The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-24 00:00:00

4t.

talleled in'the history of railway competition, the inhabitants
of that tairn had, in the past conduct of the men who'
came before them on a former occasion, sufficient to justify
them in relying with confidence upon them for the fulfilment
of any other-reasonable project which they might bring for-
ward. When the promoters of the Oxford, Worcester, and
Wolverhampton Railway came before them, they did so with
an express assurance that their, only object was the public
welfare. They showed to a demonstration that their in-
terests were those of the inhabitants ; and having established
the fact, they readilYobtained their support, and with it the
most triumphant 'success. They had iaow come before them
to recommend another project, which was one intimately in
connexion with the forroer, and which might' be said to be a
part of the natural Consequences of the former undertaking.
The great consideration' with the inhabitants of that town
was how'they should best proceed from Dudley to the east
and north-east part of the kingdom, and looking at the im-
mense amount of gooda -to be removed from Dudley, it was
quite evident that they stood in need of the most direct line
which they could make from Dudley to the north-east point.
The Hon. Gentleman theri proceeded to point out the line of
route which it was intended to take by the company' which
he had the honour of representing, and, having done so, ob-
served that the line brought foiward by their opponents might
be said to occupy the same grbend, and, in fact, was identical ;
so that 'in considering one line they might be said to be
considering both ; and if it was only a question of district,
the inhabitants of Dudley Might say they did not care
which line they had, provided they got a good line;
but there were other circumstances connected with the ques-
tion at issue, which when properly considered could not fail
to weigh with the meeting in favour of the project which he
that day brought before them. Mr. Mathews then adverted
to the Trent Valley and Midland line, and referred to the al-
liance of Colonel Anson's line with the Birmingham Canal
Company. There had adlready been a meeting in Dudley to
obtain the sanction of the town to the proposed line of rail-
way running along the banks of the canal, which it was pro-
posed should be done, the Railway Company giving a gua-
rantee to the Canal Company. He would just remind
the meeting that where guarantees were given by one.
public body to another, in the end the public
themselves had to pay for them. A guarantee could
not be given for any sum beyond faitprotits without the public
being injured thereby.—(Hear, heal%) The South Stafford-
shire came before the public unfettered .by any of these gua-
rantees; at the same time he was not surprised that the Bir-
mingham Canal Company should want this guarantee. He
did not deny but that the Canal Company had, in former
years, done much by opening the traffic to various parts, and
they were entitled to just consideration for that; but the
Canal Company had derivedgreat advantages by so doing,.
and the shares that cost 17/. 10s. eacb..were now worth 94/. ;
so that whatever convenience the Canal Company had afforded
the public, the latter had paid handsomely for it.:—(Hear,
hear.) The Canal Company, however, did not say, come and
guarantee us on the 17/. 10s., but they wanted it upon 100/.
each, just six times more than they originally cost. The
project was one which the public had no right to recognise.
