The Sun.
London, England, 1845-04-03 00:00:00

88 47

Total

Deduct about
on account of the Brighton and Chi-
chester Railway, for which an Act
has already been obtained, leaving 79 47
The distances from Portsmouth to London by these

9 0

schemes respectively are, by the—
South-Western scheme, 77 miles to Hungerford-
bridge.
London and Portsmouth direct, 79 miles to London-
bridge.
Stephenson's line, 81 miles to Hungerford-bridge.
From Chichester to London the distances will be re-
spectively, by the—
South- Western scheme, 82 miles to Hungerford•

bridge.
By the London and Portsmouth Direct, 80 miles to
London-bridge.
By Stephenson's line, 65 miles to Hungerford-bridge.
Even if these throe schemes were equally good in all
their points, we think that the South-Western Railway
Company would have a claim for preference, in conse-
quence of that Company having already expended, on
their Gosport branch, a capital of 400,000 L, upon which,
as yet, very :little profit has been realised, and whi,.th
would be rendered entirely valueless if the Direct Ports-
mouth line were made.

Having therefore taken into consideration that the
Guildford, Chichester, Portsmouth, and Fareham branch
scheme, has fewest miles of railway to make ; that it
affords the shortest route between Portsmouth and
London ; that it completes the coast communication ,
and that it does not interfere unnecessarily with the
existing interests of railways already sanctioned and
executed in the district, we have decided that there are
public reasons which, in our opinion, are sufficient to
induce us to report to Parliament that it is to be pre-
ferred to the Brighton, Chichester, and Portsmouth Ex-
tension ; to the Direct London and Portsmouth ; and to
the London and Portsrnouth,!with branches to Shoreham-
bridge, Fareham, and Reigate :schemes.
In treating of these projects, we have not noticed the
branches to Reigate proposed by the Direct London and
Portsmouth, or by Mr. Stephenson's scheme, as they are
of minor importance, and do not in any way affect the
main question. If the principal lines be not constructed
the branches must necessarily fall to the ground.
The London and Brighton Railway Company have
lodged plans for the purpose of making a branch from
their line at the Three Bridges station to Horsham,
wbinh will be about eight and a half miles in length.
No engineering difficulties present themselves
line
othis
Project ; the line will be easy of construction, and the
local feeling is in its favour. If Stephenson's be
sanctioned, the branch to Horsham will be unnecessary;
but, if Parliament should refuse its sanction to Stephen-
son's line, Horsham will have no connexion with any
railway, except by means of the branch in question.
Therefore, in the event of the last-mentioned contin-
gency taking place, we are not aware that any public
reason will exist, which ought, in our opinion, to be
decisive
nsiovoeaologasiniosnt
In
we beg to draw attention to the pas-
sage of the Fifth Report of the Select Committee of last
year, in which it is stated,
,rila in recommending that reports
shouldrailway be
schemes,ma de to Parliament
nmoe nsti
such
hy
reportthis
b eh
uponeld
to prejudice the claims of private persons, the examina-
tion of which should be altoether reserved to the Houses
of the legislature."
In submitting to Parliament, in conformity with the
recommendations of that Committee, the results at which
we have arrived, with a view to the information and as-
sistance of Parliament, in terming a judgment upon the
schemes in question, in so far as our report may be avail-
able for that purpose, we are anxious that it should be
distinctly understood that we have arrived at these re-
sults solely upon public grounds, and to the exclusion of
all considerations how far such results might require to
be modified by a due regard for private rights and in-
terests.

DALHOUSIE.
C. W. PASLEY. G. R. PORTER.
D. O'BRIEN.