The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-01-07 00:00:00

LANCASTER AND PRESTON RAILWAY.

On Thursday a special general meeting of proprietors in
this railway was held in the Town Hall, for the purpose of au-
thorising an application to parliament for a bill to enable the
directors to raise money for the completion of the line. The
meeting was thinly attended, not more than twenty or thirty
persons being present. -
George Burrow, Esq, took the chair.
The Secretary having read the notice of meeting,
The Chairman observed that it was not a very pleasant,
thing for the directors to come before the proprietors to ask
for more money, , but when he stated the causes which had
rendered such a step necessary, he thought the proprietors
would be satisfied that the necessity had arisen from circum-
stances that could not be foreseen. The sum for which they
proposed applying was £125,000 ; not that the sum would at
once be wanted, but looking at the probability of the line
being carried further north, and at the contingencies which
might be expected to arise in other respects, it was considered
better at once to ask for power to obtain all that would be
required, including such contingencies. It was calculated
that the whole line of 20 miles would cost £20,000 a mile.
That would be £77,000 in addition to the £330,000 already
paid. The surplus for the contingencies would then be the
difference between X 77,000 and £125,000. The first item he
would advert to, as having with others made this application
necessary, was that of excavations, bridges, and contingen-
cies. Under that head the original estimate was exceeded
by £32,372. This arose partly from the circumstances of the
standing orders having been altered during the progress of
the bill, by which they were obliged to extend the width of
bridges and all manner of work connected with them. The
next matter was the land. It was estimated that the cost
would be £25,000 and odd, whereas the sum actually paid
was more than £90,000. That, of course, included large
amounts awarded for compensation.
Mr. W. Satterthwaite asked what was the compensation
for Preston land alone ? _ _

The Secretary replied that the first mile on the Preston
side would alone cost £40,000.
The Chairman—The next item was £lO,OOO which they
had put down for stations ; for engines and carriages, they
had put down £26,000,' though only £14,000 would be im-
mediately wanted ; then there was £l5OO to the North Union
Railway for raising their levels ; for law £13,000, surveying
£3lOO, deputations £953, the Direction £llOO, and other
matters, making in all an item of £31,000. The Chairman
then read a letter from Mr. R. Garnett, in which that gen-
tleman expressed full concurrence in what was proposed to
be done. He observed that such a letter coming from one
who, with his family, held 1-10th of the shares of the Com-
pany, was entitled to some weight. Before sitting down he
would allude.to one matter. A great object with the Direc-
tors had been not to lose time in the completion of the line,
and he had to announce that there was every reason to be-
lieve that it would be opened at the appointed time—that was
in June of the present year. The great difficulty was the
work at Galgate, but that was overcome. The next difficult
part was the Wyre embankment. Mr. Locke had been over,
audhe had made such arrangements that he was sure that
would be completed also in ample time ; so that unless any
thing unforeseen should occur, the line would certainly be
opened next June. Nine miles of permanent rails had already
been laid down. He concluded by saying, the Directors were
ready to answer any questions that might be sent.
Mr. Bushell (of Myerscough-cottage), asked if the deed
signed by the original proprietors gave power to make this
application to parliament without the consent of the whole
body of proprietors?
Mr. Swainson replied that they were not then acting under
the deed, but the act of, parliament, which conferred full
power.
Mr. W. Satterthwaite asked how the money was to be
raised?
The Chairman said either by new shares or by borrowing,
or by both.
Mr. Bushell then moved a motion to the effect that a bill
be applied for to enable the company to raise £125,000 'ad-
ditional.

Air. . Satterthwaite seconded it ; and inquired if the sum
required to meet contingencies was not very large ?
Mr. T. Higgin replied that if the line was carried north
many things would be wanted, for the conveyance of mer-
chandise and so forth.

Mr. Bushell asked if the land for the stations was pur.
chased?

The Chairman said it was, but that the stations were not
yet fixed.
The resolution was adopted, as was also one to enable the
directors to appoint a committee of their body to watch the
progress of the bill through parliament. The draft of the
bill was read, and it was stated that the bill was almost a copy
of the one passed last session for the London and Birming-
ham Railway.
The meeting then broke up.