The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-30 00:00:00

SCOTCH LINES.
EDINBURGH AND PEEBLES.

A numerously attended meeting of the Provisional
Committee was held at the Royal Hotel, in Edinburgh,
on Wednesday, Sir J. Grahame Montgomery, of Stan-
hope, Bart., in the chair.
The report stated, that after careful surveys, con.
ducted by Mr. Stevenson, the Company's engineer, on
both sides of the Esk, the Committee had finally selected
a line, commencing at, a point upon the Dalkeith branch
of the North British Railway, four miles from Edin-
burgh, and proceeding along the north bank of the Esk,
by Loanhead, Lasswade, Rollin, Penicuik, Wellington
Inn, and Eddlestone to Peebles, as the best which could
be found, whether with a view to the expense of con-
struction, the general accommodation of the district, or
the amount of probable traffic. The report further
contained the terms of a lease of the line which had been
entered into with the North British Company, subject
to the approval of the Provisional Committee, on a
guaranteed interest of four per cent. per annum, with
one-half of the surplus profits after deduction of work-
ing expenses.
Mr. CHAMBERS stated that, with the contract filled up,
the amount of the first call paid, the surveys completed,
or nearly so, and an arrangement made with a powerful
ally to work the line, nothing was now wanting but the
sanction of Parliament to effect the object which has
been all along steadily held in view—a direct communi.
cation between Edinburgh and Peebles. As respects the
junction of the line to that of the North British, it had
not been settled on without long and anxious considera-
tion. It had been found, on investigation by the engi-
neer. that it would be more advantageous to join the
North British than either to have an independent ter-
minus or to join with the Caledonian Railway. To have
attempted the latter, coming in to the west of Edin-
burgh, would have cost nearly 100,0001 more than
the plan finally adopted. Some parties had urged
maintaining an independent footing and terminus ;
but this would have been most unwise, The
great thing with the line was to reach the heart of
Edinburgh, and also the sea, and this double object
would now be achieved. The line from Peebles, as
stated in the report, would run into the Ilawick branch
of the North British line, at a place called Cairnie, not
far from Newton Kirk, and from thence the trains would
bring the traffic of the Vale of Tweed and of the Esk
into the centre of Edinburgh, or carry it onward to
Leith or Granton, or to Glasgow and the west of Scot-
land. Trains would likewise be able, from the point of
union, to run on to Dalkeith or Fisherrow ; while, on
the other hand, the coal and lime fields of this part of
Mid-Lothian would be brought into direct communica-
tion with the interior. Another thing was to be held in
remembrance. The length of line to be made would only
be twenty-two miles, without any great works, the course
taken being wonderfully level and easy ; and reckoning
the portion of the North British line to be gone over,
the total length of the railway from Edinburgh to
Peebles would be twenty-six miles, a distance which
could- be accomplished in little more than an hour.
If the practical engineering advantages were considerable
by adopting this arrangement, so he thought were the
financial. The company, on handing over the line to
the North British on the proposed lease, were to be
guaranteed four per cent. on their capital ; and, so far,.
this formed a sure and good investment. But besides
this, after taking a sum for expenses of working the
line, the North British were to pay this company half
of the'profits, which may ultimately bring the return on
capital to a considerable per centage more. Per centage,
however, bad not been a primary object with the projectors
of this company. They desired a line of railroad to serve
the traffic on the Esk, as well as to and from Tweedale ;
and that to all appearance had been secured by obtaining
the co-operation of the North British Railway Company,
which, for its own sake, he was confidently assured.
would do all in its power to assist in carrying the Bill
through Parliament. Mr. Chambers concluded by ex-
pressing a hope that, laying aside all jealousies and pre-
possessions, the 'landed proprietors of Peebles-shire
would join in rendering assistance to a measure so fraught
with advantages to the district.
Mr. CHARLES COWAN congratulated the proprietors on
their present prospects, and expressed conviction that
great advantages would accrue from the line, not only to
the agricultural interests of reebles-shire, but to the
whole of the manufacturing interests of the Esk.
The report, on the motion of Mr. A. FORRESTER, was
adopted, and the committee were authorised to sign the
agreement with the North British.

