nevertheless hopes were en-
tertained that an amicable issue would yet be attained. Under
this anticipation, therefore, he should, on the part of the promoters
of the Dundee and Perth line, abstain from touching on the ques.
tion of terminus and the South Inch.

The CHAIRMAN suggested that both parties should refrain from
alluding to the subject of terminus altogether. -
This proposition being acceded to, the evidence of witnesses was
continued.

John Miller, cross.examined by Mr. FORSYTH—The line he had
proposed between Dundee and Perth would proceed parallel to the
turnpike.road for several miles, more than a milo and a half of
which would be within ten feet of it. No prevision had
been made for separating the railway from the road, but
in their Bill they had suggested its being left to the direction of
the Sheriff. The height of the bridge on the Tay above the ordi-
nary high water mark would be 7 feet 2 inches. Was aware that a
communication had been made by the Admiralty to Lord Kin.
'laird, but was not in possession of its details. (The Learned
Counsel here read a letter from the Secretary to the Admiralty,
dated May 19, 1845, in which the opinion of that
Board was decidedly expressed against the erection of any
bridge over the Tay, inasmuch as it would entail con-
siderable mischief on the navigation of that river, but in the
Event of its being found absolutely indispensable, they would
concede to it on the condition that it should be constructed at right
angles to the river, at an elevation of sixteen feet above the ordi.
nary high water mark, and that a swing bridge should be thrown
across similar to that to be erected over the Tamar at Torpoint,
on the South Devon line, having an opening of fifty feet
to allow of the passage of vessels. With those requirements their
Bill did not comply, inasmuch as the letter was of so recent a
date, but their course could now be easily shaped so as to act
upon them. The length of embankment through the Tay would
be in the first case five furlongs, in the second a quarter of a mile,
and in the third about a quarter of a mile also. The embankment
would require 30,000 cubic yards of earth-work per mile, varying
in width from twelve to seventeen feet, at a cost of one shilling
per cubic yard, and wanting 12,000 yards of pitch-work.
Cross-examined by Mr. Common, 2. C., on behalf of the Scottish
Midland Company—Had not as yet prepared a detailed estimate of
the cost of the undertaking; but would have no objection to fur-
nish the Committee with the various heads and items of the ex-
penses, nor with a rough sketch of the bridge he proposed to
throw over the Tay, in accordance with the requirement of the
Admiralty.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant WILANGRAM for the trustees
of the Perth harbour—The chief traffic on the river Tay was
concentrated at the Penitentiary below the South Inch. He did
not think that there would be any difficulty experienced in the
construction of their line near Sleepless Island.
George Lorimer, examined by the Hon. Mr. PONSONBY—Is one
of the contractors of the Dundee and Perth Railway. Has exa-
mined the estimates and items of the line in detail, and considers
them correct.

Cross-examined by Mr. FORSYTH—The amount of cubic yards of
embankment on the entire line will be 600,0001. ; estimates the
cost of the masonry at 12,7001., and the laying down of the rails
without sleepers, or anything except bare labour, at 11,0001. The
sum total necessary for that proportion of the line which he had
estimated was 80,0001.

(This line of cross-examination being objected to by Mr. An-
drews, the Committee ruled that either the course should be
allowed, or the evidence of the witness altogether struck out. The
latter alternative being preferred by the promoters of the Bill, the
evidence was expunged.)
James Leslie, examined by Mr. ANDREWS-48 a civil engineer,
and being instructed by:the trustees of the Dundee Harbour to sur-
vey the proposed course of the Dundee and Perth Railway, and see
whether their harbour would be injured by the embankments to be
constructed on its margin, was of opinion, that so far from being de-
trimental, it would be of the greatest advantage to the harbour. In
1842 the trustees of the harbour contemplated the formation of
similar embankments, anticipating the most beneficial results, but
had subsequently abandoned the measure, solely from pecuniary
motives.

Cross-examined by Mr. FORSYTH—The time it would take to
pass from the terminus of the Dundee and Perth to that of the
Dundee and Arbroath was about four minutes. In January last
had made a report to the trustees of the Dundee harbour, in which
he said that' Dock-street, being only eighty feet wide, should
not remain both a quay and a street, and that it would be preferable
that a line should pass, if possible, in any other direction than along
Dock-street. Bad also reported that very serious injuries had been
inflicted on the harbour by the embankments already constructed.
Does not think the amenity of the houses would be injured by the
line passing immediately by thern.
Andrew Barless examined by Mr. ANDREWS —IS a land.valuer
of 20 years' experience, and having valued the whole of the line,
had made an estimate of 23,9081. 4s. 9d.

Cross-examined by Mr. FORSYTH—That is a high estimate; has
taken 186,205 acres.
This having closed the evidence of the promoters,
Mr. FORSYTH, on the part of the conservators of the river Tay,
commenced his rebutting case, by calling

David Stephenson, who deposed to the issuing of the original
prospectus of the Dundee and Perth Railway in 1844, in
which a bridge was proposed to be thrown over the Tay at a place
called Macdrum, about seven miles frem Perth. That scheme had
been abandoned, when it was proposed to erect it at the South
Inch, which latter project had also been given up, and a third,
according to the suggestion of the Board of Admiralty, finally
adopted. He considered from what he could gather of the pro_
position that it would prove inconvenient to the traffic on that line.
The direct examination of this witness being concluded, and the
Speaker announced at prayers, the Committee adjourned. .

Group E.