The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-03-06 00:00:00

£740 17 8-

917 5 11

[PRICE FIVEPENCE.

under contract to Mr. Murray. This Contractor has been
retarded in his operations by the law proceedings of Lord
Hopetoun ; but, notwithstanding, he has been able to turn
out 150,000 cubic yards. He has again commenced, and is
in full operation, and will be able, during the summer, to
make up the time which he has lost. His Contract extends
to 2,300 yards.
The portion of the Line between Mr. Murray's Contract
and the east end of Linlithgow, extending to 31- miles, is let
to Messrs. Mathieson and Son and Mr. Hamilton. Mr. Ma-
thieson have excavated about 45,000 yards of stuff, and Mr.
Hamilton about 25,000. Both of them arc advanced con-
siderably with their masonry, and they will be able to get far
through with their cutting this next summer.
The portion between the east of Linlithgow and Avon
Water, extending to about l 2 miles, let to Messrs. Forbes,
Ross, and Mitchell, is being proceeded with in a rapid man-
ner. With the exception of the cutting through the town of
Linlithgow, which is not very extensive, a very large portion
of it has been already completed. They have removed up-
wards of 100,000 yards of stuff, and built all their bridges
except those in the town. The whole of this portion is likely
to he fully formed this summer.
The Viaduct across the Avon, let to Mr. Lorimer, is in
full operation. He has got up the west abutment and seven
piers, and has founded several others. He is now setting his
centering, and will in a short time commence to the arches.
The portion between the Avon water and Redding village,
extending to 44 miles, is now before the Contractors, with
the view to its being let.
The line immediately to the westward of Redding village,
for a distance of 2-1 miles, let to Messrs. Forbes, Ross, and
Mitchell, is in a forward state. They have excavated nearly
200,000 yards, and the masonry is almost all completed.
The Tunnel through the Callander ridge, is in this Contract,
and is 830 yards long. On this Tunnel two shafts have been
put down, on each of which engines have been placed, and it
is open at both ends, thereby presenting great facilities for
I forwarding the work. :Nearly 4.00 yards of the guide-mine
have been d elven, and the C3ntractors are-now proceeding
with the excavation and building of the Tunnel. About 40
yards of it have been arched ; and now that the work is fully
opened out, the-arching will be proceeded with rapidly.
The next Contract is that( under. Messrs. Wyse and Son,
extending to nearly a mile and a half. On this Contract is
situated the Union Canal Viaduct. In regard to these Con-
tractors, I am sorry to say that they have not hitherto pro-
ceeded with that rapidity which. I could have wished. -
West of Messrs. Wyse and Son's Contract, is the one let
to Messrs. Somervaille, Cavenagh, and Marshall, extending
to rather more than 2} miles. This. Contract is far advanced,
and on it there is little more than 20,000 yards of cutting re-
maining to be done. Nearly all their bridges have been
built. The greater part of their ballasting is prepared, and
it is now being laid down.
The next Contract is that let to Messrs. Granger. They
have got about two-fifths of their cutting executed, but have
done little towards their masonry.
Next is the Redburn Viaduct,let to Messrs. M`Gregor and
Howe. Nearly a third part of this Contract has been executed.
Nan the Redburn to near Drumshanty Moss, a distance
of rattier more than 6-1- miles, let to Messrs. Whyte, Mathie-
son and Son, and M`Donald and Son, the works are now in
full operation, and the cuttings opened out so as to admit of
full work during this year. Messrs. Whyte have excavated
about 30,000 yards of cutting ; Mathieson and Son, 45,000;
and M`Donald and Son, about the same quantity. A portion
of the masonary on these lots has also been executed.
The portion between Drumshanty Moss and Bishop-briggs,
extending to rather more than 6 miles, was let only a few
weeks ago to Messrs. Henderson and Son, and Clements and
Henry. These Contractors are making preparations, and
will-be at work immediately.
West from Bishop-briggs is Messrs. Gowans and Cooper's
Contract, extending to about 11 miles. These Contractors
have executed about 24,000 yards of rock, and about 26,000
yards of earth, and done some of their masonry; but they
are not progressing so well as I could wish.
The next and last Contract is Mr. Marshall's, extending
to rather more than 11 miles. On this Contract is the Glas-
gow Tunnel, divided into three portions. Of the Bell's Park
portion, extending to 272 yards, 31 yards have been cut, ex-
elusive of the open cutting, and both ends of it are now in
full operation. Of the Asylum portion, extending to about
292 yards, 150 yards have been cut, and it is also in full ope-
ration at both ends. Of the Broonihill portion, extending
to 476 yards, 46 yards have been cut. The south end is in full
operation ; a shaft has been put down in the centre, so that
the Contractor is now ready to carry forward two faces from
it, and he has made a commencement at the north end. On
these divisions he has three engines fitted, and in operation.
He has as yet not done much to his other cutttngs, except at
the south end of the Bell's park portion, which has to be
arched and again covered: that cutting is taken out, and a
large portion of the material necessary for the arching has
been prepared. He has commenced to the other cuttings in
his Contract, and will be able to proceed very vigorously
during this season.

