The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-09 00:00:00

GROUP KK

LIVERPOOL AND ORIVISEIRIC AND PRES-
TON RAILWAY,

SOUTHPORT AND EUXTON JUNCTION.

As only Sir Charles Lemon, Chairman, and the Hon. Mr. Hope
attended this morning, no evidence was called on either of these
Bills, and these Members having sat for some time, the Committee
adjourned until to morrow at three o'clock.

GROUP N.
IMPORTANT DECISION.

LAUNCESTON AND SOUTH DEVON, SOUTH
DEVON AND TAVISTOCK, AND OTHER
BRANCHES.

The Committee on these Bills re-assembled this morning. They
adjourned from the 10th of June until today, as the members
were then unprepared to pronounce an opinion on the atmospheric
principle, by which it is proposed to work the South Devou and
Tavistock line.

The preamble of the Bill for the Launceston line was declared to
have been proved at their last meeting. The clauses were now gone
through and agreed to with some amendments, and the Chairman
was desired to report their decision to the House.

The Committee-room was then cleared. On the re-admission of
strangers,

The CHAIRMAN (Mr. Macaulay) declared the preamble of the
SOUT,k3 DEVON, e.c.7.I.VXSTOCK., AND
DRANCIikaS SILL

Lad been proved,

Considerable discussion ensued with respect to the Dartmoor
Railway, which belongs to Messrs. Johnson, and
Mr. BRAMWELL suggested that, unless the promoters either gave
up the powers given to them under the old Act, or put them in
force, they should report against that portion of the Bill.

The Comrarrrae declared that they could not call upon the Com-
pany to do so.

Clauses were inserted to protect the property of the Messrs. John.
son; and the Chairman having been requested to report their de.
cision to the House, the Committer' adjourned.

GROUP NN.

IILACILWAT.7.. AND EPPING RAILWAY.
The Committee on this scheme. after several adjournments, re.
ai,cr.-.Oled to-day, and proceeded, without further delay, with the
business before them.

Mr. WFIA rELEY addressed the Committee on behalf of the pro-
moters. It appeared that it was the intention of the Blackwall
Company to carry back their line as far as Fenchurch.street into
the City, and thence, by a branch to Stepney, to connect with
the Eastern Counties Railway at Stratford, to Westham and
Epping. No property of any great value, or of an ornamental
nature, would be required to be taken for the purposes of the rail-
way. The objects of the railway were greatly required for
the inhabitants of Bow and Westham. There was no rail-
way between those places, and tine intermediate ground was so
heavy that even the omnibusses could not run ; and if the railway
were made from Epping it would be a great convenience to persons
in that district. The agricultural produce was large in
Epping and its neighbourhood, and a sufficient market was greatly
needed. He would show in evidence that the railway would afford
great facilities for conveying the agricultural produce to London for
sale. The population of the district which it was proposed to tra-
verse, would give a fair estimate of the necessity of a railway being
constructed. The majority of the gentlemen who inhabited Epping,
pursued professional and business avocations in London, and they
were all desirous of having the railway. As to the Blackwatl Rail-
way, it appeared that the estimated number of passengers
before the line was constructed, was two millions three hundred
and thirty-one thousand,but, subsequently, after the line had been
made, the number of passengers amounted to 2,452,000. The original
estimate was not very wide of the mark, and it was only reason-
able to suppose that the passenger traffic, as would presently ap-
pear from the tables of the Epping Extension, was correct. The
Eastern and North-Eastern lines conveyed nearly a million of per-
sons. The Epping Railway would not interfere with its traffic, but
would convey it into the heart of the City. He was in a situation
to bring before them the traders and other parties of the district, to
show the importance of having a direct railway communication with
London. The line was proposed to be constructed by a company
who possessed abundant means of making the line, and of after.
wards keeping it in thorough repair. He would not trouble the Com-
mittee to listen to any details connected with gradients, and curves,
and other technical matters connected with the construction of the
line, it would be sufficient to say that there were no engineering
difficulties. The only oppo'ition against the line was from the
Eastern Counties Railway Company. The ground of the opposi-
tion arose from their line being crossed diagonally on the level; but
it was intended to go over their line near a station
at the best points both for convenience and safety.
The Blackwell Company were willing to accede to any arrange-
ment that the Committee might recommend. It was urged that
part of the traffic of the Eastern Counties line would be taken, but
Vets could constitute no ground of objection in a Parliamentary
sense. The promoters of the line for which he appeared would
readily fall in with the views of the Eastern Counties Company
consistent with the public convenience, and with what was due to
the Blackwall Company. These were all the facts that he thought
it necessary to lay before the Committee, and he should now pro.
cried to call witnesses, alter which ha had little doubt that the
Committee would decide that the preamble had been proved.
Mr. Maitland, late Sheriff of the county, deposed generally as
to the convenience which a railway would afford to the inhabitants
of 'Chigwelt and its vicinity. . _