EDINBURGH AND BATIIGATE.-At the last meeting of
the Committee—the Right Hon. the Earl of Buchan in
the chair—Mr. Grainger's (the engineer's) report having
been considered, it was resolved that it would be expe-
dient, with the view of improving the line, and making
it more direct and efficient, to alter the route originally
proposed, as as to cause it to diverge from the Edin-
burgh and Glasgow at a point about half a mile to the
westward of the Ratho station, and from thence to keep
on the south side of the Upphall Valley to Bathgate ;
that as it was become the great trunk line between
Edinburgh and Glasgow, it was also expedient to form
it with double rails, and toincrease the capital to 200,0001
By this means it is conceived the great viaduct over the
Almond Valley will be avoided, as well as viaducts and
tunnels. _ _ _ _ _

EAST OF FIFE.-At the last meeting Of the Magis-
trates and Council of.the burgh of Pittenweem, a letter
was read from the Secretary of the Edinburgh and Nor-
thern, soliciting them to desert the East Fife line, but
the Council resolved to continue their countenance and
support.
The survey of the Aberdeen line by the west into
Montrose is completed.
GLASGOW, STRATHAVEN, AND LESMAHAGIOW.-At a
meeting of the provisional committee, just he'd, it was
resolved to carry a branch to Muirkirk, 13 miles, making
the distance between Glasgow and Muirkirk under 29
miles. Lord Eglinton was in the chair ; and on the
motion of Lord Belhaven, seconded by Mr. H. E. Crum,
the Directors were authorised to issue new shares for the
purpose, in the proportion of one new for every two
original.
ABERDEEN.—On Friday several large contracts for
the masonry and earthworks were entered into.

RAILWAYS IN LINCOLNSIIIRE.—SeveraI meetings have
lately been held amongst the leading men in Lincoln, to
consider the propriety of forming a company for the pur-
pose of constructing a railway from Lincoln to Levertou, a
station near Retford, on the Sheffield and Grimsby line.
The first meeting was held at the Black Goats Inn, on
Saturday night last, present—the Mayor, in the chair,
Messrs. William Rudgard, H. W. Brook, Edward Rudgard,
Broadbent, Alderman Blyth, Gresham, Wilkinson, Olding.
jun., Marshall, and Middleton. After much discussion, the
following resolution, proposed by Mr. Alderman Rudgard,
and seconded by 11. W. Brook, was adopted :—" That
the railway communication between Lincoln and Man-
chester, to the centre of the consuming districts, being in-
complete from the rejection, by the Committee of the House
of Commons, of the line from Retford to Lincoln, proposed
by the Sheffield and Lincoln Company—proposed that a com-
pany be made for the formation of a line of railway to run
as direct as possible between the town of Retford and the
city of Lincoln, and that all present form themselves into a
committee for the purpose of carrying out the undertaking,
and that this meeting be adjourned to Monday, at eleven
o'clock." Afterwards the proposed direct Lincoln and Hall
line came under discussion, and seemed to be in high fAvour.
On Monday the gentlemen met again and discussed the
matter, and it was resolved that a deputation be formed to wait
upon the inhabitants of Retford, to secure their co-operation.
There seems but little doubt that if the gap between Lincoln
and Retford be not filled up by the Sheffield and Grimsby
Company (and we do not believe it will), the Lincoln cam-
talists will take the matter up with spirit, and carry it
through, as the line in question would, when completed,
form the most direct route to Manchester and the consuming
districts for the produce of the greater portion of Lincoln-
shire. There is a general expression of regret in the city
that the people of Lincolnshire have not a single representa-
tive on the Great Grimsby and Sheffield line or the Notting-
ham and Lincoln line, although Lincoln is the most im-
portant town, and the centre of the most important district
on the respective lines of the two companies referred to, and
an effort is to be made to remedy this injustice. In Lincoln
there are already no less than four sharebroken, and there
is some talk of having a railway exchange for the trans-
action of share business of every description.—Lincolnshire
Chronicle.

DARTMOUTH, TORBAY, AND 'EXETER RAlLWAY.—Arrange-
ments have been made within the last few days for a co-ope
ration between this Company and the Taw Vale Extension,
the Cornwall and Devon Central, the Exeter, Dorchester,
and Yeovil, mid the London, Salisbury, and Yeovil Com-
panies; so that there will be one continuous line of rail-
way with the same gauge, and without change of car.
riage, from the London station of the South-Western
Railway at Hungerford-briago to Brixham, Dartmouth, &c.
By the Taw Vale Extension a direct railway will be
opened between the harbours of Torquay, Paignton,
Brixham' and Dartmouth, on the English Channel, and
those of Barnstaple, Bideford, and Ilfracombe, on the
Bristol Channel, and the long contemplated scheme of con-
necting the two channels with a direct line to London and
Falmouth, will be effected. It is scarcely surprising that
this line should be supported by the local parties, when it
is considered of how much importance it is to Dartmouth to
have railway accommodation and in the shortest line possible.
Dartmouth is one of the finest and safest natural harbours
on our south-west coast. Its situation and natural advan-
tages particularly fit it for a packet station, In case of