I have now gone over the whole Line, and, with the excep-
tion of one or two places, the work has, since my last Half-
yearly Report, been proceeded with in as satisfactory a man-
ner as the season of the year would permit. Nearly the
whille of it is now opened out, so as to admit of a great part
of the heavy cuttings being executed during the ensuing
season.
Several of the Contractors are prepared to commence lay-
ing the permanent way ; and for that purpose we are getting
forward supplies of whinstone blocks and larch-woodsleep-
ers ; and I am desirous of having the rails forward, so that
the permanent way may be proceeded with not later than
May next.

I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Your most obedient Servant,
Edinburgh, 20th Feb., 1810. J. MILLER.

The CHAIRMAN said that the Report which had now been
read contained all the information which the. Directors
thought would be acceptable to the Shareholders, but he
would be happy to afford any further information which
might be desired. The Report stated that the Arrears were
gradually being paid up. Since the Ist of January, £12,045
of Arrears had been received. The total amount of Calls
paid to the present date, was £350,686 0 0
And there had been received in anticipation
of Calls.

6,980 0 0

£357,666 0 0
It would be seen that 38 miles of the Line were now let, and
that the remaining 8 miles would be immediately contracted
for. Every effort would now be used to carry forward the
works, and there was reason to hope that the Line would be
opened to Edinburgh in the course of 1841. (Applause.) It
was obvious, however, that the expectations of the Directors
could only be realised by their receiving the steady support
of the Proprietors, who, he trusted, would meet the Calls
with promptitude.
Mr. BROUGH rose and said, that there were two points
on which he would be happy to receive some information.
The first was with regard to the small portion of experiment
railway laid on the banks of the Forth and Clyde Canal.
He would be glad to learn whether this was to be continued,
or what were likely to be its effects on the present under-
taking. The other point referred to the expense of the Line.
He wished to know what might be the probable amonnt of
this. He had no desire, however, to press these questions
upon the Directors, unless it was perfectly agreeable to them
to afford the information which he asked for.
The CHAIRMAN said, that with regard to the small portion
of Railway along the banks of the Canal, the Directors had
no other means of information on the subject than the public
at large. The Railway was understood to have been entirely
of an experimental nature. He did not anticipate any injury
to the prospects of this undertaking from the experiment. It
had never been a subject of uneasiness to the Directors. With
regard to the expense of the Line, it v ould be in the recol-
lection of the Proprietors, that a statement was made in the
last Report, giving an estimate of the cost of the Line.
Nothing had since then occurred to alter his opinion of the
probable correctness of this. The 9 miles recently let, were
rather above the average estimated by the Engineer; but these
comprised the heaviest portion of the 17 miles stated at the
last Meeting to be unlet. The 8 miles still remaining to be
contracted for, were the lightest part of the whole work ; and
he (the Chairman) confidently expected that they would be
under the average. As, however, Mr. Miller was present,
he would be enabled to inform the Meeting more fully on
this subject., He would only add, that a considerable saving
would be effected in the purchase of the rails, owing to the
recent reduction in the price of iron.
Mr. MILLER shortly confirmed the statement of the Chair-
man.

