The Sun.
London, England, 1845-06-02 00:00:00

GROUP V.

The Committee met this day and proceeded to hear the further
cross examination of Mr. Cope, which had been adjourned from
the Saturday evening, on the subject of the traffic tables. The
witness was questioned at great length as to his details, but without
in the slightest degree causing him to alter the substance of his
tables.

Mr. Skidmore, an accountant and assistant in the formation of
the tables to the last witness, was examined by Mr. BAINES, and
stated that he had placed men on different stations of the intended
and neighbouring lines, and he was satisfied from daily examination
that the returns given were correct. He afterwards assisted Mr.
Cope in making them up.

Mr. Gibbs, C. E., was called, and examined by Mr. ADAM—He
had examined the line, and thought the proposed one the very
best line that could be laid out. He had examined the estimates,
including the permuient way, and he thought them correct. The
length of the line was 12 miles 1 furlongs. The gradient de-
scending into Sheffield would be a severe one, but as the bulk of
the waggons would descend it, it would be of the less consequence.
The steepest gradient was 1 in 80, and that was only fur a length
of la, miles. The viaduct into Sheffield he thought constructed in
the best possible manner, but he could not give an opinion as to
the value of the property beside it.
He thought the height of the piers were 25 feet, and he was of
opinion that that they would not intetfere prejudicially with the
market. He believed that there would be sufficient stone taken
from the cuttings on the line to construct the stations, &c. He had
also a list of the b(irings, some of which he had examined, and he
was of opinion that the different strata on the line were most fa.
vourable.

Cross-examined by Mr. WHATELEY—He did not anticipate any
danger from the fact that the viaduct at Sheffield would be built
over a coal formation, because he observed that near the pro-
posed line they were building churches, large houses, and mann.
factories of infinitely greater weight than a viaduct
20 feet high. He supposed, from the existeuce of that very fact,
that the coal had not been exhausted. He considered the first ten
miles from Sheffield very heavy work, bnt he was confident there
were many lines aeavier.

Sir J. R. REID—If you were asked to lay out a line having re-
ference to these coal fields, and communicating with Chesterfield
and Sheffield, would you adopt this line ? Mr. Gibbs—l would.

Mr. Hawkshaw, C.E., said, that without examining the lino, the
sections and plans were sufficiently explanatory of the engineering
works upon it, and he fully agreed in the opinion already given by
Mr. Gibbs, and on a preceding day by Mr. Vignelles.
The Committee adjourned till to-morrow.

GROUP W.
EILAYTON AND GOOLE EAXLWAY.
The Committee on this line met to-day at 12 o'clock, Mr.
Pakington, chairman ; Lord Seymour, the Hon. Mr. Maxwell, Mr.
Bouverie, and Mr. Whitmore present.
The examination of the merits of the proposed line was then
continued, and

Mr. Fletcher, whose evidence was partly heard on Saturday,
proceeded to state that 2,500 tons of stone were yearly sent from
the quarries in the neighbourhood of Leeds, and exported from
Goole. A line was at present being constructed near the quarries,
which would greatly increase the facilities of exportation. Some
of the docks and bridges at London have been built with the stone
from this district. The proposed line would greatly increase this
trade. The chief market for the stone was London. Woodhouse stone
was an excellent stone for common purposes. Coals at present
came on the Leeds and Selby line. Thought that coal would
come from the collieries in the West Riding by the proposed line
to Goole. From his opinion of the comparative merits of Goole
and Selby, as ports for the exportation of the coal of the district,
a great portion of the coal which now went to the latter place, would
if this line were formed, go to Goole. About 50,000 tons of mer-
chandise (sugar, wool, indigo, soap, spirits, fuller's-earth. &c.) came
from London to Goole in the year 1844. This quantity all went
to the Bradford and Leeds district. A great proportion of
this quantity would go by this line, Keeps two steam-
boats for passengers, one plying between Goole and
York, and the other between Hull and York. Titers was another
party who had a vessel plying between Hull and York. Received
2501. per week as his gross reeeiptslfor the Goole boat, and rather
more for goods. The receipts of the other boat he should say
were more. The receipts of the Hull boat; from Goole to York were
about the same as the Goole boat, but from Hull double that amount.
In his opinion the whole of this traffic now shipped at Selby would
be transferred to Goole. It would be very injurious to himself.
The feeling at Goole was very much in favour of the proposed line.
In his opinion the corn from the eastern district would continue
to be conveyed by water from Goole inland, in preference to any
railway.

