The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-14 00:00:00

CORNWALL Ii.A.S.TAATAY.

This Committee met at eleven o'clock in the Lord Chancellor's
Court, the Earl of Ellenborough in the chair.
The first witness examined was Mr. Hawkeshaw, an engineer,
who deposed that he considered the projected line perfectly practi.
cable, and that the working of it would be quite free from danger or
difficulty. He thought they could very well travel at the average
r .te of thirty miles an hour. The gradients on the branch line
from Manchester to Oldham were, some of them, as bad as one in
39, yet they travelled wenty.three miles an hour on it, including
stoppages. . .

Cross-examined—lt would require more vigilance in the direc-
tion of the engines to guard against accidents on a curving uneven
line than on a level and direct line, but, with an ordinary degree of
♦igilance, accidents might be easily guarded against.

Counsel then asked witness if there was not danger of trains
running into the railway station, and so causing immense detri.
went, and frequently loss of life, when the curves and gradients
were bad ?

Witness replied that such accidents had occurred, but it did not
arise either from the curves or the gradients. The surplus mo-
mentum which an inclined plane would occasion was easily
stopped, and such accidents could only arise from extreme care-
lessuess. They might happen on a level line as well as on an un-
even one.

Mr. Vignolles, an engineer, who was next examined, concurred
in the view taken of the lion by the last witness, and thought, if
properly carriesi our, there would be no danger of accident.
In answer to noestion from the CHAIRMAN, witness said that
the expense of working locomotive lines had greatly decreased
within the last fr•w years. Four or five years ago the expenses
were from 4s. to ss. per mile. On part of the line the ruling gra-
dient was I in 60.

Mr. Sergeant KINGLAKE—What do you mean by the ruling
gradient ? Witness—The prevailing maximum gradient.
Mr. William Henry Bond, an officer, who resided at Falmouth,
stated that he had been secretary to the Cornwall Railway in
1844, and took a great interest in it. Witness went on to describe
the advantages which he thought would result from the projected
line in point of traffic.
Mr. Brunel, the eminent engineer, was next called. Surveyed
the line, and thought there was nntliing in it to prevent its
being worked with safety and convenience. There were worse
curves and gradients on other lines. The Great Western Com-
pany, of which he was the engineer, would be large contributors
towards carrying out this scheme. The gradients were in many
cases steep and the curves rather sharp, but horn his experience
an average speed of thirty miles an hour for the mail train, and
twelve miles for the goods' train might be maintained along the
whole line with perfect safety and convenience.
Cross-examined—Did you view the proposed line ? Mr. Brune
—I did.

Mr. Rowz—Did you walk over the line itself? Mr. Brunel—
No.

Mr. Rowe—Then you only took a general view, and only speak
as far as you know ? Mr. Brunel—Of course I can only speak as
far as I know, but counsel are generally under a very erroneous
opinion, for they think, in order to see a line, you must actually
walk upon it. Now, that is just the way not to see it at all ; the
way to see a line is to view it from eminences in the neighbour.
hood of it.

Lord Vivian said he wished to explain, in consequence of a
statement which had appeared, he had withdrawn his opposition to
the Bill, but his sentiments regarding it remained unaltered.
Some other evidence of an unimportant character was given, and
their Lordships adjourned al Four o'clock.