The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-22 00:00:00

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE:
WELSH MIDLAND.
Wont-Ewan, SATURDAY NIGAT.—To-day the Provisional
Directors and officers of the Welsh Midland Company at-
tended at the Star and Garter Hotel, in this city, for the, pur-
pose of affording to the inhabitants and landowners whose
=tenets may be affected by the proposed line, an opportunity
of inspecting the plans, and also for the purpose of hearing
any suggestions relative to the line, the objects of which are
to connect the manufacturing districts, and the seaports of
South Wales in the Bristol Channel, with Birmingham and
the great manufacturing districts of Staffordshire, thus form-
ing a perfect communication between the great mineral dis-
tricts of Staffordshire, the salt districts of Worcestershire, the
manufacturing districts of Lancashire, Yorkshire, Worces-
tershire, Warwickshire, and Nottinghamshire, and the sea-
port of Liverpool, with South Wales and the numerous
works in its mineral field. Since the original plan was pub-
lished, several modifications have been made. Originally the
line from this city proceeded via Bromyard to Leominster and
Hereford ;but this route has since been changed, so as to take
in the fashionable watering-place of Great Malvern, tunnel-
ling through the hill, and approaching within three miles of
Ledbury, and proceeding to Hereford.
A preliminary meeting was held at one o'clock, for the
purpose of pointing out the line upon'the Ordnance maps.
At this a large number of landowners on the route between
Worcester and Malvern attended, and to whom the engineer,
Mr. Gibbs, and Mr. Sidney Hall, pointed out and explained
the line as now intended to be taken. They appeared to be
satisfactory.
At three o'clock the deputation again attended at the
Star and Garter, for the purpose of laying before those in-
terested the general features of the undertaking. The de-
putation consisted of Mr. Bulkeley Hughes M.P., and
Mr. J. Palmer Budd, deputy-chairman of the Welsh Mid-
land Company ; Mr. Acker, M.P., J. Hegan, Esq., a Di-
rector of the Manchester and Leeds Railway ; J. Parry de
Winton, Esq., A. S. M. Maskelyne, Esq, S. Beale, FAA.,
Director of the Midland Railway; and J. N. Foster, Esq.,
who were attended by Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Hall, engineers;
Messrs. Parker, Rose, and Norton, the solicitors ; Mr.
Pritchard, secretary, and the following local solicitors:—
Mr. Hughes, Worcester; Mr. Milnes, Leominster ; Mr.
Cleave, Hereford; and Mr. Collis, Stonrbridge. Amongst
the landowners and others present were Sir A. Lechmere,
Bart., and T. C. Hornyhold, J. E. Williams, 0. Mason, H.
Lakin (Lord Beauchamp's agent), J. Dowding, C. Griffiths,
Vernon, Strawley ; J. H. Allen, T. Jones, Sherridge ;
James Best (agent for Earl Somers), G. Farley, J. Herbert,
J. D. Onley, E. Corles, T. Waters, J. W. Lea, Vice-Chair-
man of the Severn Improvement Commission ; J. M. Gutch,
E. Pidcock, J. Hill, town clerk ; and M. Pierpoint, Esqrs.;
Revs. G. Williams, and Griffiths, besides numerous trades-
men and merchants.
Mr. J. PALMER BUDD, a proprietor, of the Ystalrera
ironworks, in Glamorganshire, rose, and on behalf o the
Directors of the Welsh Midland, directed attention to
the objects of. the line as detailed above. The line, he
observed, had been originated not on the Stock Ex-
change or by speculating lawyers and engineers, but was a
bona fide scheme, set on foot in the South Wales district,
and cordially supported all along the route.—(Hear,
hear.) It proceeded from Birmingham to Kidderminster,
Bewdley, Leominster, and Hay, direct to Swansea. Then a
line from Worcester proceeded to Malvern and Hereford,
another line deviating to Gloucester. At Birkenhead they
would havel communication with the Irish Sea, and access
to the whole system of English railways. They had no
need to advertise for capital, for plenty had already been fur-
nished to them ; and, in allotting the shares, if they had
neglected any application, it was on account of the impos-
sibility of granting it. At Hay there would be a great fork,
one prong of which would proceed to Hereford and Worcester,
and the other to Kidderminster and Birmingham. The line
proceeded on to Carmarthen, uniting with the sea coast, and
giving access to Cardigan and Newport. By it the present
distance between Ireland and London and Ireland and Bir-
mingham would be lessened by many miles. The line would
have every element of traffic, seeing that it embraced the
agricultural district of Breconshire, Herefordshire, Shrop-
shire, and Worcestershire, the copper, iron, and tin works of
Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire, and the iron and coal
fields of those counties and of Staffordshire. It would also
supply a quick transit for coal and lime. At Brecon the
main line joined with the Carmarthen and other lines, and
alio united with lines now existing in those mineral dis-
tricts. At Liandillo it connected the Llanelly district by
means of the Llanelly Railway, and it joined the Taaf Vale
Railway. at two points, one at Merthyr, and the other at
the terminus in the Aberdare Valley, thus opening a free and
entire channel of intercourse to the central parts of England.