Mr. Coxhead Marsh, of Park-hall, spoke as to the facility
which the railway woeld yield for the conveyance of coal and
m.-inure to Epping.

Iklr. J. G. Walford, Solicitor to the Customs, said the railway
mild be of great use as a means of transmission for passengers
from Epping and its locality to London.
Mr. White, East India director, confirmed the previous
testimony.

Yr. G. Noble, surveyor at Woodford, said the railway would
afford facilities for the conveyance of lime and other manure for
k,ricu Rural purpose,' at Woodford. Great quantities of cattle were
fattened at that place and its vicinity for the London market, all
of 'which would be conveyed by the proposed railway if it existed.
The construction of the line would, in his opinion, tend considerably
to increase the value of the land and house property at Woodford.
Ttie grain, corn, and other agricultural produce would all be con-
veyed by railway to London.
Mr. Errington, civ.l engineer, was next examined. He consi•.
ected that arrangements might very easily be made with the
Eastern Counties Railway, and regretted that it had not been mode.
lie did not think it desirable that the Epping Railway should cross
the Eastern Counties Railway without having a communication with
it.' He thought that every arrangement connected with thecrossing of
the Eastern Counties Railway should be entirely in the hands of that
l'oinpany. The line would pass by groups of villages skirting Epping
Forest, and by the valley there. The only main feature that he had to
describe was that the line would avoid the lowesr part, which was
occasionally flooded, and skirting along its side, pass within a con-
vehient distance of all the villages in the neighbourhood. There
.were villas and mansions dotted all over the distance which the line
'ail distances. The general feature of the
led up a great extent of ground which existed
of the Northern and Eastern and Eastern
id it was reasonable to suppose that persons
would not travel either of those lines, but
ing Railway, as being the nearest. The
line consisted of 1 in P 3, nearly a mile in

length, and was situated near Epping. The other gradients
were generally of a favourable character, and could be easily
worked by the ordinary locomotive engines. The exten-
sion line left the Blackwell Railway on an archway extend-
ing in length about 2,000 yards. The viaducts passed for a consi.
derable distance over the streets, until it reached the canal, which it
would cross, constructed either of masonry, or girder arches. It
would then be continued on timber-work, similar to the one con-
structed by the Dover Company at the Bricklayers' Arms.
Lord CASTLEREAOH inquired whether timber archings were not
considered rather dangerous ?
Mr. Errington—No, my Lord, not generally speaking. There
would be no tunnels on the line. The smallest radius of a curve
was eighteen chains, and occurred on leaving the Blackwell Rail-
way at Stepney. All the remaining curves were favourable. One
public road would be crossed on the level. There would be no .engi.
neering diffieulty in working the line. The estimated expenses
of the line were as follow, viz. :—For earthwork, 75,2681. 16s. 2d. ;
brickwork and masonry, I 03,6854 9s. ; permanent way , 51,106 d. ss. ;
stations 15,6711.; land and compensation 186,0001. ; and for con..
tingencies, 68,268/. 9s. 10d. ; making a total altogether of
500,0001. The railway, including every contingency, could be
executed at that estimate. The Blackwell Railway, with which
the Epsom line would be connected, was worked by a rope, and its
gauge was altogether different from any other line in England.
The Directors were willing to alter the present gauge if the pro.
posed line were permitted to be made. He would assimilate
the gangs to that on the Eastern Counties Railway. He
thought that in the junction between the Epsom Railway and the
Eastern Counties line great care would be necessary to be
adopted. Crossing the railway in a tranverse manner was objec-
tionable, and the working of the crossing should be entirely in the
hands of the Eastern Counties Company.
On cross.examination, Mr. Errington said there was some inten-
tion of continuing the electric telegraph on to Epping. The ex-
penses had not been specifically included in the estimates. There
was no doubt that a communication might be made by the Lea with
the river Thames. He did not know who originally laid down
the Epsom line.