Mr. LUMSDEN said, that he had listened with much plea-
sure to the favourable statements contained in the Report.
He congratulated the Directors upon their successful efforts
in recovering the Arrears. With regard to the Jury trials
referred to in the Report, he thought there could not be two
opinions as to the necessity under which the Directors had
been of appealing to the protection of Juries against the ex-
travagant demands that had been made upon them •, and he
was satisfied that the results must have a most wholesome
and beneficial effect with reference to the portion of ground
still to be acquired. He begged to move, That the Report
and Statement of Accounts now read, be received, approved
of, and circulated among the Shareholders." The motion,
having been seconded by Mr. GALBRAITH, was unanimously
agreed to.
Mr. FINLAY, of Edinburgh, said that the Resolution
which he had to propose, was one of form, and it was only
necessary therefore for him to read it ; it was, " That the
Seal of the Company be affixed to the Register of Proprietors,
now made up, and placed on the table."—The motion was
seconded by Mr. WINGATE, and unanimously agreed to.
Mr. SLIGO, of Carmyle, was happy to observe, that a
considerable portion of the Shares which had been declared
forfeited, were to be immediately taken up. He begged to
move, " That the resolutions of the Board of Directors,
declaring the forfeiture of 758 Shares, as per signed List, be
now confirmed; and that the Directors be authorised to dis-
pose of the said Shares, at such times and in such portionse
as they may think best"'—The motion having been seconded
by Mr. THOMAS RICHARDSON, was unanimously agreed to.d
Mr. T. D. DOUGLAS begged to move, " That the Dire-
ctors be empowered to raise money on loan, to the extenther ediot
£300,000, and to take up £50,000 thereof on ac
with a Bank if desired, in terms of Sections 14 2aansdTl43 of
the Act of Incorporation, as soon as one-half of the Capital
is paid up."—The motion having been seconded by Mr.
JOHN HENDERSON, was unanimously agreed to.
Mr. LEECHMAN said, he thought it must be gratifying to
the Meeting, to find that so much progress had been made
on the Works on the Line. They were greatly indebted to
the Directors for their unceasing exestions in advancing the
interests of the undertaking ; and he had, therefore, much
pleasure in moving, "That the Meeting feel gratified at the
progress of the works on the Line, and trust that the same
exertions will be continued to ensure its opening in the course
of next year; and that a vote of thanks be given to the Di-
rectors for their services." The motion baying been se-
conded by Mr. RoNALDsON, was unanimously agreed to.
Mr. F. B. STEWART begged to propose, "That the fol-
lowing Gentlemen, who have gone out of office in terms of
the Act, be now re-elected Directors, viz :
JOHN FLEMING, Esq. ALEX. M'NEILL, Es
JOHN MAXTON, Esq. ARCH.q•
SMITH Esq.
ALEX. DRYSDALE, Esq. RICH. HUNTER, Esq.
The motion having been seconded by Mr-. 'LAY BURNS,
was unanimously agreed to.
Mr. FLEMING, of Claremont, after alluding to the un-
wearied exertions of the Chairman in promoting the interests
of the undertaking on all occasions, said, he had much plea-
sure in moving the last Resolution, " That the thanks of the
Meeting be given to the Chairman, for his conduct in the
Chair." The motion having been carried by acclamation, the
Chairman shortly returned thanks ; after which the Meeting
separated. By order of the Board,
RICH. DAWSON, Agent,
Stock and Share Broker, Liverpool.
N.13.—A1l Transfers and Certificates left at my Office, No.
10, Exchange-alley, Liverpool, before 4 o'clock, will be re-
gularly forwarded "daily for Registration and Endorse-
ment, and fre• "of auy expense.