The Sun.
London, England, 1845-04-30 00:00:00

LEEDS AND HUDDERSFIELD.

Mr. BAINES stated that this Bill was for power to construct a
railway between Leeds and Cooper.bridge, for facilitating the local
traffic between Leeds and Dewsbury and Huddersfield. The cost
of this line would amount to about 620,0001. or 630,0001., and the
line, it was calculated, would yield a return of 71. per cent. on the
capital.
Mr. John Gott, of Leeds, Mr. Thomas Coke, a manufacturer, of
Dewsbury, and Mr. Williams, woolstapler, of Huddersfield,-gave
evidence of the necessity which existed in the district fee
the line; and the traffic returns were spoken to by
Mr. Thomas Taunton; while Mr. J. Grainger, engineer,
of Glasgow, proved that there were no engineering -.CIL;
eulties on the line ; the line would Le 16 miles in length, and the
cost of construction 463,4291., or 45,000/. per mile. The principal
difficulty would be one tunnel and four or five arches.
The Committee declared that the preamble of the Bill had been
proved.
The consideration of the various clauses in the Bill was post:
poned till Friday.
LEEDS AND WEST RIDING JUNCTION.
The evidence in this case was then resumed.

Mr. Hardy lived in Loumore, and managed the Loumore Iron.
works. The West Riding Railway would pass over three miles
,of his father's property, and through the township of North Birely,
the population of which was 9,941. The line would, in his opinion,
afford great accommodation to this district. The West Yorkshire
line would be very acceptable to the inhabitants.
Mr. L. W. Wickham, a magistrate of the West Riding, gave
similar evidence in favour of the line.

Mr. Pawson a cloth.manufacturer of Farnley, about four miles

from Leeds, gave corroborative testimony.
Mr. William Watson Greenwood, a millowner, Lt Bank-tep, in
the township of North Bireley, near to Bradford, stated, that the
West Riding line would be a great accommodation to the mill.
owners of that district.

Mr. W. Cheesebow, a woolstapler, a Bradford, consumed

10,000 sacks of wool annually. The West Riding line would in
his opinion facilitate the trade and traffic of the district. Bradford
had a population of 80,000, which was rapidly increasing. It was
the emporium of worsted, and mioht be looked upon as the Man.
chester of Yorkshire.

Mr. W. Walker, another wooldealer of Bradford, gave similar
testimony, and said the line would be a saving to Bradford of
20,0001. in coals alone.

Mr. C. Kaye gave corroborative testimony.
Mr. J. R. Ralph, a magistrate of the West Riding, proved that
the proposed station of the West Riding Company in Halifax was
infinitely superior and better situated than the one which the West
Yorkshire Company intended to erect.
Mr. John Waterhouse, and Mr. T. Danson, both of Halifax,
concurred in the opinion of Mr. Ralph.
Mr. Ashton Haben, a mill-owner of Sowerby.bridge, said the
West Yorkshire line would not benefit that place is the least.
He was induced to entertain this opinin by the fact that the popu-
lation already had the advantage of a railway, turnpike-road, and
a canal.

Mr. S. H. Walker, of Stainland, said the population in the
neighbourhood of Copley Bridge amounted to upwards of 15,060,
who preferred the West Riding line to the West Yorkshire.

Mr. Walter Smith, of Chand, gave corroborative testimony.

Mr. Anderton, a worsted-spinner, of Cleckheaton, said the West
Riding line would be a great convenience to the district with which
he was connected —The Committee then adjourned.

Group 0.
TRENT VALLEY RAILWAY.

The Committee appointed to investigate the lines in Group 0
met at twelve o'clock in Room 13. The Committee consisted of
Mr. Hawes (Chairman), Mr. F. French, Lord Emlyn, Mr. Smoi.
let, and the Hon. Mr. Char teris.

