The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-01-28 00:00:00

REIGN

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

APPROACHING HALF-YEARLY MEETINGS OF
RAILWAY COMPANIES.

We take.the opportunity of offering a few suggestions to
the proprietors of railway stock, as to their proceedings on
the occasion of the approaching meetings of the various com-
panies to which theybelong-
In the first pike, let us advise, in all cases where it is con-
verdent, a perSharatie.ndalice. At no thus has it been more
desirable that the fullest information, as to the progress and
prospects gf these undertakings, should be elicited from their
directors. Something more than the usual no-meaning re-
ports-which in ghost cases hitherto have been more calcu-
lated to mislead - than to gUide—some more definite and de-
:tailed informatiintis wanted by shareholders.and the public,
to enable them to form correct views as to their position ;
and it is only bysearching and personal inquiries that such
information can be elicited. We aro fully aware of the ditfl-
culties in which hose who have the management of large
undertakings havE been, and will be pla/Td-7-of the impossi-
bility of their conducting such undertakings to the satisfac-
tion -of every individual connected with thein---and of the
policy of preser,g, to some extent, a discretion-as to the
furnishing of infqrmation the publicity of which might, in
their judgment, be prejudicial. At the same time, we must
express our opinion, that hitherto this,kind of mystery has
been carried to an extreme which almost justifies suspicion
that there is son thing to conceal, and excites an extremely
uneasy feeling or the part of shareholders, who might other-
wise have every confidence in those to whom they have en-
trusted their proi3brty. There are a great many points, too,
upon which infolmation can be much more satisfactorily
conveyed by directors or engineers verbally, than otherwise
—erroneous impressions, only partially entertained, which
to notice in a report, would be impossible—fears and doubts,
which to presuppose might be,derogatory, but which a few
words can set at nest; and we' firmly believe that it would
be the interest of directors, who wish, to stand well with
their constituents, and who, at the sam4 time, deserve to do
so, to urge as large a personal attendance as is practicable:
Confidence, be it:remomhered, is very catching, and is more
easily communicated to a crowd than to an individual. Men
like to see occasionally with whom they arc associated—who
are in the'same boat with them ; and if, amongst the crew,
they recognise influential ands'gacions Men, ready to rely
upon the zeal and ability of those who steer, they are more
willing to try the voyage. • We.think, therefore, in the pre-
Sent depressed state of railway property, it is especially the
duty of influential and Wealthy shareholders to attend, and,
1w their example, encourage their weaker and inure despond-
ing brethren.
Allow us, whilst urging this point, to deprecate under any
circumstances, the display of angry feeling on the part of
shareholders, who have, or imagine that they have, grounds
of dissatisfaction. The fable of :the Bundle ofTagg,ots was
never more applicable than it is at preSent to railway com-
panies. A united proprietory may still, in spite of past
errors, recover their former,' or at any rate a favourable
position ; but dissension is the sure path to disappointment
and ruin. Let the sources of evil be laidhare, and endea-
vour by'well directed and combined efforts to repair them ;
but, remember that where there is -dissension amongst those
to whom the management of great undertakings is entrusted,
the public at least will have very little faith in their being
, -
well managed. -
Another hint let us convey to our friends. It is well
known that previous' to the half yearly meetings of some
concerns, it is usual to get ly a little excitement, pro or con,
as may best suit the views of different parties interested.
Let the public he on their guard. -.Let us have no more leap 7
ing in the dark—no more groping after the'heels of specu-
lation, and landing in the mire., 'it is evident that a brighter
day is approaching for those wbo will wait prudently until
dawn. Symptoms of returningintidence are daily display-
ing themselves in oitr share market, and hy-and-byeop
doubt, we shall witness the resuscitation of many under-,
takings-whose recovery we have- thought . hopeless. Some;
thing,however, yet reutalps.. to be. done. - The evil principle
is weakened but not eradicated, and before we place implicit
confidence in the signs of rei-upring health, let us be careful
to provide againSt the dangeris of a relapse.

