The Sun.
London, England, 1845-06-27 00:00:00

GROUP LL.

LONDON AND ERIGHTON (WANDSWORTII)
EXTENSION.
The Committee resumed at the usual hour, Lord John Manners
in the chair.

The case of the petitioners against the projected line, on the
ground of interference with private property, was gone into.

Mr. Sergeant KINGLAKE appeared tor Mr. Rawlinson and several
other landowners, and contended that the projected line was not
necessary, and ought, at all events, to be postponed. It had been
laid down as a maxim by the Board of Trade, and its truth must
be universally admitted, that wherever the saute Company and the
Caine capital would effect the same purpose it should be preferred.
Mr. Rollinson, the proprietor and occupant of valuable nursery
grounds and premises at Tooting, consisting of dwelling-house;,
conservatories, ornamental grounds, &c.—The line would pass
within 108 feet of the entrance to these premises, and completely
block up the present convenient and open approach to them by
means of a high embankment which was to be raised for the pur-
pose of carrying the turnpike-road over the railway.
Mr. Driver, the surveyor, had valued the land which would be
necessary for the projected line at 26,0001., but the tact was it
would not purchase a tithe of it. The land had been estimated
according to ins abstract value, not taking into account the incal_
culable damage which it would create by severance, and by destroy-
ing the beauty, a d in many instances the utility, of private pro-
perty. The proposed embankment near Mr. Rotlinson'e would
rise to an height of eighte,n feet, and extend 500 or 600
yards. Now it was manifest that this of itself passing
through ornamental grounds would be highly detrimental
snd would vastly deteriorate the value of the property. The
Learned Counsel concluded by saying that the line was useleis and
uncalled fur, The present Croydon line afforded ample opportu-
nity for conveying property to the Brighton line. Such was the
opinion of the 13usrd of Trade, and if at any future period the ex-
tension Idle became necessary there would be nothing to ; revent
its formation. At present the interests of a enmpany, which h. d
di voted a great deal of capital to the formate:re of a railway, and
the interests of several private individuals, were involved. Ines..
tigation and delay were absolutely necessary, and in accordance,
with the recommendation of the Board of Trade, which was based
upon good sense and guided by strict impartiality, he called upon
the Committee to declare the preamble of the Bill not proved.
Mr. John Itollinson, a gentleman residing at Tooting, said the
projected line would pass to the north of his premises. He
had a nursery there, two acres in extent, whim' was admirably
adapted for the growth of peaches and nectarines, both from soil
and climate, and upon which a great nerd of money had been ex-
pen.led; in bet, he could hot carry on his business without it.
He had lately purchased land there for 2501. an acre. Them was
a most useful spring there, which the line would destroy. His busi-
ness was almost as extensive as any nurseryman in the neighbour
hood of London. The nobility constantly, visited •hirn. The line
would deteriorate his property to the value of two thirds 'I he
rai road would pass directly through the property, and there was
Borne of the property which oust at the rate of 1,0(101. per acre.
Cross-examined by Mr. HILL—The grounds were visited by the
gentry of the West-end.
Mr. Groom, of Clapham, corroborated the above testimony.
Mr. Henry Moineux lives at Tooting. Is an assessor of the
propert in• tax. Was well acquainted with the condition of the
Tooting people. Most of its mlianitants were connected with trade
in the City. The other class of persons were nrechanies. Did
not think a railway passing troni Tooting to the west end of Lon-
don wound be at ail decrable. There were only two caches from
'looting to the west snd of Lonilon—one in the morning arid one
in the evening ; anti he very seldom saw them wel laden. Knew
Dr. Ford's pro,erty at Tooting, arid thought the projected line, it'
carried cut, would be h gin y injurious to it.

Other evidence of a similar character was given as regar,is pri-
vateproperty.

Mr. Cubitt. consulting engineer to the Croydon Railway Corn.
pany, state', that in the begging of last year he recommended the
laying down of an additional tine of rails along the Croy,lon line,
and arrangements were made with the Greenwich Railway Coin-

piny to bring a single nue of rails to 'he Loncon-bridge station.
The object was to take the Brighton traffic along the Croydon line

he line was to be constructed accoiding to the atmospheric

pin:elide. That line was now in course of construction.
and would be a tended with very considerable expenditure. The
present lire would then carry what was termed '• the long traffic "
Did not think it was uesirable that the Brighton traftic should be
brought to Hungerford-bridge, even by a shorter line of railway
than the projected sue.
Mr. HILL then rose to reply. The Bill was opposed by two bodies,
the one a number of private gentlemen landowners, and the other
the Croydon Railway Company. With respect to the fii st, all were
satisfied by the offers of the promoters except Mr. Rollinson and
Dr. Lind. He was anxious to treat with respect private property ;
but the man should have a monument of gold erected to ntin who
should disco% cr any means whereby great public works I.ke this
could be carried out without opetating against the
interests and wishes of private individuals. Gentlemen
talked as if there were no such word as aotrivensa-
tion in the English language. There never was any
railway passing so near a la ge town which less effected private
property than this, d the promoters were willing to makt• all the
compensation in their pnwer to those lauded proprietors whose land
would suffer by it. With respect to the opposition of the Croydon
Raiiway, he disclaimed all wish and intention to damage the
interests of the shareholders. It was objected that the
arch by which the proposed line would cross it was not large
enough, but his clients were quite willing to remove all objections
of that nature, by making the arch as large as they could wish it.
The Croydon Company themselves admitted some years ago that
the London bridge station was not suil,cient, for they agreed to
be shareholders with the Brighton and South Eastern Coun-

toe Rai:way Company, in a new line of railway
from Croydon to the metropolis. It had been allegsd by Mr.
Auftin that the Brighton Company would lose 13,0001. a year by
the throwing off the Croydon branch. But the thing Willi too
absurd to be entertained for a moment. If the Brighton Company
(lid not helit.ye they would gain much, instead of losing anything,
they would be no parties to the pri.jected scheme, which would co.'
them 120,0001. The Learned Counsel then relict puotlation