He wished to be understood, that he did not object to the
scheme of having a line of railway from Dudley to Birming-
ham, and if that was all that was proposed, he should offer
no opposition to it. But looking at the circumstance, that
the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverharapton line, which
would cost so much money, would well accommodate the pub-
lic between Dudley and 'Wolverhampton, the question then
was, whether the proposed railway on the banks of the canal
should go to Wolverhampton, or whether it should not stop
at Dudley, and there join the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolver-
hampton line, which would have
.a double line of rails laid
down to suit carriages for either gauge, so that there was no
excuse, nor could they say that they. could not be accom-
modated.—(Hear, hear.) The Oiford and Worcester. Co-
mpany then would say, "We do not object to your line from
Birmingham coming to Dudley, but we do object to your
taking it on to Wolverhampton, when we have been to Par-
liament and are in. possession. of the ground on which we
offer you accommodation.—(Applause.) He had, he hoped,
shown the meeting that the line on the canal was not ne-
cessary from Dudley to Wolverhampton, and the public
would have to pay for it. So far, then, dismissing the
guarantee, he would say that if the project came before
them, in a legitimate way, from Dudley to Birmingham, he
for one, connected with the Oxford and Worcester Com-
pany, would not oppose it.—(Hear, hear.) There was
another project afloat that would mostmaterially affect Dud-
, ley, and he thoUght, when he came toy tell the meeting the
bearings of that project, that the parties present would say
that the gentlemen who, a short time ago, made a crusade
into that district Must have drawn largely upon the credulity
of the parties they addressed. The 'project he alluded to was
this—that at' Smethwick a line should pass through Old-
bury to Stourbridge,' Stourport, and other places' in the
Stour Valley -district. The distance from Spon-lane to
Stourbridge, through Dudley, was eight and a half miles,
and by the line 'proposed by' the Stour Valley it would be
eight, so that they could not claim the sanction of Parlia-
ment on the ground of- a saving of the distance. They
would, instead of using the Oxford, 'Worcester, and Wol-
verhampton line, divert their line, and take a great deal
of traffic from Dudley which ought to pass through it.—
(Hear.) He would say nothing of the proposed line cutting
through their great feeder for traffic—the coal-fields of the
district—but he spoke on the ground that the scheme proposed
would take the traffic from Dudley a distance of three or four
miles. He thought he need not tell the meeting of the sort
district the proposed line would -pass through, west of
Stourbridge, and that at present it did not require a railway
through it. True, it was a districtiMed.7ith pleasant asso-
ciations, full of green fields and murmuring brook?.., but it
was very scant indeed of the necessary materials of traffic.—
(A Voice—" There is not enough for one omnibus.") There
were a few works in the neighbourhood of Dudley,
which removed more goods along the line of railway
than the Stour Valley district he had referred to did
altogether. If that district then went upon the ground of
the goods they removed he might as well apply for a separate
'Act of Parliament because he moved the same number of
tons in a week. The question of a branch from Smethwick
to Stourbridge bad been mooted in the Committee of the
House of Commons, and he (Mr. Mathews) bad been ap-
plied to because of his local knowledge. He told them
that he did not care who made that line, providing not
us, but that if no one else would make it, and subse-
quent improvements in the neighbourhood rendered it
necessary, we should be obliged by our Oxford, Worces-
ter, and Wolverhampton Act of Parliament to make it.
He would again refer to the gentlemen who had been in
Dudley in support of the Stour Valley line, and he would say
that they must make great allowances for them, as they
were using their energy to avoid suffering in their pockets,
for he did not think that any other motive could have in-
duced them to come to Dudley to ask support for a project
that would take away traffic from the town. He could assure
the meeting that he, with many men of experience, was of
opinion that no scheme was so likely to benefit the town of
Dudley as the South Staffordshire line, and would therefore
commend it to their consideration and support.—(Cheers.)
G. B. TIIORNEYCROFT, Esq., next addressed the meeting
as one of the deputation from the South Staffordshire Junc-
tion line, and in doing so said he had the honour of ap-
pearing before them twelve months ago in connexion with
the project then on band. The inhabitants told them
what their wants were, and be had the satisfac-
tion of saying that he and his colleagues had supplied
those wants.—(Hear, hear.) He stated then emphati-
cally that if the inhabitants of Dudley would give them
their unqualified support, they would obtain an Act of
Parliament which would supply them with good railway.
accommodation. The inhabitants did give him their
support, and the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton
Company obtained the Act.—(Loud cheers.) He and his
colleagues had now come before them with another mes-
sage.—( Hear, hear.) He said to them, give us again your
unqualified support, and we will give you the benefit of
another good line.—(Applause.) The Oxford, Worcester,
and Wolverhampton line came before them twelve months
ago, when their wants were many, and no one to supply them ;
but no sooner had they, made their appearance than other
gentlemen tendered their services. And who were those
gentlemen? Were they gentlemen who solely and entirely,
consulted the wants of the inhabitants, or were they gentle-
men who wished to increase their own monopoly, and drive
the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Company out of
the field ? After that came another company, and, in fact,
they had many offers ; but the inhabitants well knew who
really were their friends, and they had nobly supported them.
