The Sun.
London, England, 1845-04-25 00:00:00

mitted to the Board ; as soon as its decision was made known
it satisfied me!that it carried with it the impress of good sense,
and was calculated to aivance the best interest of the country.
Wishing to ascertain the feeling of the parties along the line
and of the country generally, and requiring some calculations
which could only be wade after personal inspection, I employed
my friend, Professor Oliver Byrne (of whose capability and talent

I entertain the highest opinion) to inspect the country between
Dublin and Galway, examine the proposed lines, and give his
opinion thereon—which, in the shape. of a report, together with
my book, entitled " Statistical Evidence in favour of State Rail.
ways in Ireland," published in 1841, I laid before the Board of
Trade.

The attention of the Board was drawn to portions of that work,
which were most important—namely, to resolutions of the Grand
Jury of the county, and the county of the town of Galway, Spring
Assizes, 1836, in favour of the line surveyed by Messrs. Bald and
Henry, civil engineers, and to their valuable report on that line.
and on the port of Galw,y, for which survey and report I paid 5501.
sterling, of which sum 230/. has only been repaid, and that by
the Itish Eastern and Western Railway Company.
The great advantage of a breakwater at Mutton Island was also
strongly recommended in that most valuable report, and all ven-
tured tibope that Parliament would grant the small sum of
10,000/., the estimated cost of that work, which was required to
complete the harbour of Galway.
The evidence taken before the Select Committee of the House of
Lords in 1836, with a view of improving the intercourse between
the United Kingdom and the North American Colonies, contained
so much valuable information on the western harbours, that 1
a'so called their attention to some of the most material portions of

it—namely, the evidence of Sir John Burgoyne, Viscount Beres-
ford, and of his Grace the Duke of Wellington ; also the very
valuable testimony of Vice-Admiral Sir Robert Walter Otway,
Captain Henry Haynes, R.N., Captain Sir John Franklin, and
Captain F. Beaufort, Hydrogralsher to the Admiralty; from all
which evidence, especially that of Admiral Otway and Captain
Haynes, the Board must have perceived the absolute necessity of
attending to the western harbours of Ireland, and especially to Gal-
way—so necessary at all times, but doubly so, before the country
shall be engaged in war—to avoid the great danger in which vessels
trading to the United Kingdom are exposed from the enemies'
cruisers.

I have marked, on both maps in single red, the line approved of
by the Board of Trade, and in double red, Messrs. Bald and Henry's
line, both from Dublin to Galway.
On map No. 1, I have shown all the lines that are proposed to be
made—those that hare met with the approval of the Board of
Trade, that have been rejected—recommended for postponement—
and those not decided upon. On map No. 2 are those approved of
by the Board—to which are added a few lines that I think will
meet with the approval of the Board—one in particular from Rath_
downy, on the Cashel line, to Portumna, passing through a rich and
populous country, situated on the River Shannon, at Lough Derg,

navigable for steamers.
The branch line from Drogheda to Kells was a favourite project
of mine, and I was among the first to propose its being made some
years since, in connexion with the Preston and Wyre Railway, and
paid out of my pocket auo/. towards the survey and preliminary
expenses. _ _

it is worthy of the deepest attention of all classes in Ire.

land, and indeed I may say, of the empire at large, what Professor
Oliver Byrne states in his report, as to the advantage of the steam.
tugs in towing vessels out of the port of Galway, for so soon as this
railway shall be completpd—that moment vessels will be prepared
fitted up on the principle of the screw propeller, to navigate
between Galway and New York, and I have the assuran.,e of par.
ties competent to form a just opinion on the subject, that twelve
days on the average will
.be sufficient to bring the correspondence
ttc., from the greatest city in the United States of America, to
the capital of the British empire; a sum of one million sterling,
will be ample to purchase vessels, and form the establishment
necessary for such an undertaking, and I venture to state, that a
company formed for this purpose will make an enormous profit
from the correspondence alone, without mentioning passengers,
Bzc. &c., whilst the charge for freight and carriage, will, I am in-
formed, be less than one half of what it is at present.
I remain, Gentlemen your devoted friend,
THOMAS BIRMINGHAM.
16, Tichfield.terrace, Regent's Park, April 25th, 1845.

