The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-12-28 00:00:00

GLASGOW, PAISLEY. AND GREENOCK
RAILWAY.

' On Tuesday weeka statutory half-yearly meeting of railway
roprietors was held in the Sheriff Court Hall, hobert Dow
her, Esq., chairman of the board of directors, in the chair.
The Chairman called upon Captain finish, the secretary,
to read the report, which that gentleman did. The following
is a copy:—
The directors have looked forward to meeting the proprie-
tors with much pleasure, and avail themselves or the earliest
opportunity allowed by the act to assure them that the affairs
of the company are proceeding favourably.
The whole line from Greenock to Glasgow is now under
contract, two important divisions of the road having been let
to Messrs. Brassey and Mackenzie since the last meeting.
Tha terms on which these contracts are taken are reasona-
ble, and the directors are glad to see them placed in such
good bands. They have thus redeemed their pledge of hav-
ing the entire line provided for this autumn.
With the progress of the works during the last six months,
they have much reason to be satisfied,and they give from the
engineer's report the following particulars :
The first care of the engineer, as stated in last report, was,
by seizing on the heaviest works, and getting them well for-
ward, to satisfy himself that the contractor had the means of
completing them at the
.period assigned. From their present
state, and the energy evinced in carrying them on, this desi-
rable end is, in his opinion, secure. At the Bishopton ridge
110,000 cubic yards have been removed, and the embank-
ments are formed to a considerable extent. Two bridges
are built, and a third is in hand; nearly all the masonry will
will be finished next summer. The steam power applied,
and the means pursued for working the tunnels, are satisfac-
tory to the engineer, and throughout the whole of this im-
portant contract great activity prevails.
The other works between Paisley and Greenock are in
good hands, and are not of a formidable description. After
details will show the extent to which they have already been
carried. In Greenock four arches are completed, and nearly
a third, and retaining walls are proceeding with all desirable
despatch. The excavations at Cartsburu Hill and Gileb's
Hills are going forward at a rate to insure their completion
at the appointed time.
The bridges between Port-Glasgow and Greenock are all
provided for, and partially erected. Through the town of
Port-Glasgow nearly one half of the walls and arches are
building. There is no doubt that this part of the railway
may be finished next year. as promised in the last report.
It may be added, that the expense of the works through the
towns of Greenock and Port-Glasgow, together with all the
intermediate cutting, extending to full three miles, and in-
cluding the permanent way, does not collectively exceed the
sum of £3O 800.
Considering the nature of these operations, and the fact
that twenty-three streets and roads are crossed by bridges,
two of them of five arches each, and that nearly two miles of
retaining wall have to be erected, the directors consider this
as one proof among many of the care and economy that has
been exercised in designing and laying out these works. •
The Walkinshaw and Finlayson contracts will be com-
menced without delay, and are neither of them of such mag-
nitude as to cause apprehensions respecting their accom-
plishment.
No point connected with the construction of the railway
has been more anxiously attended to than the formation of
the permament road, and no reasonable expense has been
spaied, in providing for its stability and fitness for the
smoothest possible conveyance of passengers. To this end
Mr. Locke has adopted a 751 b. rail, and four feet bearing,
and from the natural advantages of the country, affording
good ballast, blocks, and sleepers at reasonable rates, this
superiority has been obtained at an average price, even when
compared with lines where the rail is lighter. In the last
report reference was made to a difference of opinion respect-
ing the width of the rails. This is arranged by a unanimous
decision in favour of the old standard of 4 f. 81 in.
2
It will be the care of the engineer to urge torward the im-
portant points next summer, so as to prevent even the con-