The inhabitants of Dudley well knew that the promoters of
the South Staffordshire Junction line were like those of the
Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton line, identified with
their interests. They had no objects in view not identical
with the great commercial interests of that district. They
came there untramelled, and they were not pledged to any
guarantees. The company which he represented were the
first in the field. It was projected, advertised, and registered
before the new line made its appearance, and they were en-
titled to public support.—(Applause.) He, therefore, claimed
their support, and boldly asked them would they give it?
T. BArtaiEn, Esq., moved the first resolution. In doing
so, the speaker remarked upon the great injury that Dudley
had sustained by a want of direct railway communication
with London and other places, and that Dudley had remained
like a devoted town, so high in the clouds that nothing could
reach it. Some twelve years ago an attempt was made to
have a railway from 'Wolverhampton to Dudley. Unfor-
tunately that was not made, and nothing more was done till
last year, when he (Mr. Badger) was called upon to support
a line from Shrewsbury to Birmingham, which was to pass
through Dudley. He wished here to be understood that he
did not think a more honourable man existed than the gen-
tleman at the head of that line, the Hon. Mr. Clive ; but
afterwards he (Mr. Badger) was told that Dudley must be
left out. And who was it that caused that to be done but
the London and Birmingham Company ?—(Hear, hear.)
When he found that Dudley was to be left out, he (Mr.
Badger) immediately withdrew his name from the list of
supporters, finding that, though railways were passing
through all other towns, they could not come to Dudley.
After expressing his opinion that the proposed South Stafford-
shire line would be of the greatest benefit to the town of
Dudley, Mr. Badger concluded by moving the first resolution,
which was seconded by Mr. Thomas Wood, and passed
unanimously.
After a few observations from Mr. W. FELLOWES, in sup-
port of the proposed South Staffordshire line,
JAMES FISHER, Esq., proposed the second resolution, which
was seconded by Mr. England, who contended that the people
of Dudley were bound in common gratitude to support a
measure emanating from the Oxford, Worcester, and Wol-
verhampton Company, who had already offered so much to
the town of Dudley.
The resolution was then put to the meeting, and carried
unanimously.
ADGER, Esq.,
The next resolution was moved by ISAAC B
and was briefly seconded by Mr. STErriwncosrt,
hem
division of
Mr. BULLER, formerly M.P. for th
the county of Stafford, then addrnerndteethdebnaideebteineng
shownin favour
h
of the proposed line, which
ahteeoothat he came forward on the
the various speakers.
present occasion on alclcioetioisntt
boefnteliiiet inateeresctouhnetyfeilat in any
I object which tende,
he had spent his life. They must recollect that the
South Staffordshire line was supported by the Grand Junc-
tion Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Com-
panies, while the other was supported by the London and
Birmingham, together with " the Railway King," and the
Midland Company; and, looking at the various allies, he
thought they could not do better than unite themselves with
the South Staffordshire Junction. The Hon. Gentleman re-
sumed his seat amidst loud applause.
A vote of thanks was then unanimously carried conveying
the thanks of the meeting to the Chairman, Vice-Chairman,
and the Provisional Committee of the South Staffordshire
Junction.
C. S. FOSTER, Esq., Chairman, and Mr. CRAWNER, Deputy-
Chairman of the Committee, acknowledged the compliment.
A vote of thanks to the deputation of the South Stafford-
shire Company who had attended that meeting was then
carried unanimously.
Capt. Dvorr returned thanks in a very excellent speech, in
which he compared the merits of the rival companies, and said
if there was any point upon which information was required,
he should be happy to afford it.

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GRATIS:

A vote of thanks to the Mayor was then carried, of it
which the meeting broke up.
The parties afterwards sat down to an excellent dinner at
the Royal Hotel.

