The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-02-24 00:00:00

RAILWAYS.-THE GAUGES.

The long-expected report of Sir Frederic Smith and
Professors Barlow and Airey, the Commissioners appoint-
ed to enquire into the merits of the gauge question, made
its appearance after six months' labourious incubation.
Short of Royal imprimatur, it settles the vexed question
occasioned by the introduction into the railway economy
of this country of an evil unknown to the commerce and
locomotion of the Continent, the evil of a diversity of
gauge, by pronouncing itself in terms not to be misunder-
stood, and which will doubtless be startling to many, in
favour of a grand national and uniform gauge, on the nar-
row and not on the broad gauge basis. Though not
en-
tirely condemnatory of the broad gauge, originally plan-
ned and planted in the west by Brunel, the ommisioners
regardless of its admittedly superior speed and power, ap-
parently throw it overboard, as of no weight in the mag-
nitude of the object proposed, that of the attainment of
uniformity of transport. Perhaps one of the most satis-
factory features in the report is, that the Commissioners
have not, as by some it was imagined they would, com-
promised the question in any respect, but have boldly de-
clared in favour of the uniformity, without reference
either to the expediency of a drawn decision or to given
lines of demarcation. The practical evil of a diversity of
gauge in the geography of railways, affecting as it acknow-
ledgedly does free interchangeof transit upon lines co-allie I
in one common interest, and working into one another,
has been taken as the great cardinal point ta be solved,
and as a great evil that under the present wide-spreading
influence of railways should no longer remain uuremedied.
Though the Commissioners were appointed to consider
this subject with reference to the railways of Great Britain,
the report may be presumed to apply in its recommenda-
tions to both Scotch and Irish lines. Henceforth, there-
fore, should the recommendations of the Commission be
carried out, the public may look forward to the establish-
ment of one uniform surface of gauge ,for transportation
and travel, ramifying throughout the country, uniting by
unbroken links of line. ports and places, cities and sub-
urbs, unembarrassed by those commercial inconveniences,
drawbacks,: and delays which originally gave rise to the
appointment of this Commission, and which the results of
their labours and researches are so well tended to mitigate
and remove.
The following are the conclusions and recommenda-
tions :

CONCLU,IONS.

" 1. That as regards the safety, accommodation, and
convenience of the passengers, no decided preference is
due to either gauge, but that on the broad gauge the mo-
tion is generally more easy at high velocities.
" 2. That in respect of speed, we consider the advanta-
ges are with the broad gauge, but we think the public
safety would be endangered in employing the greater ca-
pabilities of the broad gauge much beyond their present
use, except on roads more consolid Aed, and more sub-
stantially and perfectly formed, than those of the existing
lines.

"3. That in the commercial case of the transport of
goods, we believe the narrow gauge to possess the greater
convenience, and to be more suited to the general traffic
of the country.
"4. That the broad gauge involves the greater outlay,
and that we have not been able to discover either in the
maintenance of way, in the cost of locomotive power, or
in the other annual expenses, any adequate reduction to
compensate for the additional first cost."

RECONIMENDATIONS.
" 1. That the gauge of four feet eight inches and a-half
be declared by the legislature to be the gauge to be used
in all.public railways now under construction, or hereafter
to be constructed, in Great Britain.
" 2. Tina unless by the consent of the legislature, it
should not be permitted to the directors of any railway
company to alter the gauge of such railway.
"3. That in order to complete the !eneral chain of
narrow gauge communication fr,m the north of England
to the southern coast, any suitable measure should be
promoted to form a narrow gauge link from Oxford to
Reading, and thence to Basingstoke, or by any shorter
route connecting the proposed Rugby and Oxford line
with the South-Western Railway.
"4. That as any junction to be kamed with a broad
gauge line would,involve a break of gauge, provided our
first recommendation be adopted, great commercial con-
venience would be obtained by reducing the gauge of the
present broad gauge lines to the narrow gauge of four
feet eight inches and a-half; and we therefore think it
desirable that some equitable meant should be found of
producing such entire uniformity of gauge, or of adopting
such other course as would admit of the narrow gauge
carriages passing, without interruption or danger, along
the broad gauge lines."
It will be. seen fr.m the above, that the commissioners,
while testifying to the superior speed and power of the
broad gauge, offer apparently no alternative, but that of
either assimilating it to the narrow gauge, unless, which
at the best is problematical, some other course be adopted,
" such as would admit of the narrow gauge carriages
passing,; without interruption or danger, along the broad
gauge lines." This, unless some mechanical contrivance,
hitherto unknown to locomotion, is introduced, may be
looked on as a forlorn hope, and likely to render the re-
commendation impracticable.

