The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-23 00:00:00

RAILWAYS.

Mr. WHITMORE addressed the Ccmnsittre on behalf of the
Birmingham Canal Company. He would trouble the Committee
with very few remarks. His clients were opposed to both projects,
the Great Western and the London and Birmingham—both were
called the South Staffordshire projects. These projects would ma-
terially injure the property of the canal, though no railway could
ever take up all or anything ike its gross trade. The Committee
would sec by the map before them, that the various windings
of that canal gave accommodation to the country which no
railway could give. That canal ran 130 miles through the
country, and carried at the rate of 34,000,000 of tons an_
'wally. The rec‘ipts amounted to nearly 135,000/. per annum.
That Company had a power over the land on either side of their
canal, to the extent of 100,000 yards. He stated these facts to
prove to the Committee that his clients were no mean opponents to
the projected railways, but were deeply entitled to the considera.
tion of the Committee. Now, with respect to both lines of rail.
way, he must confess that the one least objectionable to the Canal
Company, and most adapted for the country, more especially relat-
ing to Dudley, was the Birmingham line.
Mr. COCILIIIIRN—I would ask my Learned Friend if, since last
night, his clients had not sold themselves to the London and Bir-
mingham Company ?

Mr. Wurrmons would inform his Learned Friend that nothing
of the sort had occurred. .

Mr. CoCIIBURN would not have put the question but for having
good authority. What he meant was, did nat the Canal Company
sell their canal to the London and Birmingham Railway Company V
Mr. WIIITIAORE had to state, in explanation, that why he re-
quested the Committee yeateiday to give him till this day to ad.
dress them, was, that there was then a probability of his clients
coming to an und'erstanding with the London and Birmingham
Company, and he was now in a position to state that they had
settled their differences. _ .

Mr. COCKBURN—I guessed rightly. The case for the Great
Western Company was then gone into, Mr. Cockburn reserving his
speech till the conclusiim of the evidence.

Mr, William Matthews, ironmaster at Staffbrdshire, examined
by Mr. Sergeant KiNotaen—Was extensively engaged in coal
collieries and pig iron, was also an extensive shareholder in canals.
Felt the-want of a railway communication, and had no doubt that
the Great Western Company wou'd be the best line for the important
districts of Staffordshire. The proposed Great Western line would
open up some most important mining districts in South Staffordshire ;
by that line the coalowners of Staffordshire would not only be able
to compete with the Leicester district, which is an important place
for coal consumption, but they would be able also to send a
considerable quantity to the west end of London at a mo.
derate charge to the consumer. In witness's district there
were 15,370 tons of coals made up annually. Out of this
12,540 tons would go by the Oxford or Great Western line, and
only 2,530 tons by the London and Birmingham line. The charges
by the London and Birmingham line had been so high that it was
but little used by the iron and coalmasters of Staffordshire, but
the moment they saw the prospectus of the Great Western line they
offered to carry coals at Id. per ton.
The witness was briefly cross-examined, after which Dr. Har.
rington of Oxford was called, and :he Committee adjourned till
twelve o'clock to-morrow.

Group X.
LONDON AND YORK LINE.

This Committee assembled to-day at the usual hour in Corn-
mittee.room No. 8.

Mr. PAPET battled in the agreement spoken of yesterday between
the Forsdyke Navigation Company and the London and York Com.
pany, by which it appeared that the terms of the agreement were
that the latter rhould pay the former a sum equal to the amount of
the net benefits for three years.
The CIIAIRMLN announced that when this case should bedisposed
of, the Committee would take up the Cambridge and Lincoln line.

Mr. Pearson, chief shipping clerk to Mr. Angus, of Selby, de.
posed that his employer had IS schooners. of 150 tons each, plying
between Selby and London. They conveyed all sorts of goods,
such as coals, provisions, and the iron manufactures of Lowmore
ironworks. Mr. Angus's vessels convey about 20,000 tons of goods
annually from London to Selby, and about 28,000 tons from Selby
to London. The voyage occupies about eight days. The goods
comin
were were unshipped there, and sent on to Leeds, where
theyAyr. Jose,,li Spence, glass manufacturer and chemist, at York--
Scuds glass to Grantham, Newark, Lincoln, Gainsborough, Don-
g to
r Selby
for London.
ydcd
caVer, Selby. Stamfot d, Boston, Louth, Norwich, London,