The Sun.
London, England, 1842-10-06 00:00:00

PARIS AND ROUEN RAILWAY.

(From the Liverpool Standard.)
A numerous meeting of the English Shareholders
in the Paris and Rouen Railway, was held in the
Clarendon-rooms, South John-street, at one o'clock,
on the 29th ult., for the purpose of receiving a Report
of the Directors and Engineer, with respect to the
state of the concern up to that time.
On the motion of Mr. C. Lawrence, Mr. Moss was
called to the Chair.
The CHAIRMAN commenced by stating that the
Directors had convened the meeting for the purpose
of answering any questions which the Shareholders
might desire to ask. The best course, in his opinion,
would be in the first instance to read the Report, in
order to enable gentlemen to put more pointedly any
questions either to the Directors, or to Mr. Locke, or
to Mr. Reed, who were also present. As far as the
Report went, he (Mr. Moss) thought it would be
found satisfactory. In one respect certainly it must
be so, for it gave an assurance that before they had
again the pleasure of meeting, the opening of the line
for the purpose of working would have taken place.
The only question for the consideration of the Share-
holders now not connected directly with their own
line, would be, how far they would think it desirable
to give support to the projected continuation line to
Havre, by taking shares in that concern. Some ex-
planations would be given to them upon that subject,
and with those explanations he would leave it in their
hands.
Mr. SWIFT then read the Report of the Directors,
of w hich the following is a copy :
" Paris, August 30, 1842.
"Rer ort of the Conseil d'Administration to the Ge-
neral Meeting.
" Gentlemen—At the period of the general meeting
last year, we were in a manner but preparing for our
labours.
"The first year had been employed in arranging
the final plans, and accomplishing the formalities pre-
scribed by the law, in letting a portion of the works,
and in entering into contracts for the engines, rails,
and chairs:
" Our plans and propositions have afforded general
satisfaction to the legitimate claims of the localities,
and were subjected to very little alteration.
" The purchase of the land, which one year ago was
scarcely commenced, has been carried on with the
greatest activity, and now draws to a close. For this
purpose the line was divided into two sections—the
one containing 19 communes, and the other 29 com-
munes. The first section has all been purchased, ex-
cepting that part required for our goods station at the
Batignolles, of which a few parcels remain to be ex-
propriated,* in order to complete this station. We are
ertheless in posseision of a sufficient portion of the
land to be enabled to commence the works. In the
second section, all the land required for the railway
and the intermediate stations, with one exception in
the communes of Sotteville and Rouen, is already
purchased. The contemplated construction of the
Havre line required some alterations in our plans in
these communes, or the land would also have been
purchased by this time. The new plans have, how-
ever, passed the ordeal of the Committee of Inquest,
and we shall now proceed without loss of time to ob-
tain the land.
" Notwithstanding that the property required for
the railway is divided into 7,500 parcels, the value of
the land and houses, together with the difficulties at-
tendant on passing through towns and villages, such
as Poissy, Mantes, and Vernon, the result has been
satisfactory. The greatest portion of the purchases
have been made by private contract. We have only
had recourse to expropriation in a few cases, where
the properties were of great value, and these were
settled by the jury in the most equitable manner.
" Great care has been taken in drawing up the dif-
ferent conveyances. As soon as the few remaining
purchases are completed, an exact account of this por-
tion of our outlay will be made out. In the interim
everything is so settled as to place the Company in
perfect security.
" In the last accounts which we had the honour to
lay before you, the expenditure for the works
amounted but to 200,000 f. (8,000/.); on the 30th of
June last it reached the sum of 11,419,4041. 36c.

(456,776/. 35.) ; and at the present moment it is
14,338,460 f. 41c. (573,5381. Bs.) This will show
the activity which has prevailed in conducting the
works. We -now lay before you the Report of the
engineer-in.:chief, which will give you a more com-
plete account of the progress of our enterprise."
(Then followS Mr. Lock's Report upon the state of
the works.)
" To this Report we beg leave to add, that the ad-
vanced state of the works leaves us under no appre-
hension as to their early completion, nor have we any
fear that the expenditure will exceed the capital. Our
hopes and calculations on these two points have not
been disappointed. The whole line will be finished
two years earlier, at least, than the time allowed us
by the Bill. We shall thus be enabled to diminish
the charge for interest payable during the construc-
tion of the line, and anticipate the period when the
dividends will be paid from the profits of the railway
" The result will fully justify the manner of con-
tracting for the works which we selected. We have
taken advantage of the experience acquired in Eng-
land in these matters. Every doubt which existed
as to the success on the application of thii mode of
proceeding, so new to France, has been completely
removed by the energetic means which our contractors
have employed—difficulties have been overcome, and
new methods introduced with perfect success.
"Upon this subject we feel called upon to contra-
dict, in the most formal manner, the incorrect reports
which have been circulated in respect to the want of
harmony among the workmen of various nations em-
ployed on our works. We can safely affirm that,
among the 8,000 men now employed, nothing has ever
occurred beyond slight disputes, which it is almost
impossible to prevent among so vast a body of men,

