The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-11-22 00:00:00

SOUTH UNION RAILWAY.

PUBLIC MEETING AT MACCLESFIELD.
One of the most numerous and respectable Meetings that ever
assembled in the town of Macclesfield,. was held on Thursday
last in that town, in pursuance of a requisition, to take into con-
sideration the best means of supporting the South Union Rail-
way Company, iu its application to Parliament. Scarcely an
individual of any importance, connected with the proprietary,
the manufacturing interest, and the commercial body of the
town, was absent on the occasion. Mr. Thorp, late Mayor,
in the absence of the present Mayor, was called to the Chair.—
The meeting was then addressed at great length, by William
Garnett, Esq., the Chairman of the South Union Company,
who fully explained all the proceedings of the Company, in their
opposition to the Cheshire Junction Company, in the unsuccess-
ful attempt of the latter, to carry their line in 010 last session.
Mr. Garnett's statement gave great satisfaction to the meetiug.
He was followed by other gentlemen, and various resolutions
were proposed and carried, declaratory of the intention of the
inhabitants of Macclesfield, to support by all ns
mea in their
power, the South Union Company, in their application to Par-
liament next session.
We extract from the Macclesfield Courier, the speech. of •M r.
Stephenson, the Engineer, showing the nature date line which
he proposed to adopt.
Mr. STePHENSON said lie should have great pleasure in ex-
gh Macclesfield.
planting to them the route which he proposed to take, as he had
got gradients very favourable for passing throu
He would have no gradients from Manchester to Stockport.
above 16 feet per mile ; he would pass Stockport at the most
favourable positiou. From thence to Poyntou there would be
none above 16 feet per mile, and from Poyntou to Macclesfield
similiar gradients were obtained, except for 4or u miles. He
should then pass through Macclesfield, going in the valley, but
sufficiently high to allow the river to pass under the railway.—
He then passed Dane's Moss, in no part of which would thd
e
gradients exceed 16 feet per mile ; and this was the great an
insurmountable summit of Macclesfield, of which they had heard
so much.—(Lead Cheers.) From that he would pass to the
east of North Rode, on towards Harecastle, almost on a dead
level, within about a mile of Congleton, on a line which is as
advantageous to that town as any that can be formed. The line
would then proceed to Biddulph, forming an outlet to the coals
there, and besides that, it would also Open the great Pottery bed
of coal, which affords an inexhaustible store of fuel, and is
superior to any bed of coal in the kingdom, with respect to
quality, except those of the north of England. The works at
Hareeastle would be very moderate. The line would then pro-
ceed by the Potteries down the valley, and not in those parts
of that: densely peopled district, where it would be highly dan-
gerous. He thought he had convinced many of the Potters
that it would be much better 'to proceed down the valley to
Stone, in which route he would have-very favourable gradients,
in no part exceeding 14 feet per mile, and iu very few places so
much as that. A deviate 'u takes place to join the Grand Junc-
tion Line for the purpose of going to Birmingham ; but the
main line would go on down the valley of the Trent, by Rugeley
near Lichfield, to Tamworth. The Potteries would oaain in
this way the best outlet for their productions to Derby, Not-
tingham, and the south east or England, by the Derby and
Birmingham railway. Front Tainworth the company connect-
ed with the Derby line•were preparing to go to Parliament for
a branch to Rugby. This line has very favourable gradients,
and by the branch to Rugby the route will be shorter, com-
pared with that by Warrington, by 35 miles, and it will be
shorter, by taking the line down the valley of the Trent, instead
of the Grand Junctiossby Birmingham,--by 20 miles,—besides
that the gradients will be far more favourable. He bad now
explained the line proposed to be taken. He had also to state
that the cost of the execution would be much under the esti-
mate which had been delivered to Parliament last year.--
(Cheeri)• He had very little time then to examine the. subject.
Since then he had had time to select the bust, course, and he
now confidently stated, that do one would be able to make a
line so favourable for Manchester; London; and the intervening
districts—(Applatt xe). The gradients were better, and the ex-.
pease of execution
less than any other line that could be
brought before Parliament."—(Applaule4

C. J. W. Ellis, Esq. has offered himself al Candidate fot the
representation for the Western division of. Cornwall',, and is
canvassing with great enemy the' ronstimr,el,—Wesigrriten•