~ _

GREAT CANAL CONFEDERATION.—On Thursday a meeting
of the proprietors of the Ellesmere and Chester Canal, who
have formed a confederacy with the Birmingham and Liyer-
pool, the Shrewsbury and Montgomeryshire, and other canal
interests in the north, for the conversion of their canal pos
sessions into railways, in conjunction with the promoters of the
Worcester, Shrewsbury, andCrewe, and Shrewsbury and Trent
Valley union lines, so as to furnish a complete system of rail-
ways to the district west of the Grand Junction, between Chester
on the north and Worcester on the south, met at Chester on
Thursday, when the proprietors confirmed the arrangements
made by the Committee for carrying out the proposed conver-
sions of the several water-ways into railways, by means of a
Company to be tailed the Shropshire Union and Canal. The
Earl of Powls heads the movement, and surveys have
already been made by the Company's engineers, Mr.
Cubitt and Mr. Robert Stephenson, for five miles, namely :-
1. From the proposed Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and
Stour Valley, at Wolverhampton, by Autherley, Brewood;
Gnosall, Norbury, Market Drayton, Audlem, and Nant-
wich, to the Chester and Holyhead and Chester and
Birkenhead lines at Chester. 2. Prom the Manchester and
Birmingham at Crewe, by Nantwich, Wrenbury, Whitchurch,
Ellesmere, Oswestry, and Welchpool, to Newtown. 3. Front
the Trent Valley at Stafford, by Gnosall, Newport, and Wel-
lington, to Shrewsbury. 4. From the main line near Wem
to Shrewsbury. 5. From the Birmingham and Gloucester,
in the valley of the Avon, passing the Severn at Worcester,
and proceeding through Bewdley and Bridgenorth over the
Severn, below Coalpert to Wellington. A general conversion
into Railways of the entire canal interest of the kingdom is
inevitable. Those that remain untnetamorphosed must
speedily become bankrupt, so that a canal, in time, will be as
great a curiosity as the almost obsolete stage coach.
RICHMOND AND WEST-END.—The usual notice required by
Act of Parliament to be given to the holders of land on new
lines having expired, with reference to the Richmond and
West-end, and there being but slight objection to the works
being proceeded with, 1,000 labourers have been hired to com-
mence operations. The Directors have announced that theline
will be completed from Wandsworth to Richmond by Christ-
mas next. In order to do this, both ends will be commenced at
the same time, half of the men are to be employed between
Richmond and Putney, and the remainder between the latter
place and Wandsworth, where the line will join the South-
Western. -The most difficult portion of the work .is near
Wandsworth, where it will have to cross aa--immense osier . ,
bed; full of deep ditches, and very swampy, and where it is
said the workmen will have to dig a depth of upwards of 20
feet before they obtain a suitable foundation ; and in some
places a great quantity of bricks will have to be sunk, in order
to make the foundation solid.
The surveyors of Mr. Lock's line, the Salisbury and Yeovil
Junction, are engaged in the necessary examinations. '
A meeting of the engineers, solicitors, and others connected
with the lines to Yeovil was held on Saturday last.
The Directors of the Northumberland Atmospheric line
promoted by Lord Howick in last session, have announced
that they are prepared to return 2/. 3s. 4d. per share to the
ehareholders, having deducted 16s. Bd. for Parliamentary
expenses.
KENDAL AND WINDERMERE.—A survey has been made
of the projected deviation. It is now supposed that the
junction between this line and the Lancaster and Carlisle will
pass through Kendal, and afford that town the benefit of a
station.
The works on the Tynemouth Extension have been com-
menced.
It is stated that the Welsh Midland have brought up, or
are about to do so, the Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal.
The works on the Furness Railway, equally withthose
on the South Devon, have suffered much frornthe recent
storms.
-YORK AND NORTH MIDLAND.—This company propose
the following extensions in next session :-1. A new line
from York to Leeds, eid Tadcaster, adopting a portion of
the existing lines of the York and North Midland and the
Leeds and Selby Railways, and connecting the latter line
with the North Midland and other . stations at Leeds. 2.
A line- from York to Pocklington, Market Weighton,
Beverley, Driffield, and Hull, with a branch to Selby, and
extension lines to Horsea and Patrington. 3. A line from
the Whitby and Pickering, commencing near the Tunnel Inn
to Lealhohn Bridge, Stokeley, and Yarm. Other minor ex.;
tensions are, we understand, in contemplation.