They have never been of such a nature as to compro-
mise or even retard the execution of the works.
" In respect to the nature and solidity of the works,
every precaution has been taken in older that they
may stand the test of the most scrutinising examina-
tion. They have been adjudged according to specifi-
cations, drawn up after the most mature deliberation.
An efficient staff of engineers has been placed on the
different portions of the line to Retch aver the execu-
tion of the works in their most minute details.
" We have never had occasion, in any matter of
importance, as far as regards the works, to differ with
the contractors : they have at all times, with the
utmost promptitude, complied with the orders of the
engineer-in-chief. •
Ti:e few accidents which have really occurred on
the line have been greatly exaggerated ; they were
perhaps inevitable on such a difficult and extensive
line of works, requiring so much rapidity in their exe-
cution ; but hey were most promptly attended to, and
always at the charge of the contractors.
" If these works have been adjudged on terms not
hitherto obtained here, be assured, Gentlemen, that
their solidity has not been sacrificed to a false
economy; every means have been taken to secure I
their stability, and to afford, at the same time, perfect
security in the working of the line. A.railway is of
itself a great monument. Its splendour is to be found
in its utility.
"During the period which has intervened since our
last meeting we have completed our contracts for the
supply of rails and chairs. The distance of the iron
works is very great, and the extraordinary dryness of
the season, together with accidents on the canals,have
hitherto retarded the deliveries ; but. we have taken
every means to secure the strict execution of our con-
tracts, and we have, besides, received the most posi-
tive assurances. that the whole quantity will be de-
livered within the present year.
"'['he construction of the eugines, carriages, &c.,
for working the line has kept pace with the works ;
two months ago there was but one engine at work in
the manufactory where our locomotives are in the
course of construction ; at this moment more than
five hundred men are actively employed, together
with the most complete machinery ever yet in appli-
cation here.
" In fine, every part of our enterprise is in the most
satisfactory position, for which we are greatly in-
debted to the powerful resources you have confided to
our care. •
" The calls have, been paid up with remarkable
punctuality.
" At the period of the last general meeting, the re-
ceipts amounted to 12,602,086 f. 23c. (504,0831. 95.) •
on the 30th of June last they reached 28,320,991 f.
25c. (1,132,8381.); and at this present time they
amount to 31,703,872 f. 35c. (1,286,1541. 18s.)
"We have not been obliged to have recourse to
legal proceedings to get in any of the calls. Ninety-
four shares only have been sold, and these sales have
generally been caused by the death or absence of the

