The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-24 00:00:00

A I LWAY COMMITTEES
(YESTERDAY.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.
TIE Eft EA.V.A.SEI VALLEY RAILWAY.

The Select Committee appointed by the House of Lords io as-
certain the merits of this project, reassembled at the usual hour
this morning, and proceeded with the investigation.
The CHAIRMAN, before they went on with the evidence in favour
of the Bill, wished to know upon what grounds the scheme was
opposed.

Mr. MACAULAY replied that the line was opposed on the ground
that it could not be made available for passenger traffic, and, if
time were allowed, a more extensive, and more complete line, could
be suMaitted to Parliament for the accommodation both of the
passenger and mineral traffic of the district. That line had
already come before the public under the title of the
Nottingha:n, Leicester, and Ambergate Railway. It would
pass by _the way of Pinxton down the Valley of Erewash,
and then form a junction at Matlock with the Manchester and
Buxton line, and thus forming a through railway communication
between the two highly important towns and seats of trade of Nat-
tingham and Manchester.
The cross.examinatien of Mr. Pickering (for whose name that
of Mr. Pare was substituted by a clerical error yesterday) was
gone into by Mr. MA CAULAY. The evidence given by the witness
this morning referred entirely to the details of the traffic tables of
the line. The principal facts were stated yesterday by Mr. Pic-
kering, and were accordingly published in The Sun of last evening.
The cross-examination partly referred, also, to the facts stated by
Mr. Macaulay as objections to the Bill.

Mr. Woodhouse, the engineer of the line, conjointly with Mr.
Jessop and Mr. Bidders, was then called, and gave the usual engi-
neering evidence. The length of the main line would be 13 miles
16 chains. There were eleven branches. The steepest gradient on
the main line would be 1 in 215. One of the branches would
have a gradient of lin 50. The heavy traffic would be down the
nclines. There was no engineering difficulty on the main line, and
this was, in his opinion, the best that could be laid down threugh the
Fzewash Valley, and afforded the greatest accommodation to the
coal district. The total expense of the line was estimated at
187,0001. This included the cost of the branches.
Mr. MACAULAY cross-examined the witness as to a proposed line,
of which a map was handed in. The witness thought the line in
question far infeCior to the Erewash Valley line.
Mr. Woodhouse was re-examined by Mr. CALVERT.

The CHAIRMAN here observed that the Ambergate line was
before the Committee in a very indefinite manner. As a corn.
peting line it could not appear before them as it would before a
Committee of the House of Commons, but it was only as a com-
peting line that it could be evidence against the proposed line.
Mr. CALVERT said that he was unwilling to make an objection to
Mr. Macaulay's course, but thought it was not regular to give evi-
dence in fsvour of what was, as far as the Committee were concerned,
an imagir.,:, line.

Air. MACAULAY said that, as landowners, his clients had a right
to oppose this Bill, on the ground that there was a better line,
which would not injure them. He would wish, however, to post•
pone the arguments on this point till tomorrow, as Mr. Alexander
was not present.
The point was accordingly reserved, and the evidence continued.
Mr. Bidders corroborated the evidence of Mr. Woodhouse. The
working expenses of the line would be 3001. per mile. That was
about 30 per cent. on the estimated traffic. The estimates
had been made for works for a double line, the rails only
being estimated for a single line. The estimated expense of the
main line was 140,0001., which he thought was a very liberal esti.
mate. A single line would be sufficient for the traffic,
as the whole of the coal expected to be carried on the line in one
day could be taken by ooe train.

It was proposed to cdli Mr. Vignolles to corroborate the above
evidence, but an obj• ction having been raised to the admission of
his eviiieuce, a discussion ensued, the result of which was, that
the Committee postponed the matter till to.morrow.
The Committee then adjourned at half-past five o'clock.

