The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-02 00:00:00

MEETING OF THE COMPLETE SUFFRAGE

ASSOCIATION.
Last evening a meeting of the inhabitants- of South-
wark, promoted by the members of the Metropolitan
Complete Suffrage Association, ostensibly for the pur-
pose of advancing the principle indicated by the title,
but in reality to take measures for securing the return
of Mr. Miall as member for the borough, was held in
the spacious lecture-room attached to the Literary
Institution in the Borough-road. The chair was occu-
pied by Dr. Epps, who stated the objects of the meeting.
Mr. DICK moved the first resolution, to the effect that
in the opinion of the meeting, the present restricted and
imperfect state of the representation was the strongest
obstacle to the removal of monopoly, the source of
bad laws, and the greatest enemy to the liberties of the
people.
Mr. CLARKE seconded the resolution in a clever ar-
gumentative speech, which was loudly cheered.
motion was then put and carried unanimously.
Mr. HaLLam moved the next resolution, that every
adult male of sound mind, and uncontaminated by
crime, was entitled to the elective franchise, and such
protection in the exercise of it as would enable him to
vote according to the dictates of his conscience.
Mr. DicKsoN seconded this resolution, which was also
carried unanimously.
Several working-men, and others who described them-
selves as canvassers for Mr. Miall, subsequently
addressed the meeting, and gave a hopeful account of the
progress made by
hera on behalf of their favourite
carAidate.

Mr. WEBB, the Chairman of Mr. Miall's Committee,
stated that committees had been formed in Edinburgh,
Glasgow, and various parts of Ireland, for the purpose
of promoting Mr. Miall's election, and numerous re-
mittances, and letters of sympathy, had been received
front them, which gave them the strongest hopes of
success.

Mr. RICHARDSON proposed a resolution, pledging the
meeting to support A. Ir. Miall at the hustings, which was
carried by acclamation.

Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, and the
meeting separated.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY.
(Abridged from the Plymouth Herald.)
•

The third half-yearly general meeting of the South
Devon Railway Company was held at the Royal Hotel,
Plymouth, on Saturday, Thomas Gill, Esq., M.P., in the
chair.

The CHAIRMAN proposed that the common seal of the
Company be affixed to the register of shareholders, and
it being agreed to, he proceeded to address the meeting
upon the objects now contemplated by the Board of Di-
rectors. He remarked upon the circumstances attendant
on the postponement of the Cornwall Bill and the South
Devon and Tavistock, and Launceston and Tavistock
Bills. He then detailed the steps subsequently taken,
and referred to the meeting held at Truro en Tuesday,
all of which is already before our readers. He ob-
served that the measures adopted would deprive
the Central Railway Company of any pretence to
go to Parliament for its approval of the scheme
started by them, as the Cornwall Railway would be so
constructed as to connect the northern and central parts of
that county with Launceston and the North of Devon,
and provide ample accommodation for the inhabitants in
every part of Cornwall. He regretted the postponement
of the South Devc n and Tavistock, and Tavistock and
Launceston Lines, and believed that would not have
occurred had any member of the Committee who inves-
tigated the atmospheric system of traction been appointed
upon the Committees on these Bills. As it was, however,
they would be taken up in the next session at the point
where they left off, and the only reason for regretting
the postponement, was not that there was the slightest
doubt of their being sanction( d by the legislature, but
because had the Bills passed last session the lines would
most probably have been opened at the same time that
the Railway to Plymouth was finished, which could not
now be dot e. Tho Hon. Gentleman then referred to
the new projects to which it was intended that the Com-
pany should be asked to give their sanction by affording
a portion of the required capital. He anticipated that
very great advantages would result from the construction
of the North Devon, and other railways referred to in
the notice convening the extraordinary meeting, and he
entered at some length into the details, which were very
similar to the particulars given in the report subse-
quently read by the Secretary. He next spoke of the
state of the works, and remarked that great benefit had
resulted from the delay which had taken place, as they
had now the benefit of seeing the results of the experi-
ments upon the Croydon Railway, whereby a consider-
able sum of money !would be saved is the outlay, the
annual expenses would be diminished, and the line per-
fected in a way which they could hardly otherwise have
hoped for. Amongst other things, it was now found
that, instead of having a stationary engine at a distance
of every three miles, one placed at a distance of five or
six miles would accomplish the work, and in proof of
the highly satisfactory nature of the experiments made
upon the Croydon line, Mr. Gill read a letter from Mr.
Samuda, in which that gentleman stated—
lst. That we obtained a vacuum of 271 inches in 5
miles of pipe, working only one engine over the two
sections to obtain it, not only once, but every time with
ease.

