The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-20 00:00:00

THE NEW RAILWAYS.

(From the Berkshire Chronicle of Sept. 6.)
The competition which has arisen between the rival
lines to pass through this county southward and east-
ward, is really amusing. All those we enumerated in
our two last publications are still eager for support, and
almost clamorous in the advocacy of their superior ad-
vantages. The "Tring, Reading, and Basingstoke" Com-
pany issued their prospectus yesterday. It states that
by the proposed line the route from Manchester to
Southampton will be many miles shorter, and sooner
brought into operation than either that of the Manches-
ter and Southampton, or the Oxford, Southampton, &c.,
Junction. A " Reading and Reigate Junction" project
is also more fully announced, but we hear that there
are at least two other schemes with a similar object
in the field, with some slight deviations in detail.
Looking at the map, the proposed line must save a
great detour to travellers to the south-eastern coast
and the Continent, but its disadvantage is that there
are few towns of importance between the two to-
mini. At the same time, the " through" traffic
would doubtless be considerable. The " South and Mid-
lands Junction" is a new scheme, barely a week old,
but it aims at greater results. The route is to be from
Bicester, by way of Witney, Lechlade, and " keeping
within easy distances of Farringdon, Cricklade, and
Highworth, ' it falls into the Great Western line at
Swindon. The capital is to be 1,280,0001. The
" Bristol and Dover Direct" is another new project. It
offers to commence at Devizes, pass through Ludger-
shall; Andover, Whitchurch, Basingstoke, Odiham, and
Farnham, to Godalming, where other projects would
continue it to Reigate.
There is no end of plans to convey passengers to the
south. The very lest we have seen is one to be called
the " Cheltenham, Brighton, Folkestone, and Dover ;"
the only particulars yet stated are that it is to go " from
Cheltenham as direct as possible to Brighton, with a
branch from \about Basingstoke to Reigate." This
Would intersect Berkshire from Farringdon to Newbury.
The Itennet and Avon Conversion Railway is an-
nounced, and it excites much interest, both from the no
velty of the plan MA the large stake held in the old
pforrif by capitalists in this and the neighbouring
counties.
The public cif Newbury, after being treated with utter
neglect for some time past by the Great and South-
Western Companies, are now solicited, flattered, and
canvassed, by a whole swarm of projectors. We believe
that most exaggerated expectations of local benefit arc
raised, to end in certain disappointment. That a large
number of persons would travel southward through
Newbury by an Oxford and Southampton line cannot be
doubted, but how few of them would stop may easily be
guessed. Nor will we deny the local convenience rail-
ways will afford to the inhabitants, and that, after ell, is
the chief reason they are desirable. Reading, with all
its long-standing advantages of railway communication,
has not been so enormously benefited as was predicted
aNI expected, and Newbury has no right to expect more
than ReSding, if so much. Therediw, forty or fifty
tfiontand passengers by the GreiftgreAtern weekly by
and fi'oin the town,‘ but what is the/atuount of advantage
to the inhabitants 7
In the meantiniej while these projects are advancing,
the lines already formed will receive a great seas:ion of
traffic. They will always command the best of tab;
carrying trade, and will. by their Parliamentary influ-
ence, crush many of the competing schemes. The
immmense crowd of epplicatjons for new Acts will
be thrown out with little ceremony. The task of
legislating for all is an impossible one, and we shall
therefore see a wholesale rejection of the great ma-
jority. Too much was done last session, and the
strongest feeling exists, that there shall be some check
to the hasty and clamorous demands for new lin4s.
Those will have the preference where there is ti`l9 least
competition, and obvious utility, and new companies:
must wait with patience their turn, which will be two
or three years hence at least. Some will have found
their level before that time, and those which have
strength and vitality will reap an advantage by the
delay. The speculators in scrip ought to be wary
in-
deed, especially as persons buying fur investment
rwtihle
in these times of artificial prices, naturally p
great trunk lines, as much more secure, andbeirigecorn-
purativelS neglected by mere speculators, much
fur
r cheaper,
and certain to derive much increasing profits solrie
years to ( ome.
Since writing the above we have received the pro-
spectus of the Reading and 11«.igate Railway. It will ho
seen that the scheme possesses the great advantage of a
very powerful directory, embracing gentlemen of local
infitlince and station. This will give it a decided )re-
ference over other projects which have noptltahnis,hesenitial
N.veould be
recommendation, and unless any other
,uggested with superior local support—whi' cannot
anticipate—Nye have no' douht this railwayc'
will easily
obtain legislative sanction. Nor will lt U:la with that
opposition from the Great Western and South-Western
Companies which other plans—more or less conflicting
with their interess—w'll excite. We have no doubt
that this line will be very popular here.

TAUNTON.—A match came off last week between
Captain Price and --- Moore, Esq., to leap a horse over the four turn-
pike gates Within a given time. The horse unfortunately struck his
leg in the first gate but cleared the second in good style, ou approach-
ing the third gate he refused to run, and Captain Price paid the bet,
Whicitwas 201.--Elterborne journal.