The Sun.
London, England, 1845-06-20 00:00:00

GROUP K.

EAST nmazstara 1111-73 7.1011V.T1C11 DMELECT
111,11ILWAY.

The Select Committee on this group re.assembied at the usual
hour this morning, and proceeded with the rebutting evidence in
the case of the promoters of the East Dereham and Norwich Di.
rect Railway, and the affirmative evidence in the case for the
Wyndham branch of the Norwich and Brandon Railway.
Mr. Bidder, a civil engineer, proved that the Wyndham branch,
although it would increase the distance between East Dereisain and
Nora ch some few miie.4, ye', as a piirtian of ;lie :hie was a!reacly
made, it nould cost less for con,truction 47::9 the East Dcreham
and Norwich Direct line, arm hence prove in the result a saving
to the nubile. foe estimates, moreover, of the Etst Dereham
awl Norwich Direct line, as put in by Mr. Gravit, were far too
low, while the traffic calcui itions were exceedingly exaggerated.
Mr. CALVERT informed the Committee that the plot-looters for
whom he appeared had entered into an agreemeot with the E stern
Union
Extension Company to work their joint trains in conjunC-
%toil, in the event of Parliament sanctioning their railway.
Mr. Locke, on behalf of the East Dereham and Norwich Direct

line, confirmed the evidence of Mr. Gravit as to the cost of con-
struction.

This having closed the case on b-halfr f the direct line.
Mr. CALVERT add, essed the Committee on the evidence adduced
in favour of the Dereham and Norwich direct, and applied him-
self more particularly to the difference of time and c st between
it and the line via Dereham. Toe dist ince travelled by the latter,
exceeding that required on the former, was at least seven miles;
and eight stations, entailing a delay of at least 50 minutes, were either
to be stopped at, or the traffic anticipated at them wholly given
up. His Learned Friend had denied that the fares would be higher
on the line he represented, and had cited the maximum clause
as an effectual precaution against high tolls. But the
Board of Trade required on a line returning 10 per
cent. a diminution of its tolls. The direct line would
unquestionably within a short period return at least that amount,
but the additional cost of working the line seven miles longer
would at once prevent its ever attaining the requisite per tentage,
and its ever lowering its toll. The traffic at present passing be-
tween Norwich and Manchester would be diverted into channels
wholly unconnected with the former ; Yarmouth would obtain
a large proportion of it, and the town which the line affected
to benefit would be materially, if not ruinously, injured.
Upwards of 22,0001. of the money subscribed for the circuitous
route was, independent of the purchase of acreage necessary for
its construction, to be spent among the landowners for the interest
of the good-will. Such a waste of capital was wholly uncalled for,
and while unprecedented by any line previous or contemporaneous,
was unsought by the projectors of the Direct Railway. His
Learned Friend appeared to rely considerably upon the advantage
accruing to Wyndham by facilities of communication, while the
town of Norwich had been virtually disregarded. Did that dis-
trict, however, require no accommodation ? Was its progress so
rapid, and its prosperity so palpable as not to need an increase? Let
the population tables of the years 1831 and 1841 attest the accuracy
of such a proposition. The census returns of the former year
gave a population of 60,000, and of the latter, 67,000 inhabi-
tants, a bare increase of 6 per cent. in ten years ; while, in the
preceding period, he found the increase had been more than 21
per cent. Such a circumstance was a remarkable and undeniable proof
of the comparative declining state of a town, which, from its central
position, might, but for want of more ready railway communication,
have been expected of unusual prosperity. Thegradients of the direct
line were far inferior to its rival; the site of the termini presented
similar advantages, and considering the propositions of the two
lines in every particular, he contended there was not one on which
the Committee were not warranted in giving preference to the
direct.
The Learned Counsel having concluded his address, the Commit-
tee adjourned at hail-past four till to.morrow.