Mr. Talbot, Mr. Merewether, and Mr. Lucas appeared for the
promoters of the line. Nobody appeared to oppose the preamble.
Mr. Forsyth appeared on behalf of the Grand Junction, who put
in a petition respecting certain clauses. There was also a petition
from Mr. Pease, one of the Shareholders, who objected to some of
the arrangements which had been made.
It appeared, from the statement of Counsel, that the line was to
run from Staftbrd to Rugby, and was about 49i miles in length.
The estimated cost vas about 900,060/., and from the passengers
and amount of traffic it wis expected that the return would give
about ten per cent, on the capital. There were branches called
the Potteries Branch and the Aldrus Branch, but it was not pro-
posed to go into them at present.
The following witnesses were then called :
Mr. Charles Wilkinson, clerk to Mr. Wheeler, solicitor to the
Trent Valley Company, examined by Mr. McaewEviten—The
capital of the Company is 1,250,000/. The shares subscribed
amount to 1,145.15401. The shares paid up amount to 114,634/.
There are nineteen subscribers who have a local interest, and who
have subscribed 12,7601.
Mr. Fox, one of the agents, produced tables showing the traffic.
This traffic would be chiefly derived from other lines of railway.
Thomas L. Gooch, engineer, examined by Mr. LUCAS-The
length of the proposed line was 49 miles and some chains. The
worst gradient on the line was 1 In :264, and that but for a quarter
of a mile. There were no engineering difficulties on the line.
The preamble was then passed, and the clauses were postponed
to Thursday.
The Committee then proceeded to consider the Grand Junction
Potteries Branch.
Mr. COCKIVIIN opened the case for the promoters of the Bill.
The proposed line was intended to run from Stoke, the centre of
the Potteries, to Basstord, a distance of twelve miles and three
furlongs. The expense of the line would be 9.60,0001., and tables
of the estimated traffic would be laid before the Committee. It
would be proved that the cost of conveying the staple goods of the
Potteries to Liverpool would be diminished by thirty-three
per cent. There was only one tunnel along the line,
and that only of six hundred yards long. The peepest
gradient was only 1 in 100, which was not one of a formidable
character. The Trent Valley Company had entered into conditions
entered into,
advantagesw h en thewhole
a the line
Pottery
was
str
to extend the proposed line by making a line from Stoke to Staf-
ford. He had no doubt but the Trent Valley Company would per-
formon the
ct
conditions
would
they
afford
the greatest
districts. There would be a traffic on the line which would afford
constructed
a good remunerative profit to the promoters of it.

Evidence was then adduced confirmatory of the statement made
by counsel, after which the Committee adjourned.

Group V.
HULL AND GAINSBOROUGH, AND GRIMSBY AND
SHEFFIELD JUNCTION LINES.
The Committee on this group sat this day at twelve o'clock, and
some preliminary objections having been disposed of,
Mr. HOPE said he would now proceed with the statement,
fur he believed that his having varied preliminary objections
was no waiving of his right to state what the merits
of his case would be. In laying this statement before the Com-
mittee he would take care to make as few observations as possible,
and to confine himself entirely to facts, and to a description of
the evidence he would adduce in support of this project, and
then it would be for the opposing parties to refute the evi-
dence by evidence to contradict his facts. He begged to
observe that if ever there was a case in which counsel need do no
more than confine himself to a statement of facts, It was this, for
the project proposed to run a line of railways through what he
would call a 'virgin county, and therefore if the Committee should
be of opinidn that a railway was necessary in that county, he
hoped to show that the proposed line would be the most
convenient and useful ; but at present there was not one at all in
it. The map presented a number of beautiful sneanderings of
railways which did not exist, for the only line now existing in the
north of Lincolnshire was the Hull and Selby line. But so great
was the want of the projected line felt by the people in that county
that they had often to traverse a distance of from fifteen to thirty
miles to get on the Hull line, and after having traversed a
circuit of nearly 100 miles, they often found themselves in the
same latitude as when they left home; and they had no rode of
communication by water. The county was bounded by four
rivers; but the interior had no water mode of transit except by
one river, which traversed a great circuit, until it eventually got
into the Eyre and Caldon Canal, and even thatarrawas
often
interrupted. On these grounds then, he was warranted
Thededisl_
saying that this county was at present a virgin
trict was essentially an agricultural one,
forand had
not Li, an aburi
the dense populati
Sheffield an Wakefield, on of
dant population.
but it provided food
ill
d akefield, and therefore Lincolnshire found
markets for
necessarieso
wof
life in these
there wu
two great of the
the first
nor Lincolnshirethef
no coal; and at the other placea toucbed by the une,
toints s . produce
T hen,
in

