The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-05-05 00:00:00

CHESTER AND BIRKENHEAD RAILWAY,

Last evening, a numerous meeting of the rate-payers of
Birkenhead, was held in the Town Hall, for the purpose of
taking into consideration the propriety of consenting to a
communication proposed to be made by the proprietors of
the Chester and Birkenhead Railway Ccmpany, by a tram-
road, to be worked by coaches and horses, between the
terminus of Grange-lane and the Monk's Ferry, in order to
prevent the confusion attendant on numerous omnibuses.
Mr. Wm. Fry was called to the chair.
The CHAIRMAN having mentioned the objects of the
meeting,

Mr. MALLA.nr, clerk to the Birkenhead Company, said that
he appeared on behalf of that body, to give any explanation
which might be required by the rate-payers as to the tram-
road which they were desirous of constructing between Grange-
lane and Monks' Ferry. Great misrepresentations had been cir-
culated with referene3 to this proposed road, but the Com-
pany wished that all should be enabled to exercise an un-
biassed judgment upon the question. Plans had been dis-
tributed through the township with the view of cor-
recting the error that seemed to prevail, and a nlan,
on an enlarged scale, was exhibited at the head of the
room, showing the relative breadths of the foot-ways,
the roadways, and the tramway ; and there was an ad-
ditional section showing the relative widths of the vehicles
upon the road, supposing them to be running abreast upon
the road. There were two footways, one on each side, of six
feet each, two gutters of nearly five feet, a roadway of 18
feet wide, leaving five feet for the tram-road. Ile would ask
whether it would not be better for the township to have the
immense traffic of the railway drawn quietly and noiselessly
upon a tram-road than upon a common road, nn which there
would necessarily be the noise and danger of numerous om-
nibuses ? Mr. Mallaby next proceeded to reply to the state-
ments contained in a handbill, signed "A Ratepayer;" and
In conclusion he called upon the ratepayers to decide for
themselves aecdrding to their own opinions, without subject-
ing their judgment to the imperious dictation or to the over-
bearing tyranny of any party whatever. (Cheers.)
Mr. APPLETON opposed the proposition in a very long and
effective speech. He said he had measured the street, and
found it 36 feet 6 inches, or 12 yards 6 inches wide. Now
the law of Birkenhead was, that one-third of the whole •
should go to the parapet, which was 12 feet 2 inches. He
had also measured a load of hay, and found it to be 9 feet;
and a good load would be 11 feet, and he could produce wit-
nesses who had measured railway vehicles of 8 feet 11 inches.
The company therefore could not accomplish what tney pro-
mised. Mr. Appleton proceeded to contend that the tram-
road would injure the interests of Birkenhead, arid that if
leave to make it were granted to one public company, others,
such as the Liverpool Corporation and the Woodside Ferry
Company might ask for the same privilege, and they could
not be refused. He strongly opposed the motion on these
and a number of other grounds, and he should mole that
that the propositions be dismissed.
Mr. RICHARD FRY opposed it also, and pointed out many
ways in which the proposed line would be productive of
danger to the community, and damage to the interests of the
township.
Mr. HILLIAR supported the proposition.
Mr. BENTHAM said he was convinced that the proposed
tram-road would be the means of improving the value of pro-
perty.
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Liverpooli D aE c obnyt e
inndeead
company's sending wtara, pas-
sengersroa
a
could not be productive of prosperity to Birkenhead.
Mr. WILLIAM JACKSON defended the proceeeings of the
company, and said the township would he in a worse condi-
tion if it refused to consent to the tram road, than it was.
Mr. KAY informed the meeting, that the special board of
surveyors, in July, 1835, permitted the Liverpool and Man-
chester Railway company to make a tram road, in 'Wapping,
under certain conditions, and said, that hitherto there had
been no bad consequences resulting.
Mr. SMITH opposed the designs of the company, and made
some strong remarks on the conduct of their clerk in various
matters connected with the township politics of Birkenhead.
Mr. BRODENT suggested an adjournment of the debate.
Mr. MALLABY having replied to Mr. Smith with much
energy, and also to the arguments urged against the proposed
road,
A short discussion followed, at the end of which it was
unanimously determined that the consideration of the ques-
tion should be adjourned six weeks.

MANCHESTER, BOLTON, AND BURY RAILWAY

A. special meeting of shareholders of this railway was held
last night, at the Clarendon-rooms. There were about 20
gentlemen present.
Mr. JOHN ROBINSON, on being called to the chair, said
that the meeting had been called with a view to devise some
means by which to reduce the expenditure in salaries and
wages on the line, which were so great as to be seriously in-
jurious to the interests of the shareholders. He should he
glad to hear any proposition on the subject.
Mr. RATCLIFFE said he had taken some pains to obtain
information on the subject, and found that out of a hell-
yearly income of £18,780, the salaries and wages paid were
no less than £3,094, without engines ; or, in other words,
15 per cent. upon the whole. This line would be prosperous
if it were economically managed, and he should propose that
a sub-committee should be appointed to inquire into every
department of the management, and afterwards to call toge-
ther those now assembled, and communicate to them the
result. He instanced the excellent effect such a step had
with regard to the St. Helens railway, and concluded with a
motion that the sub-committee be appointed as suggested.
.
Mr. Rigg said he did not think such a step would result. m
benefit, and suggested that steps should be taken to bring
about an amalgamation with the Manchester railway cipl-
pany, as the Crewe company did with the Grand Junetlon.
This proposition was not relished by any of those present,
and the motion being put was carried unanimously.
The names of seven gentlemen were then severally named
t.nd seconded to be of the committee, with an understanding
that when they had obtained the requisite information they
should call. together the shareholders then present. The
meeting then dispersed.

The foreign trade of Belfast now minim! WA of ez
ports iA Ireland,.