The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-12 00:00:00

RAILWAY MONOPOLY.

(From the Morning Herald.)
The Morning Chronicle, which, from the known con-
nection of some of its principal proprietors with at least
one existing railroad, should have .been the last journal
to interfere in such sort, has kindly tendered to the Go-
vernment some rather important advice with reference
to the existing mania for new undertakings of this de-
scription. The Chronicle very justly observes, that, were
all the new railway projects to be carried forward, it
would be scarcely possible for capital to be found for
their completion, without great risk, and almost the cer-
tainty of much distress in other departments of industry.
The Chronicle, however, indulges in more alarm than is
warranted by the facts. Projects for railways requiring
100,000,0001. of capital may be put forth ; but it by no
means follows that even if entire liberty were granted
there would be any serious endeavour to proceed with all
these at once. In fact, to grant the whole, would be the
surest way to put an end to the half of them. There is
at present one railway to Portsmouth. Three new ones
are projected. But can any man imagine that if Parlia-
ment were to pass all these three Bills, the projectors
would be mad enough actually to create three new rail •
roads to one single southern port ? No, the Chronicle
may quiet itself on this point. The present proposals
are but in the position of candidates, of which only one
will be selected for each line ; and in this way the
total amount of capital required will be far below any
estimate that might be formed from the schemes as
they now appear. The Chronicle partly sees this ; and
it next proceeds to advise the Government and the
Houses of Parliament how to choose out of the present
schemes. And here the Chronicle shows itself at once
the undisguised advocate of the existing companies
against the public. It protests against " putting in jeo-
pardy, without the strongest reason of public conveni-
ence, such enormous investments as are represented in
the existing trunk accommodation." And therefore it
broadly advises the aggrandisement of the existing com-
panies, and the discouragement of all new ones. Thus,
the present Birmingham Derby, and York line is to be
enabled to proceed to Edinburgh ; the Great Western to
South Wales, and the Southampton to Guildford, or by
a new line to Portsmouth ; but no direct York line, or
direct Portsmouth line, or any other scheme which may
place "in jeopardy existing investments." Now we say
that this is arguing for some six or eight great compa-
nies against the public. And the duty of an independent
public journalist is to take the other side. We have at
present three or four " great monopolies." The Great
Western Company prescribes the terms on which we
may travel, as regards one quarter of England. The
Southampton rules over the southern district, while, as
for the whole of the midland and northern counties, they
are absolutely inaccessible except through a great gateway
in Euston-square. And this close system is daily becoming
closer. Every month we are hearing of some new junction
or " understanding" between some of thecompanies ; the
object of all which junctions or companies is to rivet the
chain only so much the tighter on the neck of the public.
A very little more of this " understanding" would land
us in a "central board," sitting permanently in London
for the regulation of all fares and all rates of charge
throughout England. The safety of the community
requires that, as rapidly as possible, new outlets and new
lines shall be opened. At present, there is actually no
competition in this line of business. Nor need they talk
of " putting in jeopardy their enormous investments."
They are already making, in almost every case, far
larger dividends than they originally promised the pro-
prietors. By the expedient of creating new shares and
similar devices, some of them, the Grand Junction in
particular, are at this moment paying their original
shareholders nearly 20 per cent. on their first invest-
ments. We contend, therefore, in opposition to the
Chronicle, that the interests of the public require that,
with all convenient speed, two lines should be established
in each direction. Without this, competition is a mere
name. By this course, and only by this course, will the
public obtain that practical security which they have in
all other trades—namely, that if they are not well
served in one shop, they can leave it and go to another.

THE TIDES.—At the British Association for the
Advancement of Science, the Astronomer Royal gave an
account of the tidal observations on the coast of Ireland,
which had been conducted during two months, from June
to August, at twenty-two stations. The levels in Ireland
having been well ascertained by the Ordnance survey,
the results arrived at were more accurate than they could
have otherwise been, as great facilities were thus afforded
in ascertaining the levels of the tides. It was observed
that along the southern coast from Dunmore, to the
south-west extremity, there was no difference in the
times of the diurnal tides. The diurnal tides along the
western coast were also found to be simultaneous, but
towards the north the time of high water became later,
and at the north-eastern coast there was a difference of
six hours ; it being high tide at one place when it was
low tide at the other. From these circumstances it was
inferred that the tide came in from the south-west, and
that the current of water was impeded in passing through
the narrower channel on the north-east. The most re-
markable place in the world as to tides is Courtown, on
the south-eastern coast, for, in consequence of the ac-
tion of the two currents from the north and from the
south-west, there is scarcely any observable tide on that
coast. The time of high water at Kingstown, and at
Ardglass, on opposite sides of the coast, was found to
be the same. Another remarkable fact connected with
the tides on the coast of Ireland is, when the tide is
irregular on the east, by not rising so high as usual, it
is irregular in the west exactly in the same proportion.
It was found also that water on the north coast of Ire-
land is one foot higher than on the south. Mr. Airey
stated the amount of elevation of the water due to the
sun and to the moon, which varies at different places and
times, and he laid down some algebraic formula by
which the tides might be calculated. Mr. Scott Russell
made a final report on the tides of the coast of Scotland,
which noticed the correspondence of irregularities on
that coast, in the same manner as they had been ob-
served on the coast of Ireland.

Old father Thames was yesterday again the scene
of much bustle and excitement, Mr. Barry, one of the
clowns :at Astley's Theatre, having a second time an-
nounced that he would sail from Vauxhall to Westmin-
ster-bridge in a washing-tub drawn by four geese. To
add to the attraction of this strange feat, it was stated
that Mr. Carter, the " Lion King," would follow the
clownin an open boat with one of his beautiful tigresses.
In the latter respect, however, the spectators were dis-
appointed, for no tigress was to be seen. By an altera-
tion in the plan originally agreed upon thousands of per
sons were decived. On account, it was said, of the tide,
the clown sailed from the Red-house, Battersea, to Vaux-
hall-bridge, instead of from the latter to Westminster.
The crowd was on this much greater than on the pre-
vious occasion. The whole distance from Westminster-
bridge to a spot opposite the Red-house was lined with
people, while an immense number collected on the wharfs
on the opposite shore. At five o'clock Mr. Barry em-
barked in his " frail vessel," the geese being regularly
yoked to it in shafts, and thus he proceeded, driving
" four in hand," amidst the laughter and cheers of innu-
merable water-parties preceding or following him, and
the music of a large brass band playing " Rule Bri-
tannia," and " See the conquering Hero comes." Some
mischievous fellows caused the buffoon some uneasiness
by endeavouring to " foul" him and his geese, that is, to
run against him with their boats, but his clownship was
on the look out for such attacks, and escaped without
injury. At Vauxhall he got into a common boat and
rowed to Westminster, where the crowd, expecting to
see him arrive with his tub and geese, gave vent to their
displeasure in that kind of hissing vulgarly termed
" goose," and Mr. Barry got into the theatre with all
possible speed.
BLACKHEATH FAlL—This fair was held yesterday.
A large supply of stock was on the ground at an early
hour, consisting of horses, cows, and pigs. Of the former
there were but few good ones, which realised excellent
prices. Some fine milch cows, with calves at their side,
fetched from 151. to 161.105. e. ach. The show of pigs
was considerable, consisting of all sorts and sizes. About
two hundred of very beautiful Berkshire porkers sold at
high prices in the morning, but towards the end of the
fair the dealers were glad to take about 4s. per stone.
The inferior sorts went off at 3s. to 3s. Gd. per stone.
The day being very fine much company attended, and,
upon the whole, the sales were good and nearly all was
disposed of.