So far as the transketiOris in the market evidence at
pre-
sent, the reaction has been healthy, having been confined to
those undertakings upon which the paid up capital is suffi-
ciently large to be affected by the pressure of the money
market. There is ample room still for improvement in these
stocks, and'snch inipl'ovement will gradually be felt. Until
this hoWeVer takes 'Ame to a fair extent, the holders of stok
upon whiehless amounts have been paid up, must be content
to wait their turn, and make Use of the interval in " setting
their houses in order." No mere ...peculation—no tempo-
rary excitenient,part materially, assist them. A firm dispo—
sition on the part of their brother proprietors to hold until
better times, is all they should seftk,"atid they must rest as-
sured that hitter times aro not7far distant.

We. nuiy possibly lin our next; offer a few remarks upon the
prospeets!bt• market generally, in the hope of aiding our
readers in forming a judgment as to their proper line or pro-
ceeding. .; ,•

itkl;
LaAt7nlight in taw I loose of CouunopLq., cony ersatiou .took
place on tl:e subject' of the Commission apt pointed to in-
vestigate and report upon the 1)ost lines of Railway to Ireland
and Scotland. In answer to a (motion from Sir Robert Peed:,
PreSident of the'liomi of Trade stated mast distinctly
that there ;was ,J11)4 intwition3nn • titepidel of GtriAtii4enTfif
tako the lines 'that might be determined upon out of the hands
of private Companies. Giivernment, raid the right: honourabe
gentleman,.wasonly. desirous of ascertaining that the best'
tine was selected' It appears from what was stated by Mr.
O'Connell, that the Report Upon the Anglo-Hibernian line
xvill be laid upon the table of the floose in the course of
three or four weeks.—Railway Times.:

PARLIAMENT PROCEEDINGS ON RAILWAY S.
AIIBROATO AND FORFAR RAILWAY, '
Jan. 17.—Petition for Bill; to lie on the table.
Jan. 21.—Committee on Pitition fixed for Monday, arc.
Pebrnary-.
Jan. 22.—Petition for Bill referred to the Select Cominitte(
on Petitions for Private Bills. •

cnysTun AND ,SABRE READ RAILWAY.
Jan. 17,—Petition for Bill; to be on the table.
Jan. 22.—Petitioit for Bill referred to the Select Committee
on' Petitions for Private Bills.
ADINGBURGH AND GLASGOW RAILWAY.
Jan 20.—Tetitionifor Bill ;' th'be'on the tabie.
Committee on Petition fixed.,for Thursday, iith February.
Jan.-22.--Petition for Bill referred to the Select/Committee
on Petitions for Private
GLASGOW, PAISLEY, KILMARNOCK, AND AYR RAILWAY.
Jan. D.—Petition for Bill; referred to the Select Com-
mittee on Petitions for Private Bills, . .

Committee on Petitiondixed,for.Friday,- 7th FebrUary.
LANCASTER ONI, PRESTON RAILAVAY. ,
Jan. 17.--,Petition for Bilt; to lie on the table.
Jan: 22.L,--Petition for Bill referred to the Select Committee
on Petitions for -

NORTIE UNION RAILWAY.
Jan. 17.—Petition for Bill to lie on'the table.
Jan. 20.—COmrniitee on Petition Mixed for Monday, 3rd
February.
22.--Petition for Bill referred to the. Select Committee
on Petitions:for Private Bills.

SII EFFIE LD AND ROTHERHAM RAILWAY.
Jan. 17.—Petition for Bill ; to lie on the table.
Jan. 22.—Petition for Bil 1 re,ferre4 to the Select Committee
on Petitions for Private Bills.

VALE RAILWAY. •
• Jan. 17.—,-Petition for Bill; to lie on the table.
Jan. 22.--Petition for-Bill referred to the Select Con-in:RUT
on Petitions for Private Bills. •

The Gloucester and Birmingham Railroad appears to be
silently progressing towards completion, and the preparations
for opening some portion, at least, of the line, are daily 'be-
coming more manifest. One 'of the new American engines
has been lately upon the line, and within the last few days,
has made several experimental trips between Cheltenham and
Tewkesbury, performing the distance of nine miles in thirteen
minutes. At present, everything augurs well for the success
and prosperous accomplishment of this important under-
taking.—Cheltenham Looker-On.