GLASGOW 1111 TD BiIIZELHE.A.D RAILWAY.
The Select Committee appointed by the House of Lords to
ascer•ain the merits of the Glasgow and Barrhead Railway
assembled Sra the first time this rat ruing.
The Committee consisted of Earl Spencer (Chairman), Duke of
Cleveland, Marquis of Hedfort, Viscount Middleton, and Lord
Dartmouth.
Mr. Sergeant Bellasis appeared for the promoters of the Bill, and
Mr. Hildyard for the opposing parties.
Mr. Sergeant BELLasts opened the case. The Bill before their
Lordships was for authorising the construction of a railway from
Glasgow, commencing at the station of the Greenock and Glasgow
Tine, on the south side of the Clyde, and extending on to Barrhead,
a distance of about six miles and five furlongs. There could be no
question about the traffic, for it was well known that the goods traffic
between the two places amounted to 3,460 tons per annum, while the
number of passengers was 3,200. The capital of the proposed
line was 150,000/. ; the estimated coq of construction was 142,0001.
The gross revenue which it was anticipated the line would yield
was 19,6401., and after deducting 7,5001. for working expenses,
there would be left a dividend of six and a fifth per cent. upon the
capital expended. So much for the main line. The promoters of
the scheme proposed to make a small branch at a short distance
from Glasgow to join the Pollock and• Govan Railway, for the pur-
pose of bringing the important article of coal and iron-
.stone to Glasgow. This was the scheme he had to lay
before their Lordships, and now for the project of the
opposing parties. Their Lordships would perceive by the
map that the Glasgow and Ayr Company had projected a branch,
having the same object of accommodating the traffic between
Glasgow to Barrhead, but this branch avoided the most populous
and thriving part of the district for the purpose of going by way of
Paisley, which had, c•.mparatively speaking, a very trifling traffic,
and would increase the distance from Glasgow to Barrhead from six
to eight miles.
Mr. Humphrey Crum, an extensive calico•printer, at Thornley
Bank, a place of some importance on the proposed line, estimated
that the traffic of Thornley Bank alone would yield the line an
annual income of 5641. 16s. for goods and 1,2501. for coals.
Lord Blantyre and Colonel Moire proved that the landholders
and inhabitants of the district were in favour of the short and direct
line from Glasgow to Barrhead.
Mr. Malcolm Hunter, a calico.printer of Crefthead, was well
acquainted with the trade carried on between Glasgow and Barr-
head, and considered the direct line well adapted to accommodate
the Wants of the district.
Mr. Dunlop, an extensive cotton printer at Crayton, confirmed
the testimony of the last witness.
Mr. James Ramsay Vertman, manager of Messrs. Wilson's iron-
works at Glasgow, intimated that Messrs. Wilson had traffic
passing along the route of the direct line to the extent of 62,479
tons per annum, which would undoubtedly come upon, and be in-
creased by the proposed railway.
Mr. M`Lintock, a coal.owner confirmed the testimony of the
last witness, and
The Committee then adjournd till eleven o'clock to-morrow
morning..

IMPORTANT DECISION.

"VV'AICEr.E.ELD, PONTEFRACT, AND GOOLE

RAILWAY.

The Committee on this Bill re-assembled at the usual hour,
Lord Monteagle, chairman.
Mr. HILDYARD opened the proceedings by summing up, on the
part of Mr. Smith, a landholder. The Learned Counsel, after
defending Mr. Smith from any charge which might be advanced
against him because he had coalesced with Mr. Hudson in his op..
position to the Bill, and because that opposition was to be defrayed
at Mr Hudson a expense, went on CO show the residential injury
which would be done to that gentleman, and contended that as a
better line could be laid out, combining all the advantages
of the other and a7oiding its evils, their Lordships should throw
out the present Bill, in order that a better line might be intro_
duced next session.

Mr. WILKINS replied, and, in an elaborate speech, contended
that no sufficient public grounds had been shown for throwing out
this Bill. The engineering evidence adduced by the promoters
proved in the oust forcible manner that a railway was absolutely
necessary to pres,rve the trade of Goole, and to extend that of
Wakefield, Pont, fract, and Knottingly, and no line which had yet
been exhibited to 'heir Lordships promised to supply those deside-
rata in the sa me degreeas the present one. The Learned Counsel then
went into detail as to the relative advantages to the minerals in the
districts, and, after analysing the statements of the opposing wit-
misses, concluded by hoping that their Lordships, after the full,
fair, and patient investigation they had given, would be irresistibly
led to the conclusion that a line of railway was absolutely re-
quired, and that this was the ♦ery line to supply the present
deficiency.

The Committee then retired, and on their re-entering the room

The CHAIRMAN intimated that the Bill was proved, but they
decided also, that the works should be suspended until the pro-
moters had again come to Parliament for powers to construct the
.31ethley branch.