An Hom. MEMBER inquired whether it was Mr. Errington's
opinion, if the six mile clause on the Eastern Counties line was not
repealed, that it would not be expedient to construct the Epsom
Railway ?

Mr. Errington replied that he did not think that parties who
wished to go to Epping should be subjected to a toll of six miles on
the Eastern Counties Railway. It would be tantamount to forbid-
ding the use of the railway.
After a few more unimportant questions, the room was ordered
to be cleared. On the re-adrnision of strangers,
The CHAIRMAN said he had been instructed by the Committee to
inquire whether there was any chance of an arrangement between the
Blackwall Company and the Eastern Counties Company as to the
method of crossing their line.

Mr. AUSTIN, on behalf of the Eastern Counties Company, said
there was no difficulty at all in answering the question. They
were so perfectly satisfied that any method of crossing this line
would militate against the public interest, that there was not the
slightest reason to suppose that any satisfactory arrangement could
be come to.

After some deliberation, and the room having been again cleared,
The CHAIRMAN observed that the Committee wished the parties
o proceed with their case.

Mr. Tite, the architect of the Royal Exchange, was then called,
and stated that the value of the land to be taken for the purposes
of the Epping Railway amounted to 186,0001., and 16,0001. for
contingencies, which was 10 per cent, on the net amount.

Mr. Daniells, chairman of the Blackwall Railway, was next
examined, and stated he had been authorised by the Board of
Directors to say that they were very willing t• make any ahem
tion on the Blackwall Railway which would render it desirable that
the Epsom Railway should be made.
On cross-examination it appeared that the Blackwall Company
did not possess sufficient funds to carry out all the contemplated
a:teration.

At the close of the examination of the last witness the Corn.
mittee was adjourned till Thursday next, to give time to the pro.
moters to be prepared with their traffic tables and the consent of
the Commissioners of Woods and Forests.

GROUP X. •
TEE DIRECT WORTHERN RAILWAY.
The Committee, consisting of Viscount Courtenay, Mr. P. Scrope
Mr. Baring Wall, &c., sat at twelve o'clock, and the engineering
evidence for the above line was proceeded with.
Sir J. Rennie was called and stated that he had carefully examined
the various crossings the over canals and navigable rivers, and they
fully met with his approbation. They d;d not in the slightest de-
gree interfere with the navigation or with any existing interest.
Mr. Miller was called and stated that he had examined the
plans and sections, and he quite agreed with the opinion ex-
pressed by Sir John Rennie that the navigation on the line would
not be impeded. He thought the line the best that could, under
all the circumstances, be laid down.

Mr. Miller was cross-examined at great length, but no dis-
crepancy was elicited,

Mr. William Gravalt, civil engineer, quite agreed with Sir John
Rennie as to the facilities of the country for the purposes of the

_ . .
line. He had gone over the land and carefully examined it, and
he was of opinion that to supply the want of the districts from
London to York, and at the same time to interfere in the least pos
sible manner with private or public property, the Direct Northern
Railway was by far the more preferable line. The witness was
then examined in detail with reference to stations, &c.
The Committee then adjourned.

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