The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-04 00:00:00

Mr. Miller, civil engineer, was first examined. He stated that
in 1839 his attention was first called to railway communication
between Glasgow and Carlisle. A general survey was then made
of the country for the purpose of a line by Mr. Locke and himself,
and the two lines now before the Committee was the result. He
was then, as now, decidedly in favour of the one by Dumfries and
the valley of the Nith, in preference to that by Bentock. The
gradients in the plans and sections of 1839 were far more favour-
able than they were now, the severest on the Caledonian route
being lin 113. At present the gradient at the Bentock summit
was 1 in 75, and nine miles long. He was of opinion that
two lines along the coast were much preferable
to one through the centre of the country ; and as the coast on one
side was supplied by the North British the Caledonian was less re-
quired, and if the Dumfries line were formed the Caledonian would
not be at all necessary. The Dumfries line went through a much
richer and more populous district than the other. All the landed
proprietors through whose grounds the line passed were in fervour
of the line. The Duke of Buccleuch,throtigh whose grounds the line
went for twenty-seven miles, was a strong supporter of it. The worst
gradient was only 1 in 100, and no assistant locomotive engines
would be required. Though the Dumfries line was longer from
Carlisle to Glasgow than the Caledonian, yet the bad gradients on
the latter, and the delay and irregularity at the forks,
would give the Dumfries line such decided advantages
that in his opinion the traffic would travel in
less time and with greater security than on the other. He esti-
mated the whole cost of the bile from Cumnock to Carlisle at
850,0001. The remaining portion of the line, from Cumnock to
Kilmarnock, would be 350,0001., making a total capital of
1,200,0001. The latter portion of the line would be much
heavier, in proportion to +h.. +I,.
_

The witness was cross.examined at length by Mr. HOPE, with
the object of showing that the difficulties which he had described
as interfering with speedy travelling on the Caledonian line, were
not at all correct; also to show that the Caledonian would afford better
accommodation to a larger amount of population and a greater
extent of country than the Dumfries line. He was of opinion
that, even admitting that the Caledonian was formed, the
Dumfries line might be made to pay as a local line, as it went
through a fine agricultural county.

To the CHAIRMAN—There was a large traffic between Liverpool
and Glasgow, and also a considerable amount by Fleetwood and
Ardrossan. He was of opinion that nearly all the traffic would go
by the railway.

Mr. Vignolles, civil engineer, was next examined. He said he
knew the country well through the two lines under consideration.
In considering lines of railway from the south to Edinburgh and
Glasgow, he thought the fork ought to be at Carlisle, so as to ac-
con.modate the local traffic in the best manner. The
routes he would propose would be from Carlisle, by Hawick,
to Edinburgh, and by Dumfries to Glasgow. The great
advant,ge of the line to Dumfries was, that besides
supplying an important line of country, it would form
in connexion with Ireland through a line from the latter town to
Portpatrick. Comparing the Caledonian line with that by Dum.
fries, as a communication with Glasgow, he decidedly preferred the
latter, as it supplied Dumfries, Kilmarnock, Ayr, and other im-
portant towns, besides its termini, whereas the Caledonian line
supplied Glasgow alone. The gradients and elevations of the
Caledonian line he considered very objectionable.
Cross.examined by Mr. HOPE—He went over the lines in about
three days. He travelled in a post-chaise. He was, by such a
limited time, only able to take a general survey of the line, and
therefore gave an opinion founded on that survey. He did not
pretend to give particulars or details. He considered the public
could never get the benefit of proper railway accommodation
without competition. Suppose the two lines were formed, he did
not think there was sufficient to support both, though he thought
that the Dumfries line, having a large local traffic, which the
other could not have, the Caledonian would be starved.
It was then proposed to call Mr. Brunel, the celebrated engineer,
but it was intimated that he was under examination before another
Committee (Group L), and could not be had till he was at liberty.
The traffic tables for the Dumfries line were then proposed to be
put in as part of the case, but the Committee decided that as the
line was a project they could not receive the tables.
Mr. Mann, a clerk of the House of Lords, deposed to the num.
ber of petitions that had been received in favour of the Dumfries
line.

Mr. Brunel, having been sent for, now arrived, and his examina.
- -

Lion was proceeded with. He supported the views of the previous
engineers with respect to the superiority of the line by Dumfries to
the Caledonian in respect of gradients and engineeringpeculiarities.
The Dumfries line, though 124 miles in length from Carlisle to
Glasgow, could, in his opinion, be traversed as quickly as the 104
miles of the Caledonian.

The witness having undergone a brief cross.examination,
Mr. AmmtEws intimated that this was the case for the Glasgow,
Dumfries, and Carlisle Railway.
Mr. AUSTIN said he appeared for the Edinburgh and Glasgow
Railway Company against certain clauses of the Bill ; but as his
was a serious and important case, and would involve the examina-
tion of many witnesses, he would suggest, in order to save expense
to the parties connected with the two lines under consideration,
that the Committee decide the case between them before going
into his case.

Their Lordships agreed to the suggestion, and retired to de.
liberate.

In a few minutes they returned, when
The CHAIRMAN said that it was the opinion of the Committee
that the preamble of the Caledonian Bill was proved, and that
therefore there was no necessity for Mr. Cockburn summing up
his case.

Air. ANDREWS was then heard against a portion of the Bill that
related to certain quarries belonging to Sir Thomas Dalrymple, for
which, as they were to be taken in a great measure for the use of
the line, that gentieman claimed greater advantages than were
offered in the Bill.
Evidence was tendered in support of the Learned Gentleman's
statement, at the close of which the Committee adjourned.

GROUP NN.
NORTH WALES RAILWAY.

The Committee on this Bill met at eleven o'clock In the LArd
Chancellor's Court, Lord Portman in the chair. The other Diem.
hers of the Committee were the Earl of Harewood, the Earl of
Aylesford, the Earl of Home, and Lord Camoys.
Mr. CALVERT was counsel for the promoters.

The only opponent was Mr. Archer, a private gentleman.
The preamble of the Bill sets forth that the Company intend to
construct a line of Railway from Portdynlaen, in the parish of
Edean, to Bangor, in the county of Carnarvon, to be called the
North Wales Railway.
The only matter for the consideration of the Committee was
whether or no the prayer of the petition, which was from Mr.
Archer, should be acceded. Mr. Archer was formerly secretary to
the Committee, and his petition set forth numerous allegations
against the Company; but as these were wholly unsupported by
witnessess,
Mr. CALVERT prayed that the Committee would not entertain
them.
The petition also prayed that a new Board of Directors might be
constituted.
The Noble CHAIRMAN said the petition was quite irregular, and
that it was only as a matter of courtesy they at all entertained it.
The Bill then passed through Committee, which broke up after
an hour's sitting.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
GROUP A.

-- -
The Committee, consisting of Mr. Lascelles (Chairman), Sir J.
Phillips, and Mr. Marshall ( Mr. Roche and Dlr. M' Geachy being still
absent) met at the usual hour this morning, and, after some Ms.
cussion proceeded to the examination of the clauses of the
LONDON AND CROYDON RAILWAY