The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-05 00:00:00

CANADA.

THE ONTARIO AND HURON JUNCTION RAIL-
WAY COMPANY.
This Company, formed for constructing a line of rail-
road from Toronto, on Lake Ontario, to Goderich, on
Lake Huron, has lately obtained an accession to its
strength in the co•operation of the wealthy and influen-
tial persons forming the Directory of the Canada Com-
pany, which will place the stock in this undertaking on a
basis of security not surpassed by any of a similar nature
in England.
1 he national importance of this work, and the fair
promise of an ample return which it presents, entitle
it to the attention of those who justly feel that in the
prosperity of our colonies the chief wealth and security
of the empire is to be found.
The province through which this communication is
about to be made has for some years looked with an
anxious eye for the completion of the work which will,
in a very important manner, develop its resources, and
place it in a position of successful competition with, in-
stead of dependence upon, the United States. We an-
ticipate, in the employment of British capital in colonial
works of this nature the commencement of a new era,
when the people of Canada will be more united to Eng-
land by ties of interest and affection, and, therefore,
learn with satisfaction, that British capitalists have been
successfully appealed to, and that the subject has been
taken up in a national spirit, and with a view to British
and Colonial interests.

A glance at the map of Canada will show the va;t
value and importance of connecting Lakes Ontario and
Huron at the termini proposed ; they present the only
true and natural points of communication between Lake
Ontario and the extensive territories west of Lake
Huron.

The line possesses all the advantages which, in a
young colony, should be regarded as essential in the
choice of a route of railroad communication.
Ist. It is the shortest and most direct route between
Lake Ontario and the Western States, and will, conse-
quently, be constructed at the least outlay of capital,
and will form thg cheapest and most expeditious route
for the current of the vast tide of emigration annually
proceeding westward, and for the transit of all the pro-
duce of the west to the eastern markets.
2nd. It will form the only available trunk line, from
which future extensions to important places may be con-
structed by the shortest new lines of road, which exten-
sions will also consequently be made at the least outlay of
capital.
3d. It is the only line which can effectually open
to emigration and settlement that extensive portion
of fertile country lying between Lakes Ontario, Erie,
and Huron ; and

4th. It is a line which, by continuation at a future
period through Canada, will secure to the greatest
possible extent the continuous transit of goods and pas-
sengers entering upon the road at either extremity
throughout the extent to the other extremity of the
colony. . _

Such a continuation, it may confidently be anticipated,
will be made at no very distant day, whereby a direct
communication through Canada between Lake Huron and
the Atlantic will be opened.
In a pecuniary point of view it is important to observe,
that of late years the rapid strides made by the citizens
of Oswego and Rochester, on the southern shore of Lake
Ontario, have attracted, in a great measure, the western
trade passing through the State of New York, from the
Erie canal and Buffalo, to the route by Lake Ontario.
On the completion of the proposed line, goods pro-
ceeding eastward and westward will reach the markets
on the Atlantic and Lake Huron in less than half the
time at present occupied, and at less than half the cost
incurred upon the present circuitous route by Lake
Erie. We have the assurance of parties well acquainted
with Canada, that a field for the profitable investment of
British capital can be found in it inferior to none in the
world, and infinitely superior in point of profit and se-
curity to those investments in which our capitalists are
ever so ready to embark in foreign countries; but parties
in cases of this kind must judge for themselves.

LONDON and CROYDON RAILWAY
A special general meeting of the Proprietors of the London
and Croydon Railway Company met yesterday at one o'clock, at
the London terminus, to take into consideration the drafts of
several Bills at present before Parliament for the widening
and improvement of their own line, and a portion of the London
and Greenwich Railway, as well as the formation of branch
lines in connexion with their own.
Mr. W. Wilkinson took the chair.
The SECRETARY having read the circular calling the
meeting,
The CHAIRMAN said that the course which the Company
should follow in the present state of their affairs was so clear,
that it would be unnecessary for him to enter into any length-
ened observations. The object of calling the present meeting
was to obtain the approbation of the Company to the two Bills
which had not yet been decided upon by Parliament, and which
were at present pending the decision of the Select Committee,
namely, " A Bill to enable the London and Croydon Railway
Company to widen and improve the London and Croydon
Railway, and also a portion of the London and Greenwich
Railway ;" and "A Bill to enable the London and Croydon
Railway Company to make a certain line of railway to Maid-
stone and Ashford, with a branch to Tonbridge."
The first resolution was then read, " That the draft of the pro-
posed Bill to widen and improve the London and Croydon
Railway, and also a portion of the London and Greenwich
Railway, be now approved, and that the seals of the Company
be affixed thereto."
Mr. CASH seconded the resolution.
Previously to putting it to the vote the clauses of the Bill were
read to the meeting.
On the clause being read, limiting the directors to six instead
of eight, the number in the present direction,
Mr. FLOOD asked if it was desirable to limit the number of
Directors, seeing that the business of the Company was increas-
ing so much, and likely to increase to a far greater extent ? He
hoped to see the Compaay having a line of 100 miles vet in-
stead of 16.
The CHAIRMAN said that he could speak from experience
that the present system of railway management required great
correction. He considered that limiting the number of Direc-
tors was a prudent step. In point of fact, even at present, the
ma iagement became ultimately vested in two or three indi-
viduals, and he thought that the business of railway companies
in general would be better managed if the responsibility was
thrown on one or two individuals, as was the case in all other
public companies. He traced the mismanagement which at
present existed in some lines to the absence of that restriction.
Mr. Floor, expressed himself satisfied with the explanations,
and said that if the board considered that the business could be
better managed by limiting the number of Directors they were
in a better position to form an accurate judgment on the sub-
ject than he was, and he would not press his objection.
The resolution was then put and carried.
The second resolution was then proposed, " That the'draft of
the Bill to enable the London-and Croydon Railway Company
to make a certain line of railway to Maidstone and Ashford,
with a branch to Tonbri Ige, be approved of by this meeting;
and that the seal of the Company be affixed thereto."
The clauses were then read as with the former Bill, and the
resolution was then put and carried unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN then said that the business for which the
meeting was called was now at an end, but he would enter
briefly into a statement of the present prospects of the Company
with respect to the lines which they had in projection. He then
wept at considerable length into the state of the following Bills,
some of which had been thrown out by the Select Committees, and
it had been considered advisable to postpone the others till next
session :—" A Bill to enable the London and Croydon Railway
Company to make a branch railway to Orpington." " A Bill
to make a new line of railway, and branch to communicate with
Chatham and Gravesend.' " A Bill to make a new line of
railway to Chilham, with a branch to Fowersham Creek," all
in the county of Kent. " A Bill to make a railway in exten-
sion of the Croydon and Epsom Railway to Dorking, in the