tingency of bad weather having any effect in delaying the
opening.
The following is from the report of the Committee of Ma-
nagemetit, to whose charge is committed the portion of the
line extending from Glasgow to Paisley :
"The committee on the joint-line, in giving a summary of
their proceedings, have satisfaction in stating, that in every
department of the works under their direction considerable
progress has been made.
"They feel that the best information they can afford will
be found in the annexed particulars, collected from Mr. Er-
rington's report.
" The land plans for the Tradeston contract, in Glasgow,
are furnished, and the works will be commenced in the spring.
" Mr. Brassey's works are well stocked with materials,
which are all in full occupation. The first point of any mo-
ment on the Ibrox and Arkleston contracts, both of which are
in Mr. Brassey's hands, is the cutting at Ibrox. 30.000 yards
have been turned out here, and the same rate of progress
insures completion in good time. The cutting through the
Arkleston Hill is the key to the works on the joint-line, and
here every effort is making, and the operations are pushed
forward by the contractor with skill and judgment.
"Although the tunnel is only 200 yards long, it has been
thought best to make the time of its completion inure certain,
by sinking a shaft midway. This is done, and the tunnel is
worked both ways. The Paisley side is also open, and thus
three faces are actually at work; a fourth will be shortly
commenced. 100,000 cubic 3 ards have been excavated in
this cutting.
" The works in Paisley are proceeding with rapidity for
the season ; the street bridges and walls are considerably
advanced, and the large bridge over the river Cart is built
above flood water. The intermediate lengths are slight em-
bankments of four and five feet, and are in course of formation.
" We may briefly remark, that from excellent ballast
having been found at convenient points along the line, and
Mr. Brassey having contracted for making and upholding the
permanent way, a very good road may be anticipated. Rails
and chairs in sufficient quantity for carrying forward the
works are in course of receipt, and it is confidently expected
that several miles of road will be laid in the spring. The
contractor is in possession of the whole of the land, excepting
three fields at Craigton. These will form the subject of a
jury trial, which will be settled in January. The price of all
the house property in Paisley has been amicably settled,
except in two cases; the compensation in these cases has not
yet been ascertained. Part of the land for the Paisley depot
has been acquired on fair terms.
" The committee have given much thought and attention
to the Glasgow terminus, and a sub-committee is now sitting,
having for its special object all matters connected with these
works, which are not of such a nature as to cause anxiety
regarding the time of their completion. Finally, it is due to
the respective boards to add, that the works of every descrip-
tion are let at fair rates, and the committee see no reason to
expect that the outlay will be materially increased, unless it
shall be considered desirable for the permanent interests of
both companies to possess themselves at once of a sufficient
quantity of land to afford ample accommodation for their
expected traffic."
From Bogle-street, in Greenock, to the end of Port-
Glasgow, the whole of the land and property has been either
purchased on fair terms, or the price is in course of being
fettled by arbitration. No jury trials are expected on this
,art of the line. One or two cases must be referred to the
heriff, in the summary mode pointed out by the act, chiefly
wing to defective titles. From Port-Glasgow to Paisley,
be land is partly acquired, partly under submission, and
artly in course of negotiation, and one or two jury trials are
,oticipated. The awards here have, on the whole, been
satisfactory, and there is yet no cause to regret the adoption
of this pleasing mode of settling questions between the com-
pany and proprietors.
It will be seen that the directors are confirmed in their
expectation, that the whole line will be open to the pnblic
very early in the summer of 1340, a time peculiarly favoura-
ble, as embracing the season when travelling between
Glasgow and the numerous watering places on the coast,
commences.