With regard to Newport, there was a scheme for a line of
railway from that port to Pontypool and Abergavenny. The
Newport, Abergavenny, and Hereford Company, had pur-
chased the tram-road from Abergavenny to Hereford, at
which latter city they would join the Welsh Midland, and so
bring up the produce of the Monmouthshire mineral fields to
Hereford. He could not conceive under what paucity of in •
formation any one could have dared to say that the Welsh
Midland line did not accommodate the iron trade of the South
Wales district, for it did accommodate it in a way which no
other scheme could possibly pretend to do.—( Hear and
cheers.) It had been said, that by means of a line running
east and west, they would be able to accommodate all the
iron- works ; but their engineer declared the impracticability
of such a line. Their (the Welsh Midland) junction with the
Newport and Abergavenny line would afford all the accom-
modation required. After some further remarks on the
impracticability of the Eastern and Western line, Mr. Budd
said it was their wish to conciliate all parties, consistent
with the success of the measure, and the general interests
of the Shareholders. The plans as regarded Worcester,
would be so devised as to make a junction with all the
different railways brought to this city—(Hear, hear)—and
the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway
among the rest. Looking to the South Wales line; they
found gradients in it worse than 1 in 60 ; en their own,
1 in 100 was the greatest. They would therefore, be ena-
bled to work with the most rapid speed of railway tra-
velling. They had also made beneficial arrangements with
menu canal interests at Hay and Brecon, which would
afford them advantages not possessed by others. The
Welsh Midland would, doubtless, in the next session of
Parliament, be the great line of the session ; and.
looking at the various features of their case, which
would have the advocacy of the same solicitors, who
in an arduous campaign of 76 days, had triumphantly car-
ried the London and York scheme through Parliament.
He had no doubt that the fullest success would attend them.
Unknown to him as were the deputation who now attended
to lay before that meeting the plans of the Welsh Midland
Railway, they would not, call upon the meeting at once to
decide in their favour, but would leave them to digest the
features of the undertaking; and he doubted not that they
would ultimately give the Company their full support. The
plan which they had adopted of attending meetings of the
inhabitants of the several districts to endeavour to conci-
liate, in preference to asking them at once for their suf-
frages, had hitherto been attended with the most satisfactory
results.
Mr. STALLARD. wine-merchant, then put a number of
questions to Mr. Budd, with the view of ascertaining whe-
ther or not the mileage of the plan had not been increased
since the first prospectus had been issued; and whether,
therefore, the amount of capital proposed to be raised, would
not require to be increased.
Mr. Buoy and Mr. ACKER.% in reply, stated that the Bre-
con and Merthyr Junction Company, which would join them,
would bring in a capital which would be at their service. The
original plans had been altered, and would perhaps continue
to be varied further. If these called for an increase of capi-
tal, they had not the slightest doubt that every farthing
which they might want would be easily raised.
Mr. STALLARD then asked upon what gauge the line would
be constructed?
Mr. BuDD replied that they were in the hands of the royal
commission, which commission, he hoped, would effectually
stop the plaguel of gauges. If commission decided that
Worcester should be the determining point, ho could not con-
ceive how that could injure the interests of the city.
Mr. STALLARD then put the question to !Cir. Budd,
whether the Welsh Midland had not been originally brought
out in support of the South Staffordshire (or Rugby and
Tring scheme).
Mr. Brim—Most decidedly not.
Mr. STALLARD--Did you not say, when you were examined
before the committee of the House of Commons, that the
South Staffordshire line was to join the Welsh Midland?
Mr. Buon—Decidly not. I said it would form a junction
at Worcester.—(Hear, hear, and cries of "Oh.")
After some further conversation,
Mr WATERS (Clerk of the Peace for Worcester) inquired
at what point it was intended to cross the Severn at Wor-
ces ,e.; whether above or below the present bridge?