FORMATION OF JEWISH COLONIES IN

PALESTINE.

Colonel G. Gaulor, who justly considers himself " one
of the most successful founders of the finest colony, in pro-
portion to its duration, that has ever yet appeared in the
world," recently published a highly interesting pamphlet
on the tranquillization of Syria and the East, by the esta-
blishment of Jewish Colonies in Palestine," which has
been distributed among the highest authorities in this coun-
try, and has already excited much interest in behalf of
the wise and philanthropic object of the writer. A highly
favourable notice of that work, which appeared in " The
Voice of Jacob," a clever metropolitan publication of the
Anglo-Jewish periodical press, has called forth some ad-
ditional remarks on the subject, which appear in the co-
lumns of that paper, in the corm of a letter addressed to
the editor, from which (in the absence of the pamphlet
itself,) we abstract some of the leading facts and argu-
ments adduced in favour of the scheme.

The planting of Jewish colonies in Palestine, the
writer believes to be one of the most important political
objects of our day, and to those who, like himself, hold a
conviction that the revelation which Jews and Christians
equally revere, is indeed the words of the great Crea-
tor, he deems it unnecessary to apologize for enter-
taining such an opinion. That the human race ge-
nerally are in a lamentable state of degradation and mi-
sery no one of observation can doubt, or holding the
truth of the sacred volume, ought to doubt, but that the
Jews are the instruments appointed for raising the species
to its proper elevation; or that their exertions to be ef-
fectual should be directed from their ancient land. He
has held these opinions for twenty.five years, and is ready
' to embrace every opportunity of giving them effect; and
there is, he urges a manifest preparedness of the times
for the commencement of it,—a voice, in providential
events, now speaking to the points at issue, through
three channels,—first, the immense vacuity which has
been formed in the population of Palestine; second,
through the breaking down every where of the barriers
which kept Gentiles in opposition to the Jews ; and
thirdly, through the raising of the Jewish nation, through-
out the world, to a sense of its proper standing and
duties. These are, he states, "great and sober facts."
The question is not as to the ever.t—this evidently must
be—the vacuum is forming. the barriers are breaking
down, and go the Jewish people will; already too
many are pressing in, for safety under existing circum-
stances. The question therefore now is, as to the mode
by which the movement may be brought about with the
least danger, and tte highest honour, to humanity."
Even the barrier of the Muhammedan power and pre-
judice is already gone. The governors of Constantinople
and Cairo see the immense advantages to their terri-
tories respectively from the' establishment of energe-
tic civilived colonies in Palestine ; arpl even if this measure
at a future day were to be followed by the eslablishment
of the whole Jewish nation in that country, Turkey and
Egypt would have reason to rejoice. " Turkey requires
a barrier against Egypt, and the elevation of the charac-
ter and habits of her population in the immense neigh-
bouring districts of Assyria and Asia Minor; and Egypt,
which would ever be prevented by European policy and
power from laying hold of Palestine, requires also fcr her
population that stimulus to trade, commerce, and im-
provement, which Jews, in Palestine, would commu-
nicate."