RAILWAY COM MITTEES

(THIS DAY.)

Group No. 4.
LEEDS AND MANCHESTER LINE.
FRID4T, FIFTH DAV.
The Committee sat at the usual hr4ur this day, and merle
arrangements for the more convenient conduct of the proceedings,
the crowd for the last few days having made the heat of the room
intolerable.

Mr. TALBOT had an arpliration to make to the Committee.
Though they had closed their case, still there was one witness, an
engineer named Asterisk, whom he wished to examine as to the
tunnel ; he could not have examined him yesterday as he was
under examination in another Committee.
. .

The CHAIRMAN said that, having examined two engineers upon
that point yesterday for two hours, the Committee conceived they
had had engineering evidence enough.
Mr. Briar, dealer in wool at Wakefield, deposed that 14,410,000
lbs. weight of the wool imported into Huddersfield came from the
east, and that should come from Hull by the Manchester and
Leeds line, either by land or water ; it usually came by land in
winter and by water in summer, the latter being cheaper then. It
would, in his opinion, be very desirable that the proposed line should
be in the hands of one company, the Manchester and Leeds.
To Mr. BAINES—Is a shareholder in the Manchester and Leeds
Company.
Mr. Anderton, worsted spinner—By the table of imports he
perceived that the import in the wool trade into Huddersfield from
the east was seven times more than that from the went.

Mr. Hawkshaw, engineer, deposed that he had measured the
proposed line, and his estimate was, that the continuation of the
branch from the Leeds Junction to Huddersfield would cost
100,0001.
Mr. Traitor* intimated that he had closed his case.

Captain Lawes wished to explain part of his evidence of yester-
day. Since he was examined he had learned that there was an
agreement in writing between the Canal Company and the Leeds
and Manchester Company, and he would get a copy of it for the
Committee, but he had never seen it.
Mr. BAINES then rose, and said he would trouble the Committee

♦ery shortly with a few observations in reply.
Mr. lks.so•r hoped his Learned Friend would recollect that he
appeared for the Leeds and Dewsbury line, and that should not be
lost sight of, it being a district branch.
Mr. BAINZS said if the Huddersfield and Manchester line should
be carried, the Dewsbury line would not be looked for. With re-
spect to the Bill now before the Committee, he would call upon
the Committee to affirm the proposition contained in the preamble
of this Bill—namely, that it was the one which would ; rove to
be of greatest public utility; and in addition to that they had the
fact that this Company had the power to form the whole line
from Staleybridge and Cooper-bridge. Then the report of the
Board of Trade stated that if the Committee should be satisfied as
to the utility of the line, its claims were paramount. He would
next call attention to the evidence of Mr. Locke, who was the
engineer whose reputation was at stake, as he had declared
that the line could be made within the estimate. As to the ob-
jection to a single line of rails in the tunnel, all danger could be
very easily avoided by a little care; but then the Bill had
a clause empowering the Board of Trade to compel this
Company to make another tunnel, if that should be
deemed necessary; and the Bill contained another clause
giving power to raise money for that purpose. It was given
in evidence that there was at present one line terminating within
one mile of Huddersfield, with several manufactories on both sides
of it, and a great number of people constantly passing to and from
those mills ; and it was at that point that the Leeds :and
Manchester Company wanted to have their line
cross that at a level ; and yet they talked of the
danger of a single line in a tunnel, with such a propo.
sition as this before the Committee. Then the Committee
had the evidence that the people of Huddersfield were decidedly
against the Manchester and Leeds proposition, and in favour of
the one he was now advocating. The Learned Counsel then
went on to comment on the evidence of the different
witnesses at great length, and contended that every word the
Committee had heard scent to confirm the utility of the line he wee
representing.
The room was then ordered to be cleared, and the Committee
having remained in consultation some time, strangers were re•ad-
milted, when