party.
"-Your example will not fail to produce a beneficial
influence in the execution of great public works. In
France, complete justice was rendered to you in the
Chambers during the discussion of the law on Railways.
" Our monthly outlay has increased with the pro-
gress of our works; and in the last six months of the
past year it has progressed from 1,200,000 f. (48,0001.)
to 2,606,000 f. (94,0001.), and it now reaches 3,500,000 f.
(140,0001.) each month.
" The total amount of the expenditure is 27,428,591 f.
31c. (1,097,1431. 125.) Although our resources are
not yet exhausted, we, nevertheless, thought it expe-
dient at the commencement of the year to make ap-
plication to the Minister for Public IVorks for the re-
turn of our caution money, and at the same time to
pave the way by complying with the various forms
required, for claiming the loan of fourteen millions
from the State. At this moment, even, we are press.
ing the Ministers for return of the 3,600,000 f.
(44,0001.) caution money, which must precede the loan
of fourteen millions (560,0000 ; return of 4-sths of
the same has just been granted, and it is perhaps owing
to a greater respect for the letter rather than the
spirit of the law, that the whole is not returned, for it
is impossible for the Government not to perceive that
our money would be much better employed in carry-
ing on the works than it is in the coffers of the State,
that a security is only of real use in guaranteeing
the formation of an association ; .but when a company
has already executed works to the amount of twenty-
eight millions (1,120,0001.), the guarantee of a few
hundred thousand francs must be perfectly useless.
" You may rest assured we do not lose sight of the
period when the payment of the loan will commence,
and we have too much reliance in the interest which
the Government takes in our enterprise, to have any
fear in respect to useless delays.
" As our works proceed, we are better able to ap-
preciate the future resources of this undertaking, and
we have every reason to believe that our estimates of
revenue will prove to be as correct as are those of the
cost of the construction.
" The Havre line is the necessary consequence of
the Rouen line. It promises a vast addition to the
number of passengers, and its construction will re-
move every doubt as to the extent of the transport of
merchandise.
" We have taken a prominent part with the Go-
vernnient and the Chambers in obtaining the assist-
ance of the State for this line, and we may say that to
the example of the Rouen Company may be mainly
ascribed the favourable terms of this Bill. , The coin-
.
mon interest which unites the two Companies will.
continue to be the best guarantee for their mutual co:
operation. .
"In conclusion, permit 119. Gentlemen, to refer.
back to the origin of our undertaking. You will
bear in mind that the law of concession dates from
the 15th of July, 1840, some days after we met in
general assembly to examine the modifications made
in the law and in the statutes, but a graver subject
then occupied and kept public attention in suspense.
In the presence of great political embarrassment you
did not hesitate to maintain the association. You
had confidence in a better futurity.
"You did not for a moment believe that one of the
best creations of a time of peace could possibly be
suspended by the mere rumour of war. By your
energy and resolution, you gave us the first example
how to overcome all difficulties. This confidence was
nobly responded to by your associates on the other
side of the water. If we allude to the circumstance
of the Shareholders being of two nations, it is only for
the purpose of assuring you that only one feeling has
always animated them, although the object to be at-
tained was a great and national work, the advantage
of which would exclusively belong to France.
" On all occasions, under the critical circumstances
which threatened our commencement, and in the pro-
gress to those better times which have now arrived,
the English co-operation has never flagged; we have
received all that we could hope for, the powerful as-
sistance of its capital, and the benefit of its great ex-

perience.
" Thus, nothing has been able to shake the first
basis of our association ; upon it we have been per-
mitted to found one of the most useful and beautiful
monuments of human activity, and to consecrate the
noble alliance of the industry of two great nations."
Tbe CHAIRMAN again rose, and expressed hisit wn
opinion that the Report was most Satisfactory.
thes
m atlhl
eesrte
doubt
an important fact, and therefore he would state itwas
being Director
o n
aw
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time.
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was
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licly;hd
the first estimate of cost, and within the stipulated
He himself felt sure, not only that the lineP would be
1
completed, but that ever T part of the works, engines,
stations, &e., would be turnished within the original
estimate; and Mr. Locke, who was present, would con-
firm him, and would state, that when the line should
be opened, the Company would have paid all their
engagements, and have some little capital still in
hand. He trusted the meeting would not separate
without returning their thanks
to the Directors In
Paris for their very great exertion in forwarding the
undertaking. They and the English Directors had
worked together for two . years, and although the
English Directors had originally had reserved to them
the power of voting by proxy on all points in which
they differed from their French colleagues, they had
never had occasion to put that power forth, so har-
moniously had the two bodies worked together. He
had to add, that owing to the rate of exchange be-
tween the two countries English Shareholders a sum of moneywho had
would stand
to the credit of those
paid their calls in this country.
A lengthened discnssion then followed on the ex-
tension of the line from Rouen to Havre, when the
following resolutions were adopted :,---
" That this meeting, having heard the statements
.
just made as to the projected extl,nsion line from. Rouen
to Havre (both as to its intrinsic.merits and its bear-
ing on the Paris and Rouen Railway), unanimously
and strongly recommend all the Proprietors of shares
in the latter line to take shares also in the former
and, that copies of the proceedings of this day be for'.
warded to each Proprietor.
" That the thanks of the Proprietors are justly due,
and are now accordingly tendered, to the Directors
generally, ,
and to the Chairman for his conduct in the
chair to-day.'
The meeting then separated.

* By the word " expropriation" is meant the power to
take the land required for the railway.

On Thursday a somewhat novel parcel was re-
ceived
into the Glasgow post-office, viz., a pair of
boots, whose destination is Bombay, and for the
transmission of which 6/. sterling was paid as postage.
The reduction of the rates has been the means of
sending some very strange packets through the post,
and the transmission of ladies slippers from one place
'to another has become quite common; but we have
never heard of gentlemen's boots undertaking suchnda
long journey under the care of the post •offic
cannot holp thinking that they will be rather a e kaostl ,
pair to ,the destined wearer, by the title they
tumbled clit at Bombay amongst the E
nglish over-
lande
clesPathes.--.G/asgow ConstitOwnaL are