Rulsnsiatlp)eos
lei s e
jrneav,r,
sk,s
b,
uot utrh
ea UHt lenab rr e
w refersnati nn oatt
lma
regree!
lyantod
he points out the honour which
the
empire of Russia
would do to his name,
by allowing a portion of the
Jewish subjects to depart for Palestine, and further their
journey and settlement as commercial and agricultural co-
lonists,—for it his in his experience that previous oppo-
site habits of life do not unfit men for agricultural nd
pastoral colonization, and is persuaded that an admirable
colony might be formed in Palestine of Jews from West-
ern Europe alone, if none others could be found to join it.
Our author here firnishes a highly interesting statis-
tical account of the rapid growth and prosperity of the
colony of Adelaide, in South Australia, of which he was,
under Providence, the successful founder ; which in two
years advanced from 4,000 to 15,000 inhabitants; and has
now, in the tenth year of its existence, attained a popula-
tion of 20,000 souls, with a vast extent of arable land,
and an immense live stock, is flourishing, without assist-
ance from the parent state, in a manner that excites the
wonder of all who consider it. lie urges as a principle
of paramount importance " that the one great object, the
colonisation of Palestine by the Jews, should be most
honourably and exclusively upheld, unencumbered by any
other consideration." Whatever may be his connexion
with this movement, the movement itself, lie thinks, must
and will go on ; and he will in no wise infringe upon any
doctrinal opinions, which are not common to himself and.
the Jewish nation at large. There are, he has the hap-
piness to know, great principles of eternal truth upon
which they and he stand in perfect agreement. Upon
these he may sometimes glance in moderation, but not
beyond them in public or in private, and those of the
Hebrew nation who have been acquainted with his pro-
ceedings in South Australia, will, ,he trusts, do him the
justice to acknowledge that bad faith never formed a por-
tion of his public policy.
Copies of the pamphlet have been presented to the
Queen and Prince Albert, and from the gracious manner
in which they were received and acknowledged, our au-
thor hopes there exists on the throne of Great Britain a
spirit similar to that which, on an occasion of high im-
portance and glory to the Jewish nation, animated the
sovereign of these realms, the father of our sovereign, who
in an especial manner deserved the title of a "friend to
Israel."

It was now time to *ork by further measures, one of
which ought to be a formal movement amongst the Jews
themselves, showing that they are ready to coalesce with
Gentiles in their efforts to promote the object in view.
He calls upon them, therefore, to come forward with the
formal evidence of Jewish names in support of addresses
in advocacy of the object of the formation of a Jewish co-
lony in Palestine, to the throne, to the government, or to
the legislature.
At the close of his letter, Colonel Gawlor quotes a
pamphlet, published last year, by Mr. Barker, son of, and
formerly secretary to the Consul General of Egypt, as an
inducement to the Hebrew nation to be up and doing.
Mr. Barker says " During the last two years, numer-
ous European families have settled in Syria as well as in
Greece. Schools are being established ; medical men have
been sent out; inns have been opened; and the intel.igent
European is everywhere welcomed as a friend and le otec-
tor. This is a happy change; it is delightful to contem-
plate; and I trust that the time is not far distant, when
our countrymen who are known to be the best colonizers
in the world, will follow the example of the French and.
Germans, and take up their abode on the shores of this en-
chanting and luxuriant territory. Were I to write vo-
lumes, it is impassible I could give-anything like an ade-
quate idea of the riches and beauty of this terrestial Para-
dise." _ _

CA. G. remarks on this passage, tha• surely such prac-
tical views in reference to a country from which, as a cen-
tral point, the blessings of civilization might be exp:cted
to radiate through the degraded East, are certainly, in
these times, loud appehls upon
inviting to
; and he
laments that when tie object is so to Gentile
eyes and desires, Jewish pens should propose the forma-
tion of Jewish colonies in "America, Australia, or the
Islands of the Southern Sea."
The letter is followed by a mass of " practical details"
for the colonization in question, including valuable sug-
gestions on localities, security, numbers for each colony,
government and laws, general description of the settlers,
and of the mode of their location ; the distribution of
land to settlers by rental, financial. regulations, &c.
These suggestions appear to be well digested and feasible ;
but we have not space to particularise. It is stated in
the extract that " an immense proportion of the land in
Palistine lies waste and unprofitable."
The conclusion to which we are led by this rapid review
of Colonel Gawlor's scheme is, that it is not only prac-
ticable and highly desirable, but that if Great Britain, by
herself, or in conjunction with other governments, should
undertake the object in question, a more. experienced
pioneer and auxiliary in the work of colonization wilted
not be found than the zealous and enlightened advoca
who has thus set forth its advantages.

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