namely Brigg and Castor, the present cost of coal was from 16s. to
17s. per ton ; but if the proposed lines be made, that article could
be laid down for gs. 7d. per ton at the two parts of the line. He
would not go into further details as to the amount of traffic, as they
would have it from the witnesses; but he would just say this, that
in the month of March last 73,000 quarters of corn had been sold at
Brigg. Upon the roads at present in existence the quantity of cattle
driven along was enormous, and the beasts were often very much
deteriorated by the journey, and thus the Yorkshire feeder would
be able to undersell the Lincolnshire. He would now direct at-
tention to the line of coast along the Humber, and the east of the
county. The vast quantity of fish taken at that coast was sent to
the West and to London, and would therefore be of great
importance if there was a rapid mode of transit
afforded for this article of food. Then, as to affording facilities for
sel-bathiog, it would be of great benefit and convenience to a num-
ber of persons in the middle classes to have a facility by railroad of
get,ing at a place near Great Grimsby called Claythorp, to which
there was ne node of conveyance now but by coach, which
was very expensive. The Humber had a very fine har-
bour, which was well sheltered, and in which a very
large trade was carried en, and, therefore, it would be very
important that foreign ships coming into that harbour on the south
side should have some quick mode of transit for their cargo into the
interior of the country ; and that woul I be given by the proposed
line. This want was particularly felt at Great Grimsby; but there
was now a Bill before Parliament for the improvement of the har.
bour, and if that Bill should pass, then this project would become
the more necessary. If the Committee looked at the map they
would see that a place called Gainsborough was in the centre cf
several railways, some of which had been completed, and others
were projected. To the south there was a line from Sheffield to
Gainsborough ; and to the north there was another,
which also terminated at the same place ; and the line
from Tiverton to Gainsborough was a projected line. The
Learned Counsel then read a passage from the report of the Board
of Trade, in which approval was expressed of the line from Swinton
to Gainsborough. He then went on to say, that from Gains-
borough the line would go through the populous village of Caistor,
a place in which there were markets and quarter sessions
held. Then the line went on to Brigg, a great coal depot, thence
to the south, near Castor, and ended at Market Raisin, which was
also a market town. The line then took s northern route by New
Holland to Hull, by which route the mails were now sent. Re-
turning thence from New Holland, it went on to Great Grimsby,
thus effecting two great objects, namely, a certain junction of
line from west to east, and the connexion of the manufacturing
with the agricultural districts; and a vast amount of accommoda-
tion to five out of six market towns. Thus the Committee would
see that this project brought into connexion the east and west and
north and south districts of country now without any line of railroad,
and affording themost extensive accommodation between Grimsby and
Sheffield, and by which an immense saving of time would be effected
by doing away with the necessity of the long distances now tra-
velled. The Learned Counsel then read another passage from the
Report of the Board of Trade in favour of the project, and con-
cluded by saying that public meetings had been held in the county
of Lincoln, at which Lord Yarborough, one of the largest
landowners in the county, presided, and those meetings
were unanimously in favour of the project, which had this addi.
tional recommendation, that it did little or no damage to private
property ; that it had no heavy work upon it, and but one tunnel of
1,100 yards. There were a great number of level cross.
Snip, which were unavoidable, but the evidence would show
that the roads to be crossed would not be materially injured
The line would have a double set of rails as far as Brigg, and the
three other branches would be single; but care would be taken
that they should be made double in the event of the traffic re-
quiring it ; and the line through the tunnel would be a double line.
The whole length of the line, from Gainsborough to Grimsby,
would be thirty-eight miles; the Market Raisin branch fourteen
miles ; and that to New Holland seven miles; and the estimated
cost of the whole had been set down at 600,0001.
He believed there would be some opposition to the line ; but the
peitioners opposed it upon some marers of mere petty detail, such
as the opposition of the owners of bridge and ferry tol s, &c., and
also a petition from the Trent Navigation Company. There were
also petitions from Lord Scarborough and Mr. Tuttell, whose land
Would be invaded ; and one from the Rev. Mr. Wiliam, whose
petition was of a rather amusing character. With those observa.
time he would now proceed to call his witnesses.

