The Sun.
London, England, 1845-04-28 00:00:00

LONDON, SALISBURY, AND YEOVIL
JUNCTION RAILWAY COMPANY

Provisionally regist. red.
NOTICE TO THE SHAREHOLDERS.

The extensive and influential support which has been given to this
Company, and the cordial feeling hi its favour pervading the districts
through which the line is intended to run, have induced the Com-
mittee to accede to a generally expressed wish of the inhabitants on
the proposed line, that they should be prepared, if hereafter found
necessary, to enlarge their original Scheme, so as to offer to the
public the advantage of a new and perfectly independent line from
London to Exeter.

With this view the Committee have adopted measures by which
they will he enabled to commence their line at Staines or Richmond,
should the lines to those places, now before Parliament, receive the
sanction of the Legislature, and from thence to proceed by way of
Bagshot, Basingstoke, and Andover, to Salisbury aisd Yeovil, instead
of commencing the line at Basingstoke.
With regard to an extension from Yeovil to Exeter, the Com-
mittee have no intention of competing with the present Exeter,
Yeovil, and Dorchesrer Company ; but in the event of their failing to
carry out their scheme, this Company will be ready to make the ex-
tension to Exeter.

In reference to the important question of the broad and narrow
gauges, the Committee consider it expedient at present to leave it
entirely open. It is obvious that, if the line were to commence at
Basingstoke, two alternatives wo id present themselves ; first, that
of constructing it on the narrow guage, and, in that case, of adopting
the line of the South-Western Company from London to Basingstoke,
or, secondly, of constructing it on the broad guage, and of traversing
the Great Western main line and its branch from Reading to Basing-
stoke.

The advantage of an entirely independent line appears, however, to
be paramount. Such a line would afford the Government the means
of bringing the South Western and Great Western Companies within
the scope of the Railway Act of last session, as to the power of pur-
chase and revision, and thus protect the public from the effects of
powerful monopoly. 'the Board of Trade's report on the London,
Worcester, and Wolverhampton, and Birmingham and Shrewsbury
districts, attaches much weight to all reasonable guarantees against
monopoly which may be offered by existing companies. In that do-
cument it is stated that the London and Birmingham Railway Com-
pany, on condition of obtaining their Rugby line, have offered to allow
the following clauses to be inserted in their Act, viz. :-
1. The whole of the railways under their control, including the
existing London and Birmingham Railway, to become subject to the
options of revision and purchase contained in the Act of last year ;
the option of revision, however, at ten per cent., to accrue at an
earlier period than that of twenty years, specified In the Act.
2. A revised tariff to be framed for the whole of the said railways,

Including the London and Birmingham Railway, upon the principle
of fixing maximum rates for passengers and g, ods lower than those
at present charged, and at as low a level as those charged upon any
of the principal northern railways
3. One article of such tariff to be, that coals and iron are to be
carried at rates not exceeding Id. per ten per mile, including toll and
locomotive power.
4. All differences with other railway companies, by which the
public safety or convenience are affected, to be referred to the Board
of Trade, or other competent authority for that purpOse established
by Parliament. -
5. The London and Birmingham Company to pledge the whole
revenue of their existing line for the completion of the proposed un-
dertaking within a reasonable time.
The Committee look forward with confidence to the adoption of
their scheme, more especially as the Board of Trade has stated in
their report on the Hampshire, wilts, and Dorset district, that there
is nothing in the present settlement between the Great Western and
the South-Western Companies to prevent such a line as that now
proposed from being brought forward, either by the South-Western
Company or by other parties.
The Committee have therefore determined to apply to Parliament
for power to commence their line at Staines or Richmond, thereby
securing a most advantageous metropolitan terminus at the Hun-
gerford station.
On the final adoption of the extended scheme, the capital will be
proportionably increased, and in the allotment of the additional
shares a preference given to approved holders of the existing scrip.
By order Of the Committee.
L. CROMBIE. Secretary.
Offices, 63, lifoorgat,!-street, London, April 25, 1845.