Mr.Graas, the engineer, said that was a point on which
they wished to hear the suggestions of the meeting.
Mr. WATERS then asked whether the bridge would be an
open or solid bridge ?
Mr. Gums said he hardly saw the necessity for an open
bridge ; on which
Mr: WATERS said, that as connected with the Severn Im-
provement, he would at once give him notice that a solid
bridge would be strongly opposed, both by that commission
slid the citizens of Worcester.
Some further discussion ensued, which was at length put
an eod to by
sod a vote of thanks to the
Mr. GUTCYL banker, whop ropo
deputation. He was glad they had followed the precedent of
the Great Western and Eastern deputation, in not asking of
the meeting a resolution in favour of them.
Mr. STALLARD seconded the vote, and Mr. B. HUGHES
acknowledged it.
SOUTHAMPTON, MANCHESTER, AND OXFORD
JUNCTION (PARSON'S LINE.)
SWLNDON, SATURDAY.—This afternoon a meeting of
the landowners and inhabitants of Swindon and its vicinity
was held at the Goddard Arms Tavern, in pursuance of a
requisition signed by fifty-two residents. The meeting I
consisted of nearly every gentleman and tradesman in the
town. Mr. Ambrose Goddard, the largest landowner in I
the district, presided. The meeting was also attended by a
numerous deputation from the Committee of management,
comprising Lieutenant-Colonel Elrington, Major Croft, Major
Morse Cooper, C. E. Bigge, Esq., J. M'Millan, Esq., J. B. '
Payne, Esq., L perk, Eeq., W. Parsons, Esq. (projector of
the line), and H. Renton, C.E.
Mr. WHEELER opened the business. The proposed line
offered great accommodation to the town, would be highly
beneficial to its markets, and conducive to the interests of
the neighbourhood.—( Hear, hear.) Swindon, in every
Point of view, would reap vast advantages from its forma-
tion.--(Hear, hear.)
Major MORSH COOPER said, so satisfied was he of the
great benefits which Swindon would derive from the facility
of railway communication which this line presented, that it
had almost, as it were, become a necessity that they should
have it constructed as quickly as possible.—(Hear, hear.)
They had every prospect of being successful ; for they had
amongst the members of their Committee first-rate men—
en of title and fort
th.—(llear, hear.) une,
and plenty of money to work
W
Mr. Psosoies, after alluding to the powerful support his
line had received, said, with respect to the line itself, if the
meeting would refer to they would see that it was
a
in the first place proposed as map they
object, to afford increased
facilities of transit to the rich and thickly populated district
Ilmest„iehitherto but imperfectly
of North Wilts, Hants,iteacnodm
n, and that the supplied with railway
accom-
plishinent of so comprehensive a scheme would require only
about sixty miles of railway to be constructed. The course
proposal to be taken was to commence near the Andover-
read station of the South Western Railway, the point at
which that line commenced its direct sou
then passing near Whitchurch, in a northerly direction, course, and
diverge into two branches, about four miles direction, to
south of
near
of High..
l
elere. One branch would go direct to
tin
Eamsbury, by Melbourne to Swindon, when it v%eti.d
to a termination at the Swindon station of uthepracreeadat 1
Western Railway, thus falling in with the existing l
ways to Gloucester, Cheltenham, Birmingham,bil'ianl.
cheater, and thence on to Liverpool, and the projected
lines through Wales. The other branch would take a
direct northern course, by Newbury and Ilsley, to the
Dicicot station of the Great Western Railway, at which place
it would join the Oxford and Rugby Line, which was in di-
rect communication with all the northern lines ; and thus
the two great arterial lines of railway in the north-west and
north, running north and south, and communicating with the
innumerable ramifications in the Potteries, the manufactu-
eino and coal districts, ancrtScotland, would be led to, and
united in one common trunk line leading direct to Ports-
Pia Iblithanton.—(llear, boar.) Ill; being the

mei he might lkirly ea that when this line was completed
a passenger would be ale to get into one carriage and ride
by means of railways from one end of the kingdom to the
other.—(Hear.) The farmers would be able at once to select
the best markets to which, at a cheap and quick rate, they
could forward their produce. There would be one tunnel, of
about three•quarters of a mile in length, near the Three
Crosslegged-hill, at Highclere. The earned Gentleman
then entered into a minute detail of the peculiarities of the
line itself, and remarked that the distance of rail would be
about sixty miles, which would be completed for 900,000/., a
sum which, when speaking of railway transactions, was now
a•days regarded as a trifling affair.