Eaßt
to
clue
oU,c4lll.Hck.R AS,IrLGINoArI;e.
Group T.
Grey
in the chair, when the evidence in support of Lord Exeter's peti-
tion was resumed.
Mr. Gregory, engineer of the London and Croydon Railway,
The CSLlSTiritNteeAmNept to-dayPET
gave evidence respecting the construction of the New Cross-station,
which is on an inclined plane. Nearly all the passengers' and
goods trains stopped at that station, yet no particular inconveni.
ence had been experienced from the inclination. It was not equal
to a level, yet still no great difficulty had been
found in working
the line on this account.
Mr. Giles, civil engineer, examined—Had seen the sections cf
Mr. Stephenson's line. There
was a large tunnel proposed to be
made, and the line was planned to cross the Welland twelve times ' •
n several of the cases by wooden bridges. These would require
to be often renewed, perhaps about once every twenty years. He
was acquainted with the town of Stamford, and knew St. Mary's.
hill, which was inclined 1 in 13, and came close down on the
station. That was a great objection. He knew of no
railway in England where such a crossing as that
proposed at the end of the bridge in Stamford had been
made. Its being so near to the bridge would cause a great in-
convenience to the inhabitants in passing over the bridge from
one part of the town to the other. He had proposed a station
himself, outside of the town, on an inclined plane, but where
the station was placed he should make a level where the carriages
stopped of 1,000 feet. The station, in such a position, he
thought would be much more convenient to the whole
town, and afford with the removal of a house,
easy access to the fairs and markets. The inclines at Liverpool
and New.cross were greater than the one he proposed, and both
were connected with stations. He considered an assistant engine
would be necessary at this incline for heavy trains, but the
extra expense would be very trifling. Ile considered his line gene-
rally superior to that of Mr. Stephenson's. It was 21 miles shorter
than the latter. It only crossed the river Welland once, and had no
tunnel. The cuttings were generally good. Altogether he considered
that in lands and works a saving of 30,000/. or 40,0001. in the
construction would be effected. From the nature of the cuttings
he proposed a quantity of fine oolite stone would be opened up,
and there would be no necessity to construct wooden bridges. That
stone, he believed, would become the object of considerable traffic,
and command a ready market in London. He considered the line
which he proposed between Stamford and Hockham as superior to
the parallel line the Company proposed to form as part of their
integral line.
In cross_examination, Mr. Giles said that lie originally surveyed
the line at the desire of the Earl of Exeter, and reported to him,
as he (Lord Exeter) had objections to the line. There was an
inclination in witness's line at Beckham, which was one in 132,
and three miles long. The largest inclination was that in which
he proposed to place the Stamford station, three and a half miles
long, and one in 106. The station with the proposed 1,000 feet
platform was near the centre, being at the distance of one and a
half from the top of the incline. The station proposed to be con.
structed at Stamford-bridge would be an annoyance to the people
crossing the bridge, though he did not apprehend much danger
from it under good regulations. He considered Mr. Stephen.
son's station as the most convenient for a passengers' station ; but
not so for goods. The other in that respect was much more pre-
ferable. Another objection he had to Mr. Stephenson's station
was, that it would destroy all the existing wharfs on the river at
Stamford.
This closed the case for Lord Exeter, Sir John M'Neill, civil
engineer, who was to have been examined in addition, not having
been able to give his attendance.
The petition of Lord Harborough was now gone into, Mr.
Whateley appearing for the Noble Lord.
Mr. Giles was the first witness examined. He did not con.
cider the line should be taken through his Lordship's park.
There was no necessity for it. It might be taken to the westward
of the park, by making a deep cutting and a tunnel of 900 yards.
The expense would be more, but the line would be equally good,
and the gradients about the same. This diversion of the line
would be half a mile shorter. It could also be taken by the east
side of the grounds, providing it were taken along the level
of the canal, in which case it would be a most es's:client
line. It would then still go through his Lordship's but not
so near as in the Company's present plan. The tunnel and extra
work to the westward would be about 45,0004, but he thought
that the compensation due to Lord Harborough, for going through
his park, would reduce the difference one-half, as that nobleman
in his opinion ought at least to receive 20,0001. for the damage.
Mr. Clayton, land-surveyor, deposed that the cutting through the
grounds would sever nearly 100 acres from the park.
Mr. W. Babling, land stsward to Lord Harborough, gave evi.
deuce respecting the character of the park. It contained about 850