Mr. Christopher was the first witness called. He was .% large
landed proprietor in Lincolnshire. The general feeling of the
people in Great Grimsby was decidedly in lavour of the project.
Has property in the neighbourhood of Louth. There was a county
meeting at Lincoln which was unanimously in favour of the project.
There were about 15,000 at the meeting, and the petition was
signed by the sheriff.
To the CHAIRMAN—There was no resolution as to the Hull and
Gainsborough line proposed at the meeting.
Cross-examined—The meeting was called upon a general re-
quisition to the Sheriff, to consider the merits of the various
projects. _ . .

Mr. Dynecourt attended meetings at Castor and Grimsby, which
were in favour of the whole project. It would be an unspeakable
benefit to the whole district.

Mr. George F. Heneage was present at all the public meetings
held in favour of this project from Grimsby to Gainsborough. Was
also at the county meeting. At the Castor meeting there was
considerable difference of opinion as to the exact route of the line.
After a great deal of discussion the feeling was unanimous that
some line should be made. Lord Yarborough presided at the
meetings at Castor and Grimsby.
Mr. Edw. Heneage, M.P. for Great Grimsby, was present at
the meetings alluded to; was quite in favour of the project now
before the Committee; believes it would be of the greatest ad.
vantage to that part of the country.
Cross-examined—The population of Grimsby is about 7,000.
The object in getting a line to Grimsby is to open a line of com-
munication with the manufacturing and coal districts ; the former
for the purpose of facilitating the exports. The docks now at
Grimsby are capable of being used, but are not, by reason
of having no mode of internal transit by rail. The
prospectus for the improvement of the docks laid down an estimate
for 300,0001. Cannot say that the scheme has failed from inability
to raise funds ; never heard that the effort to procure the capital
had relaxed ; coals could not come down the Humber cheaper than
by the proposed line.
Mr. Thomas J. Dixon—ls a large landed proprietor in Lincoln.
shire. The general feeling is in favour of this project. It would
be of great benefit to the farmers.

Mr. Thomas Greenwood, accountant at Manchester, gave evi.
dente as to the traffic for fourteen days in December last, between
Grimsby and Sheffield, having stationed parties at different parts
along the line the result of his calculations was, that 100,659 foot
passengers, 193,732 horse passengers, 24,171 coach passengers,
and 96,732 water passengers, were found to be the average
number for one year that passed at various distances ;
the traffic by waggon carts, of various articles, amounted
in the gross to 43,462 tons in one year, going various distances ;
this included coals, iron, timber, fruit, vegetables, &c. The gross
estimated income of all this traffic for passengers was about 31,0001.,
and for commercial articles, cattle, and general merchandise, &c.,
ever 43,000/., giving about seven per cent. on the estimated
capital of the proposed line, which was 60 ),0001.

After the witness had undergone a long cross-examination, the
Committee adjourned.

Group E.
NEWCASTLE AND BERWICK RAILWAYS.

The case of the Newcastle and Berwick Line of Railway was
opened by Mr. Kilwurd. He argued that a direct communication
would be formed thereby between London and Scotland, that it was
unopposed by the whole of the landholders, and would open new
coal-fields.

The first witness called was Christian Aldows, a merchant in
Newcastle, whose evidence west to prove the advantages which the
trade of Newcastle would derive from it.

Mr. KENNEDY, who appeared in opposition to the proposed
line, and in favour of the proposed Northumberland Atmo.
spheric line of railway, cross-examined the witness, for
the purpose of showing the great disadvantages which
would accrue from the line passing on a viaduct through
the town of Newcastle, and that its existence would prove perni-
cious to the trade at North Shields.

John Shiel was then examined, and said that the traffic from
London to Carlisle would be greatly increased by the formation of
this line to the quay at Newcastle. The trouble and expense
attending the conveyance of goods would be greatly lightened, and
consequently the town of Newcastle would derive enormous advan-
tages.

Mr. KENNEDY, in his cross-examination of the witness, tried to
elicit from him that this line would render inconvenience to the
greater number of warehouses in Newcastle, but failed.
Mr. Ralph Parke Philipson was then examined, and corrobo.
rated the statements made by the former witnesses. He stated,
that when the proposition was considered by the town council
of Newcastle, not one member out of 54 were in favour of the op-
position line, the Northumberland Atmospheric Railway.
After hearing a few more witnesses in favour of the line ttle
Committee adjourned.