A resolution in favour of the line was then moved by Mr.
PAYNE, and seconded by Mr. PERKS.
Mr. BRADFORD moved an amendment, to the effect that
any expression of opinion in favour of a particular line would
be premature, until the advantages of the other bad been
heard, seeing. that there were no fewer than seven proposing
to run by Swindon.
Mr. CRoWBY seconded the amendment.
. Mr. SEWELL, of Cirencester, submitted that the line which
offered the greatest advantages to Swindon was the South-
ampton and Manchester. The Learned Gentleman entered
into a lengthened detail in support of the position he had ad:
vanced.

Mr. PARSONS said it was somewhat extraordinary, if the
Southampton and Manchester Railway was calculated to
confer such overwhelming benefits upon Swindon, that the
committee of that line should not long since have come to
that town and pointed out the fact.—(Hear, hear.) But the
truth was, the committee had, down to the present time,
never considered Swindon as anything; they had, in truth,
turned upon its inhabitants the cold shoulder.—(Hear, hear.)
Did the meeting conceive that the Legislature would sanction
such a vast line, which would run like a boa constrictor
throughout the land, devastating the houses and ruining the
property of the people of the land, through or near which it
would force its course? Why there would be something like
ninety miles of cutting between Cheltenham and Southamp-
ton. Then this was to be accomplished at an expenditure of
1,500,0001., whilst the same end would be effected by means
of the short line which he had proposed, for an outlay of
900,000L—(Hear, hear.) Moreover, as far as the town of
Swindon was concerned, the Southampton and Manchester
line would not come within two miles of it, so that it had
been intended by that Company to leave that town in the
larch.—(Hear, hear.)
After a considerable discussion the resolution was carried
by a majority of 27 to 4.
Petitions to both Houses of Parliament were subsequently
prepared, add received the signatures of nearly the whole of
the inhabitants of the town, praying that the line might be
passed into a law.

LONDON, HOUNSLOW, AND WESTERN.
A numerous and respectable meeting of the inhabitants of
Hounslow and the vicinity was held on Saturday afternoon,
at the George Inn, for the purpose of receiving a deputation
from the Ccmpany, and hearing an explanation of its con-
templated plans and operations, in the hope of restoring its
lost trade and vitality to Hounslow.
Mr. HENRI' BERICELXY, M.P. for Bristol, presided, and in
opening the business, stated that they had assembled in com-
pliance with a requisition from the inhabitants, and observed
that had he had the task imposed upon him some twenty
years ago of addressing the inhabitants of Hounslow and its
vicinity on such a subject, situated as the town then was, in a
highly flourishing condition, be should have expected his re-
ception among them to have been anything but agreeable, for
it would have been requesting them to commit themselves to
their own ruin. But the question now before them was not
whether steam was or was not to be the order of the day.
That question had already been disposed of. Steam was the
great pervading power, and to attempt to oppose the march
of steam, would be just as effectual as to attempt to stop
the influx of the tides.—(Hear, hear.) He had witnessed
the effects of the introduction of steam power into this coun-
try, and had not only seen the ruin which had fallen upon
this town, but had had opportunities of comparing it with
the condition of others similarly situated. Let them com-
pare Hounslow and Barnet, for instance : formerly Hounslow
was the most flourishing town on the western road, and
Barnet on the north road, and both had suffered in the same
way. The great roads which had been the cause of
their prosperity had been destroyed, and neither of the
towns had the advantages of railway communication.--
(Hear, hear.) It was all very well to say, as was asserted
by the Great Western, the Birmingham, and other great
lines, that they would bring prosperity to all the towns
in the districts through which they passed.—(Hear, hear.)
But how had the promise been redeemed ? If it was
urged that there was no station within two or three miles of
the town, that the poor rates were increasing, and houses
would not let, the reply was, " Oh, wait until the line comes
fully into play, and prosperity will be restored." But pros-
perity had not been restored, and how had the promises been
redeemed? Why, the inhabitants of that town had no more
connexion with the Great Western Railway than if they
were one hundred miles off.—(Hear, hear.) No one, he
was sure, would assert that the Great Western Railway was
productive of the least advantage to that town: No one
would take houses in a place which had not the advantages
of railway communication; as men of business and of the
various professions wanted to go to town in the morning and
return home in the evening without loss of time. Such lines
as the Great Western made money by their long trains, and
not by such as were required for Hounslow and Barnet. The
Great Western had taken away their trade and prosperity.
