The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-06 00:00:00

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- 46

EXETER, SErr. 5.

STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Exeter and Crediton,
9—Exeter, Yeovil. and Dorchester, % p.—North Devon;2l%
p.—Exeter, Topsham, and Exmouth (Daw's line), 14 p.—
Ditto (Head's), IA p.—Nith Devon, 3!l—South Wales,
s%—Eastern Counties, 20%.

RAILWA'I INTELLIGENCE.

3
THE CROYDON ATMOSPHERIC.
ts, The experiments on this new and interesting prin-
' ciple, which Olds lair to overturn all our preconceived
ideas of railway travelling, were resumed yesterday, iu
the presence ot Mr. t iikruson, Chairman of the Com-
pany, and several of the Directors. Mr. Samuda, as
oefurc, directed the proceedings.
On this occasion there were, live carriages attached to
the piston carriage, the aggregate weight amounting to
provably thirty tons. The nrst experiment was from
Croydon to the Dartmouth Arms, but from some misun-
deratauding as to time, one of the stationary engines was
not brought into action, and the vacuum mita:rid the
tube was in consequence imperfectly developed. The •
speed attained, however, was fully equal to that usually
adopted in the working of the lucomotive lines, la, rug on
the average 30 miles an hour. On the return a greater
speed was attained, the barometer at starting indicating
above 21 inches, cr_loi lbs. of atulusilerie pressure on
the square inch of the piston. 'there was no
stopping at any of the intermediate stations,
and we had a good opportunity 01 judging of the speed
that might be obtained. The distance of five miles was
accomplished in six minutes and a quarter, gie ing an
average of forty-eight miles au hour ; but part of this
distance (a quarter ut a mile) the speed reached 65 miles
au hour. The second upward trip was continued
ehroughuut at an equal speed, and the dis-
tance was accomplished iu seven minutes, being
rather above forty-three miles en hour. The return to
Croydon was equally satisfactory. The barometer in-
dicated from 26 inches, the maximum, to 11 inches, the
,ninimum, or from 13 to 5i pounds on each square inch.
rho result is such as must satisfy the most sceptical,
because the experiments have clearly proved that a
greater degree of speed can by the atmospheric principle
ne communicated iu a lesser time than by the pr, sent sys-
tem, while all possibility of those feareal accidents that
have SO lately happened on different lines are complete ly
avoided. Every day tends to lessen the unimportant dis-
ads anniges arising from the want of a thorough under-
standing bctw etn the different departments on the railway,
and it may sa!ely be asserted that when the principle
has had time and opportunity given it of arriving at
gre. ter maturity, the superiority over the locomotive
en,.ines will be so marked as to silence every caviller.

SHOCKING ACCIDENT.
We are sorry, in concluding our report of these satis
factory experiments, to state that an occurrence took
place on the return of the train, at half-past five, to
Croydon, after the last trial, which terminated in the
sacrifice of the life of a feiluw-crcuture. Notwithstand-
ing that stlict orders had loten issued that no workmen
should remain on the line, an Irishman, named Michael
Murphy, with a temerity of the most unpardonable kind,
was engaged in applying the bees'•-wax to the
leather flap which covered the' groove, when, be-
fore he could get out of the way, the train,
which was at the moment proceeding at the rate
of some forty miles an hour, pasted over him, tithing
his head upon the iron tube, and completely separating
both arms and one leg from his body. The carriages
were stopped almost immediately, and the remains of
the unfortunate man ware removed to the White Horse
Inn, Croydon-common, a distance of a few hundred
yards from the scene of the accident, where they await
the coroner's inquest.
We need not state that this melancholy event threw a
damp upon the otherwise successful proceeding of the
day.
The individual whose life has fallen a sacrifice to his
own foolhardiness had, in the course of the day, criee.
narrowly escaped, and he had been cautioned as to the
consequences which might arise from his rekrehensible
carelessness.