Cross-examined by Mr. WILKINS —Did not know whether stone
could come down by railway. A considerable portion of this stone
came from Bradford. About 30,000 tons came from Halifax,
and the districts on the Manchester and Leeds line. Probably
half of the wool that goes from Goole goes to Bradford. Thought
that if the Wakefield, Pontefract, and Poole line were made direct
and saved four miles in the distance, it would be a preferable
one to the Brayton and Goole line. The cost of carriage for sugar
from London to Leeds was Bs. 4d. per ton. Of this sum 58. was
for the sea carriage, and 3s. 4d. by canal. If the rail charged gd.
per ton per mile, the canal would be a cheaper mode of conveyance.
The Leeds and Selby Railway Company made an offer to take his
goods at a low rate from Selby to Leeds, but he preferred to con-
tinue sending them by the Aire and Calder canal.

By Mr. Buss—Shipped '2,000 tons of coals twice in November,
and twice in December last year at Goole for London. It was a
vi inning trade. It came by boats from York. He is at present
under a contract to ship 700 tons weekly from Goole. The time of
the commencement of the contract did not depend on the construction
of any railway. Could not say of his own knowledge where the stone
that he shipped from Goole came from. Sent 10,240 tons of general
merchandise last year from Goole to Leeds by water. Included in this
1,014 tons of wool, or thereabouts. He got in returned cargoes
from Leeds, 300 tons of goods.
By Mr. KNOWLES—He had received that morning a letter in re.
was made with the pros.
Mr. Hamer Stansfield, examined by Mr. KNOWLES—Was Mayor
pfeocretnocfe
tthooaplraorpogesceodnitiroaectbefoinrgcolaalisd,
dwohwinch.
of Leeds last year. Was extensively engaged in trade with Ger-
many for the last eight years. Had a house in Hambargh. Ex-
ported from 300 to 400 tons of worsted stuff goods annually.
Before the Hull and Selby line was made his goods went
to Goole for exportation. When the line from Selby to
Hull was made, he changed his shipping port for
Hull, but if the present Brayton and Goole line were laid down
he would go back to Goole. Ilis reason for so doing would be the
increased facility for dock accommodation, as well as being a more
and also the
cdhireeacpterlinerat(essaviilioah ditshtaencecoomfpt:tvietinotT, miles),
necessarily
cause. The proposed line would afford greater accommodation
than the Wakefield and Goole line.
Cross.examined by Mr. WiLartss—Had shares in the York and
North-Midland Counties, and several other lines. A great part of
the goods from Bingley, Shipley, and other towns in that district,
were taken to Bradford. If the Wakefield and Goole line were
four miles shorter than the proposed one, it would be preferable as
a transit from Goole to Bradford ; but he considered the gradients
of the Brayton and Goole line were much better, and more than
counterbalanced the saving in distance of the Wakefield and
Goole line.

By Lord Snvmoutt—Said that the propose° line, if carried out,
world have the effect of making Goole and Hull competing ports
and, on thecame principle, he would have no chjection to have
both lines, believing that thereby a stimulus would be ginen to trade.
Mr. Allhewson. a merchant, resident in Newcastle upon. Tyne,
was next examined. He stated that he was engaged in the mann.
facture of sodo, bleaching powders, and chemical preparatirns. He
sent 400 tons annually to Manchester, but in consequence of the in-
sufficiency of railway accommodation, he could not send it direct, but
was obliged to send it by ship to Liverpool, and thence to Man-
chester. He could send it by rail at present, but he would be
obliged to send it a distance of '2OO miles of a round about. The
route in that case would be from Newcastle to Darlington, from
Darlington to York, Isom York to Normanton, and
thence to Manchester. The cost by this mode would be enormous,
the cost by ship, via Liverpool, was 255. per ton. They were
frequently two months in getting to Manchester at present by ship.
If the Manchester and Leeds Company conveyed his goods at the
Caine rate as the other lines, the cost by rail from Newcastle to
Nanclyster would be 975. pg. per ton • lagt the, Manchester
and Leeda Company would not do so, bar the purpose (as he
thought) of sending the traffic to the port of Hull,