2d. When the engine is stopped, the vacuum allowed
to be destroyed by leakage, it takes two hours to reduce
the barometer to zero, (though at Dalkey 15 minutes
would be all the time it could be maintained above the
zero point), the leakage being here less than I horse
power per mile.
3d. The facility of obtaining the vacuum is greater,
having regard to the length, than anything we have
hitherto done.
4th. We have travelled over the 5 miles in 6m. 455.
when working one engine only, and in 6m. 14s. when
working engines at both stations (as intended in prac-
tice), viz., the middle and the ending, to propel the train.
sth. To do the distance in the above time, which in-
cludes the time of obtaining our speed and coming to
rest, the maximum speed was 70 miles per hour.
6th. The practical result of our working was to beat
the Brighton quick train, having given it one minute
law, and then started from rest, while the Brighton train
passed the spot where we were standing at full speed,
drawn by two locomotives, and continued with unabated
speed, and was in tact going as fast as it could when we
overhauled it four miles beyond where we started.
7th. With a train of eight carriages and about two
hundred persons, we stopped with the brakes on the in-
cline rising 1 in 50, and started again nearly as free as
on the level ; on the whole the results are beyond what
we led any one to expect, and I trust it will not be long
before I have an opportunity of showing them to the
South Devon Directors.

The best evidence of the value of Mr. Samuda's report
was to be found in the fact that since its publication, the
value of a share in the South Devon line had already
risen 51., and he confidently believed that as future expe-
riments became known, the value of shares in railways
constructed upon this principle would be greatly in-
creased. He would now call upon the secretary to read
the report, and he did not doubt that the unanimity
which had hitherto marked their proceedings would also
upon that occasion be found to prevail.
Mr. CARR then proceeded to read the
REPORT.

Your Directors have the satisfaction of submitting to
you the half-yearly statement of accounts closed to the
30th June last, and which exhibits the following results:
Total receipts as per Account,
render. d to 31st Decem-
ber, 1844 £197,392 17 6
To 30th June, 1845 ... 123,674 1 6
-----E321,066 19 0
Disbursements to 31st Decem-

ber, 1844 £ 91,574 17 5
„ To 30th June, 1845

272,127 8 3

.........
Shewing a balance in hand on 30th June, _____.
1844, of
Less Parliamentary Deposit with the Account-
ant-General

Since the 30th June, the period to whict 7t,h6BelOae!
counts extend, a call of 5L per share has been made; and
your Directors take this early opportunity of stating that
9se
the progress of the works will require their calling for
another instalment, at the expiration of the interval pro-
vided by the Act of Incorporation.
At the last half-yearly meeting of Proprietors your
Directors referred in their report to the advantages
which they anticipated would result from the construc-
tion of the Cornwall Railway ; and they were authorized
by you to subscribe the amount of funds which it was
then proposed to contribute towards the formation of
that line. The Cornwall Railway Company not having
obtained their Act during the past session, have now de-
cided :on applying to Parliament for an improved and
more extended line ; and with the view of furthering the
attainment of so desirable an object your Directors re-
commend not only the renewal of those powers which
were conferred upon them in February last, but also that
you should authorize their increasing your subscription
to an amount not exceeding 200,0001. in the whole, if it
should appear to them expedient, when the scheme for
enlarging the capital of that company is laid before them.
In regard to the South Devon Amendment Bill for
the Plymouth extensions of your line and branch to
Tavistock, your Directors have merely to report that
this Bill and the Bill for the Launceston and South Devon
Railway have received the sanction of the Committee of
the House of Commons, but that their further progress
has been postponed until the ensuing session.
Your Directors have now to bring under your notice
those projects in extension of your own line, or in sup-
port of other Companies, which circumstances require
that they should press upon your consideration earlier
perhaps than they would otherwise have thought ad-
visable.