WHITBY AND 13,1cEr.vtG .—Workmen are now engaged
in driving piles for the widening of the railway bridges in
this town, preparatory to the - laying down another line of
rails on the Pickering branch of the York and Scarborough.
THIRSK AND MALTON.—Mr. Hudson has given direc-
tions for the survey of a line from the Great North of Eng-
land at Thirsk to Mahon, with branches to Helmsley and
Kirbymoorside, it being intended to apply to Parliament
for power to construct a line through that large agricultural
district.
The Midland Company have, it is said, made arrange-
ments for laying down the narrow gauge between Glouces-
ter and Bristol, so as to produce uniformity in the northern
lines.

DIRECT NORTHERN COUNTIES OF SCOTLAND RAILWAY....
A line under this title has been proposed, between Inverness
and Wick, to complete the line of railway communication
from Land's-end to John o'Groat's. It is to proceed from In-
verness by Bennly, Dingwall, and Novar, through the coun-
ties of Ross, Sutherland, and Caithness, containing many im-
portant pastoral districts. It has already, we are informed,
received the report of a great many landowners and others
along the line, Dad. the plans and surveys are to be imme-
diately executed. - From the main line there will be branches
to Tuin, Thurso, and other towns in the north.
TELEGnArnic PROGRESSION.—TIIC electric telegraph is
rapidly advancing over the country. It is already established.
or in the course of formation, to an extent exceeding 500
miles, upon the South-Eastern, South- Western, Great Western,
London and Birmingham, London and Croydon, London and
Blackwall, Liverpool and Manchester, Grand Junction, South
Devon, Yarmouth and Norwich, Maidstone and Tunbridge,
Northampton and Peterborough, North Midland, Sheffield
and Manchester, Preston and Wyre, Leeds and Manchester,
Edinburgh and Glasgow; and Chester and Holyhead.
The surveyors fur the Great Western. Railway Company
have been engaged in the neighbourhood of Dolgelly for
the last fortnight, in levelling and surveying for the line
from Worcester to Porthdynllaen. It is generally believed
that Wales does not present so many natural difficulties as
was at first supposed.
THIRD CLASS.—On Friday last the Manchester and Bir-
mingham Company commenced lighting up their third-class
carriages, leaving other companies to follow their example.
LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM, AND MANCHESTER AND BIR-
MINGHABL—The terms between these companies were, it
is said, settled last week. The terms are an amalgama-
tion of the latter with the former in perpetuity, at eight per
cent. for the first year, nine for the second, and ten for the
time to come after. Of the new stock to be created one-
third is to be given to the Manchester and Birmingham
proprietors alone. A new line from Macclesfield to Lich-
field is to be made by the two companies jointly, and when
completed, the Manchester and Birmingham proprietors to
come in rateably for that and all new stock afterwards to be
created by the Tring Railway. Since then it has transpired
that it is a simple amalgamation at eight for the first year,
nine for the second, and London and Birmingham dividend
afterwards. The Manchester and Birmingham debentures
are to be funded and reckoned as capital stock as they fall
due. The next Manchester and Birmingham dividend rests
on its own basis. The amalgamation comes into operation
when ratified by Parliament.
MANCHESTER AND LENDS AND MIDLAND.—We are in-
formed of a private meeting having taken place between Mr.
Hudson and the stirring spirits in the Manchester and Leeds
Company, on Thursday last, with the view of an amicable
arrangement of all differences. We are not aware that the
result was anywise final of an agreement, but we trust that
it is an earnest of so desirable a termination to a feeling of
profitless rivalry that has long subsisted between the powerful
Midland and Manchester and Leeds.—lierapath.

THE NEW LINES.