How well he ( Mr. Berkeley) remembered the gay scene
which this town used to present with its thousands of
horses—(Loud cheers)—quite a sight to a foreigner—when
brought out for the numerous coaches which passed through
the town.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) Where was their
remedy ? Was it with the present steam communication
with the metropolis ?—(No, no.) His advice to them
was, not to depend on others any longer but to trust to them-
selves, and sanction a railroad which would give them a sta-
tion in their own town.—(Cheers.) For this purpose he
called their attention to a prospectus of a company which
proposed to carry this out, and which he believed they would
find worthy of their approbation and support. The public
had already manifested their confidence therein by the way
in which they had taken up the shares and paid the deposits
of 10 per cent. upon the capital.—(Cheers.) The Company
came not to ask for subscribers, they wanted no money ;
that they had got already.—( Hear, hear.) All they asked
was, that they, as the inhabitants of Hounslow, would give
to the good work now carrying forward the sanction of their
approbation.—(Cheers.) After some observations on the ad-
vantages which would accrue to the town by the cheapening
of coals and other necessaries of life through its operation,
the Hon. Chairman concluded by calling on
Csptain Moor.soM, the engineer to the Company, who en-
tered into some details as to the proposed line, which was in-
tended to commence at Hungerford Railway-bridge, in the
Strand, run along the South-Western line to Battersea, thence
crossing the Thames, running through Fulham, Hammers-
mith, Chiswick, Tumham-green, Brentford, Isleworth,
Hounslow, and the intermediate towns and villages,
to Staines, with a branch from Hounslow to the Great
Western Railway, at or near West Drayton. The South-
Western Company contemplated applying to Parliament
in the ensuing session for an Act to enable them to
extend their line from Hungerford-bridge to London-
bridge, which would afford to this Company a terminus at
London-bridge, as well as at Hungerford-market. This
line would, he doubted not, be the means of restoring to
Hounslow a great portion of the former prosperity, although
he could not promise them all they had lost.—(bear, hear.)
It seemed perfectly astounding to him that the western
road of England should have allowed itself to be cut out
from a participation in the advantages of railway commu-
nication. But the truth was, that the people had only
lately begun to appreciate the fact that railroads must be-
come the Queen's highway.—(Hear, hear.) They had now,
however, the opportunity, without putting their hands in
their pockets, of partially restoring themselves to their
former position.—(Cheers.) He next proceeded to point out
the great advantages which would accrue to the neighbour-
hood by the extended cultivation of market-gardens round
Hounslow, with improved means of transit, and said he hoped
to live to see the day when the grower should send his pro-
duce to the London markets by this railway, and in a couple
of hours receive, by electric telegraph, an order for more.
Mr. E. FAG G, of Bedfont, moved the first resolution, to
the effect, that the condition of Hounslow and the neigh-
bourhood imperatively called for a removal of the existing
evils, arising from the want of railway communication.
Mr. PEISLET, of Hounslow, seconded the resolution, which
was carried unanimously.
Mr. FRANCIS GRAHAM, of Cranford, moved the second
resolution, to the effect, that the meeting was of opinion
that the London, Hounslow, and Western Railway Company,
by providing a communication with the centre of the metro-.
polis, would be highly beneficial to this locality.—(Cheers.)
Mr. E. FAG seconded the resolution.
Dr. COSTELLO here claimed a hearing for Mr. George Adam
on behalf of the London and Exeter direct line.

Mr. ADAM proceeded at some length with a statement on
the part of the projectors of that line, but was called to order
by several gentlemen who thought the object of the present
meeting a specific one, and that they ought not to enter into
the merits of different companies.

The CHAIRMAN said it was competent to any gentleman
to move an amendment to the resolution if he disapproved
of it.—(Hear.)
Dr. COSTELLO said, then he would move an amendment,
and did so, calling upon the meeting not to pledge itself to
support any particular project until it had heard the merits
of the Direct Exeter and other lines.
Mr. HUMBY seconded the amendment.
Mr. WILKINSON advocated the cause of a third project by
Mr. Page, which he described as the original line, but was
also called to order, the feeling of the meeting evidently being
that the rivals ought to call meetings of their own, if they
wished to have their merits discussed.
The CHAIRMAN complained of the conduct of their
opponents, and said, if they intended to oppose them, they
ought to have given them a fair challenge, and this Company
would have had no objection to meet them.—(Hear.)
After some further discussion the amendment was nega-
tived, and the original resolution carried by a large marjoity,
amid cheers.
The Chairman and a number of gentlemen present at the
meeting dined together at the George Inn.