NORTH DEVON RAILWAY.—The most important of
these projects, and the scheme to which it is proposed
that you should afford a very decided support, is that of
the North Devon Railway Company, which, while it
supplies a desideratum in railway communication to the
northern and central portions of the county, will also
conduce in a material degree to the interests of the
South Devon line ; and it is gratifying to know that the
scheme has received the cordial support of the county
and of the public generally.
The advantages which may be expected to accrue
from the North Devon Line having been fully consider-
ed at meetings of Directors of the Great Western, the
Bristol and Exeter, and the South Devon Railway Com-
panies, it was resolved to recommend to their several
proprietors to contribute jointly one-half of the re-
quired capital ; and your Directors now submit for
your approval that the South Devon Railway Com-
pany subscribe 375,0001. as your proportion of that
contribution.
TORBAY BRANCH.—The construction of a Branch to
Torbay and Dartmouth, from the South Devon Line, at
or near Aller, has long been contemplated by your
Directors, and the proposal would have been submitted
to your consideration at an earlier period if the neces •
sary arrangements could have been made for applying
to Parliament during the past session. Your Directors
have great confidence in the advantages likely to result
from the formation of this Branch, and they therefore
seek your authority to apply to Parliament in the
ensuing Session for an Act empowering you to carry
this object into effect in such manner as may appear
expedient.
The surveys not being yet complete, your Directors
are unable to place before you the details of the line,
or estimate of its probable cost ; but they have reason
to believe that it may be constructed at a moderate
expense.
ASHBURTON AND NEWTON RAILWAY.—Your Direc-
tors report that a Company which proposes to connect
the town of Ashburton with the South Devon line, at or
near Newton, lately applied to them for assistance, and
believing that the line will prove beneficial to your inte-
rests, your Directors are disposed to entertain the ap-
plication favourably ; but are not yet in posession of
sufficient information to guide their decision. They,
therefore, propose that you should confide to them such
powers as will enable them at their discretion to afford to
the promoters of this scheme that amount of assistance
which may appear desirable.
Your Directors have now to refer to the state and
progress of the works. Some delays have occurred
which were not anticipated when the last report was
presented to you, but your Directors now look forward
with great confidence to the rapid completion of that
portion of the line which it has been their anxious de-
sire to open at an early period. Although themselves
much disappointed that any delay should have arisen,
your Directors feel nevertheless assured of the great
benefit that will be derived from the opportunity thus
afforded of effecting improvements in the general con-
struction of the works ; and they still entertain a con-
fident expectation that the entire line to Plymouth will
be opened within the period originally contemplated.

ENGINEER'S REPORT.
Between Exeter and Dawlish the works are rapidly
drawing to a close. A little delay has occurred at
Cockwood, in consequence of the extreme softness of

the mud, which is unable to carry the weight of the in-
tended embankment. A timber viaduct has therefore
been designed ; it is in progress, and will shortly be
completed ; this will meet the difficulty, besides affording
other conveniences to the inhabitants of that part.
At I)awlisb, the arrangements which have been re-
cently made have met with the approbation of the in-
habitants, and will shortly be completed.
All the tunnels along the coast are on the point of
being finished.
At Teignmoutb, the tunnels and covered way are
equally forward, as well as the works to within a short
distance of Newton. Near this place some delay has
arisen, from the difficulty of obtaining possession of
certain land which prevented the progrgss of the work at
a heavy cutting.
This work, however, is now carried on by night as
well as by day, and it will shortly be finished,
From Newton to Plymouth the works generally are in
a satisfactory state of forwardness, and are being pushed
on with vigour.
A considerable portion of the permanent way has been
laid, and nearly all the materials for the first portion of
the line are now on the ground.
The Atmospheric pipes are in active pregres , and a
portion of them is ready to be laid in succession to the
permanent way.
The engine houses up to Dawlish are in course of con-
struction, those at the Exeter end ai e ready to be roofed,
and the machinery in a few days will be in course of
erection.

In the course of a month or six weeks a locomotive
engine will be run over the line as the permanent way
advances for the purpose of consolidating the earthworks.
In conclusion, your Directors have the pleasure to con-
gratulate the proprietary on the successful result of the
experiments which have been recently made upon the
Croydon Atmospheric Line, far exceeding their most
sanguine expectations ; and it is highly gratifying to
your Directors to find that their views, as to the efficacy
of the atmospheric system of traction have been thus
amply realised.

THOMAS GILL, Chairman.
After a short conversation on the subject of the allot-
ment of shares in the North Devon Railway Company,
Mr. PRANCE, with reference to the letter which had
been read from Mr. Samuda, inquired as to the truth of
a statement which he had heard : that as the carriages
upon Atmospheric Railways approached the termination
of each section, the speed was so sensibly diminished as
to leave them almost at a stand still, so that there was
nothing like an equilibrium in the rate of travelling ?
The CHAIRMAN replied that he had mush pleasure in
answering the inquiry. So far was the statement from
being correct, that it was found upon the Croydon line
that the barometer stood 26i at one end and 274 on ar-
riving at the other end of the five miles, showing a very
little difference in the two extremities.

Mr. PRANCE then observed that nothing had baen said
as to the probable connexion of the Cornwall Railway
with the South Devon line.
The CHAIRMAN said that Mr. Brunel had received in-
structions to attend to the recommendations of the Com-
mittee of the House of Lords, and that until the result
of that gentleman's survey was known, he would not be
in a position to give them that information which might
be desired upon this subject.
Mr. I). DERRY then seconded the adoption of the re-
port, and it was unanimously agreed to.
This concluded the business of the ordinary half-
yearly meeting.