Constructive operations on nearly all the new lines
granted last session have been commenced, and will be in
full operation before the close of the year, affording to the
working population of the kingdom permanent supplies of
winter work. The East Lancashire, comprehending an im-
portant group of lines in the north, is about to commence
its works, extending from Colne to a junction with the
Leeds and Bradford. The works in connexion with the
South-Eastern line at Canterbury, Ramsgate, and Mar ate,
and those on the line from Brighton to Lewes and Hastings,
are in active progress. The South Devon works are drawing
to a close ; and during the last fortnight the masonry com-
posing the sea-wall has had to undergo the severe test of a
tremendous storm from the south-west. The extension lines
in connexion with the Midlands are proceeding,
and the
branches in connexion with the Birmingham are being
laid out. The whistle of the locomotive will soon be heard
echoing over the lakes, whose population are now employed
on the Kendal and Windermere and Lancaster and Carlisle.
The Richmond branch of the Great North of England will
be commenced at the close of the month. The construction
of eight miles of the Edinburgh and Northern is to be in
the bands of the contractors by October. Five miles of the
permanent way and works of the Exeter and Crediton will
be in hand probably before the termination of October, to-
gether with 1,000 tons instalment of the necessary iron-
rails. Engineers and navigators have made their appear-
ance in seven or eight miles of the Manchester South Junc-
tion and Altrincham, on which there is to be a viaduct of
1,000 yards. The Leeds, Dewsbury, and Manchester, com-
mence operations with a continuous contract of 22 miles,
embracing a viaduct over Churwell Valley ; and the New-
castle and Berwick, one of Hudson's lines, proposing to
complete the international chain of railways between
land and Scotland, in conjunction with the North pritish,
takes a first stupendous step in its construction ot
for the
53 miles from Etherton to Tweedmont%
purpose whole legions of laboure
Birmingham begin their tributary branches.ding
en route, a
Tho Manffour meteror and
miles to Ashton and Macclesfield,
drnßallymena, Cork and.
tunnel of 330 yards. The Belfast
efoarlsao commencedioonpeoi
rations, and will open up emrpe
Yortion of the hired labour of
Bandon, Dundalk and Enniskiilole.
the Irish population. A
the Great Western to Fishguard and
niaelnirai tv
Wales will be called intoag Portion
by the South.
Wales line from
Pembroke, 182 miles; by the North Wales, from Porthdynn-
' Been to Bangor, 28 miles ; by the Aberdare line, near the
Taff Vale, 8 miles; by the North Wales Mineral, 12
miles; and by the Monmouth and Hereford, 36 miles;
by which collectively between three and four million sterling
will be expended in the district. The Wilts, Somerset, and
golfantel2gr9eamtilaesrtehrlielsenfgortht,rbaLnelchthinrogugohft
tNiVieeYlmVeusttil'ofoEnen
from the Great Western, with its termini at Salisbury
and Weymouth, will
place upwards of one million
and a half at the disposal of the labour market of that
district, to which the Berks and Hants, also a Great
Western offshoot of 40 miles, will add 400,000/. more. The
East Anglian line, including the Eastern Counties exten-
sions to Cambridge, Huntingdon, and Ely, 40 miles; the
Eastern Union and Bury, 26 ; the Ely and Huntingdon,
22 ; the Lowestoft, 111 ; Lynn and Dereham, 26 ; Lynn
and Ely, 37 ; will contribute their quota to the total outlay
of upwards of two millions, and 162 miles of new
locomotion for those districts. The Great Grimsby and Shef-
field have commenced expending, between Gainsborough
and Great Grimsby, 59 miles, 600,0001., and the Hud-
dersfield and Manchester, 22 miles, and Huddersfield and
Sheffield, 15 miles, between their termini, 1,162,000/., the
outlay of the former being 630,000/., and of the latter
532,000/. Leeds is to have laid out on it and the dis-
tricts adjacent between two and three millions sterling, by
the construction of the Leeds, Dewsbury, and Manchester,
20 miles ; Leeds and Bradford, 31 ; Leeds and Thirsk lines,
44—giving a total new route by railway to that district of
nearly 100 miles. Liverpool is to be overlaid with a com-
plete lattice work of new lines, preparations for which have
been commenced on the Liverpool and Bury, with exten-
signs to Bolton, Wigan, and elsewhere, a length of 40 miles,
alb an outlay of nearly two tallow. 14m of thirty