Careful re-examination demonstrates that the original
calculations on this head were much underrated, or that the
increase in two years has been very great. The directors
have ascertained that, during the last summer, 30,000 persons
passed weekly between Glasgow and Greenock. In going
to parliament, rather more than one-third of the then existing
traffic was assumed to travel by t,ilway, but the directors
have now little doubt of ultimately acquiring nearly all.
By starting steamers from Greenock on arrivalot each train
to the numerous ports to which they now run, a great saving
in time will be effected, and the tedious and uncertain river
trip avoided. In this union of purpose, the board is led to
' believe, that many if not all the steam companies now plying
on the Clyde will cordially join. In cases where this co-
operation is declined, the directors will arrange with other
parties; and the gain of one hour and a half in four (com-
bined with low fares) will be a sufficient inducement to in-
sure the public support. To tf.e western Highlands in par-
ticular, the practical gain in time will be one day of !three.
To facilitate these plans the directors are at present employed
in maturing a project for carrying down the rails to one of
the quays, so that but a few paces may intervene between the
steam-boats and the railway carriages. A committee is also
appointed to negotiate with the harbour trustees, for in-
creased accommodation for steamers, particularly deep-sea
boats, and also for having rails laid along she quay, in order
that waggons may be taken to and from their loading berths
without shifting the goods.
The board think it due to their proprietors at a distance
and unacquainted with the localities, to state, that they have
no fear whatever of any part of the sea-going ti ( which,
however, forms a very small portion of their expected re-
turns) being diverted-into other channels. They form this
opinion from the concurrent testimony of all nautical men,
as to the certainty of the passage to Greenock in all weathers,
the security and convenience of the port, and the safety of
the approaches, (advantages net possessed by any other har-
bour that can interfere with it,) added to the circumstance of
the greatest saving in time, being two hours in nineteen from
Liverpool, while te contingent risk appears imminent.
The directors have felt some difficulty in determining the
amount of accommodation required for the commencement
of their business.
They have leaned to the side of caution, in directing their
engineer to prepare for an average of 2,000 passengers
(which will enable the company to carry, on emergeacies,
4,000,) and 300 tons of goods daily.
Two thousand tons of rails have been contracted for with
Messrs. Harfords, Davies, and Co., of Bristol, at a moderate
price, to be delivered at convenient points along the line.
Nearly 000 tons are shipped.
'the directors must now allude to their financial prospects,
as this is a subject on which the proprietors will naturally
feel anxious. Every item of expenditure has been carefully
and minutely considered--practical experience having taken
the place of theoretical calculation.
The act of parliament confers on the proprietors the power
of borrowing £133,000; and this sum the directors will re-
commend being taken up by bonds, as soon as half the capi-
tal shall have been paid : and, allowing for cost of works,
stations, land and compensation, engines, carriages, &c., ex-
penses in obtaining the act, management, and every con-
tingency, the directors have great pleasure in stating that
they do not anticipate being obliged to call for more than
£2d per share, or 80 per cent. on the subscriptions. The in-
creased accommodation for two companies at Glasgow and
Paisley will cause an extra outlay there • but this is allowed
for in the estimate—and the board, therefore, feels much
pleasure in announcing that, while the traffic from new
sources will be larger, the calls on the proprietary will be
less than expected.
The number of shares required by the act to be issued have
all been appropriated, and are ascertained to be in good
hands.
Notice has been given for a bill to make a railway from
Airdrie to Glasgow; should it be obtained, a vast mineral field
will be opened up, and as the proposed line crosses the Glas-
gow, Paisley, and Greenock Railway, it will become a very
important auxiliary.
The directors are sensible of the advantages that would fol-
low from a junction with the Edinburgh and Glasgow Rail-
, way, and any judicious plan that can be suggested for this
purpose will receive their best attention.
In such a number of shares, some defaulters mar reasonably
be expected; but the board have only to recommend the
r-
feiture of fifty-eight shares, on which the first call has not vet
ibeen paid. The notices required by the act were duly sent
to the parties.
The directors have delayed making a call until they should
meet their proprietors, but the heavy outlay which is going on
must be promptly met. They, therefore, resolve on a call of
£221! share, payable on the 12th of January. By act of par-
r-M[lMM'; driTetalailitive vacated their seats at the board :
the gentlemen who go out are Mr. Robert D. Ker, Mr. A rchi-
i' bald Falconer, and Air. Roger Aytouti, who are all capable
of re-election.

'Max III:Isn, Secretary.
We have not room for the balance-sheet, hut we way men-
tion that tht receipts of the company from the commencement
amount to .. • • .. . • £89,378 310
And the expennditure to .. .. 71,229 10 9

Showing &balance of .. .. • . £18,148 13 1
The Chairnsan then rose and said—l assure you the direc-
tors have much pleasure in again meeting the shareholders,