NORTH BRITISH.
On Wednesday the half-yearly general meeting of the pro-
prietors was held at the Royal Hotel, Edinburgh; Mr. John
Learmonth in the chair.
The report, after referring to the sanction given to the di-
rectors at a previous meeting, to foam certain branches, and to
extend the line from Berwick to Carlisle, stated that the direc-
tors would use every means in their power to obtain an Act
next session authorising the execution of these works; and if,
as they hoped, they should be able to arrange with the land-
owners through whose property the extension from 'Hayrick to
Carlisle was proposed to be carried, and the shareholders sanc-
tioned their doing se, they would proceed with the works upon
that line simultaneously with those upon their branch from
Edinburgh to Hawick, in anticipation of, and before actually
getting their Act. Since fast half-yearly meeting, in February,
the works upon the main line had been proceeded with in a very
satisfactory manner. A large portion of the permanent way
was already laid, and there was not any reasonable ground
for doubting that the whole line would be completed and
opened by the time originally proposed, viz., May next.
The engines and carriages were in a state of considerable
forwardness, and several of them would soon be ready for
being delivered. The other parts of the plant were also being
got ready. The plans of the principal stations had been pre-
pared, and contracts were about to be made for executing
them. The settlements with landowners had been nearly
completed, there being but a very few cases now finally to
arrange. Upon the whole, the arrangements had been satin•
factory, the exceptions being very limited in number. A con-
siderable amount of loans had been got at a moderate rate of
interest, for five years and upwards. The arrears upon the
calls were small, and they had been considerably reduced since
the date of the balance at 31st July. The call recently made
had been well paid, and a good many payments had been made
in advance. The future calls would require to be made as
quickly as the provisions of the Act of Parliament would admit,
in order to meet the demands consequent on the rapid progress
of the works. The Edinburgh and Hayrick and Dalkeith Aets
have now obtained the royal assent ; the stock of these com-
panies had been transferred to this company, and was in course
of being issued to the parties entitled to it. The alteration
on the works of the Dalkeith line and branches would be pro-
ceeded with immediately on possession of them being got.
This would be done early in October. The two
first contracts on the Hawick branch, being the
heaviest work, had been advertised, and the contracts
would be made on 10th September. The others would
follow as quickly as possible. A considerable portion of the
land upon that branch had already been purchased at fair prices,
and immediate measures would be taken for acquiring the re-
mainder, with the view of pushing forward the works with
every possible dispatch. The land already acquired, and that
which had yet to be bought, would be sufficient to admit of a
double line of rails being laid ; and, as authorised by the Share-
holders, the line would be laid as a double one at once. The
curves would also he improved, so as to render this a first-class
lire. After noticing the motion submitted by Mr. Blackadder,
to the effect, that there should be no trains nor traffic of any
kind on this railway on the Sabbath-day. the report said, that
while the Directors deprecated the discussion of teas question,
they thought it right to state to the Shareholders that they had
no intention of running any more trains on Sundays than they
should consider absolutely necessary for the accommodation o;
the public upon that day, and they hoped to be able to arrange
them so as to give as little offence as possible to the feelings of
any party.
The report of Mr. Miller, the Company's engineer, after
describing the contract sections of the line, stated that the
whole of the works were in such an advanced state that
the greater portion of the contracts might be concluded this
year, end all of them within the period specified in the con-
' tracts.
After an amendment, to put an end to Sunday travelling,liad
been lost, the report was aceerdingly carried.

451 1-

MANCHESTER AND BIRMINGHAM.
ISIANCHESTER, FRIDAY.—A meeting of this Company was
held this day at the Company's station, with reference to the
amalgamation of the line with the London and Birmingham
Company. The meeting was an extremely crowded one.
Previous to the general meeting a preliminary one was held
at the Albion Hotel, which was very numerously attended, and
at which Mr. Whittaker presided, when the report of the
Directors having been read, the meeting unanimously agreed
to a resolution to this effect :—" That the Shareholders should
2, NOT adopt the recommendation of the Directors regarding
,
_r2 the proposed amalgamation." The meeting then adjourned
31.2 to the railway station, where Mr. Westhead took the chair,
21A and ultimately to the Corn Exchange, for want of sufficient
room.
The Secretary read the report, of which the following is an
extract :
" From the accounts as rendered it will be seen that a large
increase has taken place in the amount received for the conyy-
ance of passengers and goods compared with the correspon rog
half-year in 1844 ;
Half-year ending July 31, 1841 .• • • .Z 38,488 9 !•..£214,,3,0048 11? 08
July 31, 1845 —.. 43,970 18 ~• • _,.., ,
1f..------ .-------.. .----
£5,4 i 2. 811 £8,124 3 8
• Total increase •• •• .....C13,60G 12s. Id.
The number of passengers booked at all the statior.s on this
line, as per tabular staterm-nt annexed, shows that in the half-
years ending July 31, 1844, 441,082, ar.d July 31, IS.
in-
crease b78,`297 persons travelled upon the railway, exhibiting an
crease of 137,215 pa•seog..rs. This large accession 0; passen-
gers, &c., together 'with the reductiors which have taken place
in fares and rees, will neusAxily occasion an increase in the
working expenses of the line. From the statement submitted
to the Proprietors in the form hitherto adoided by the Com-
pany, it would appear that there remains the sums cf