The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-11-05 00:00:00

EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW RAILWAY.

TO THE SHAREHOLDERS.

GENTLEMEN,
QOM E one has publicly addressed you under the ano-
nymous signature of " Plain Dealer." From the
whole tenor of his letter, I think 1 am justified in stating
that he is not one of us, but a Caledonian Shareholder ;
and I challenge him to a disclosure of his real name. It
I am mistaken, and if he, notwithstanding, dislikes pub-
lishing his name and address let hina-send them to our
Secretary, with his assuranre as a gentleman, that he
wrote the letter in question, and I shall be satisfied. My
name and address *re already communicated to the
Secretary.
I wish I con believe his statement, that the projected
Caledonian Railway would not injure the Edinburgh and
Glasgow Railway. But he admits that it is a parlillel line
between the two termini at Edinburgh and Glasgow, only
ten miles longer than ours. Farther, he cannot ding
(although he is cautiously silent on the subject) that the
Caledonian and Scottish Central Lines will also afford an
independent rival communication, as short as ours, from
Glasgow to Stirling, and thence to the whole North of
Scotland. Such being the case, I think it requires no
argument to prove to you that these two undertakings, if
sanctioned by Parliament, would affect Seriously the
prosperity of our undertaking. It seems tä me quite un-
necessary fur us to consult any neutral Engineer or Agent
on such a subject. Indeed, every Shareholder has now
the admitted facts befo'e him, and can judge for himself.
I think, therefore, that " Plain Dealer," in place of writ-
ing an anon'mous letter to you in the Newspapers would
have done better (if he really is one of our number) had
he attended the late Special General Meeting, and sup-
ported his friend Colonel Graham, the Chairman of the
Caledonian Line, who, although he holds only one share
in the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, came to protest
against our proceedings.
Colonel Graham, when at our meeting, intimated his
intention, as he had no supporter there, to endeavour to
stir up opposition among you to the resolution of the
Special General Meeting, and I presume this letter of
" Plain healer" is the firA advance of the forlorn hope.
The Chairman's circular to you, and the plan of the Rival
Lines which accompanied it, put matters, however, in too
clear a light to admit of your being misled by any such
attempt.
Plain Dealer," like Colonel Graham, states that the
injury to be inflicted on our Railway is unintentional
It it were so, the fact would still be no consolation to us
for the loss of our money. But how do these gentlemen
reconcile the unintentional character of the injury with the
recent alteration on the point of divergence of the two
forks recommended by the Commissioners in the only
object of which evidently is to shorten the distance between
Edinburgh and Glasgow ?—or with this other fact which
has just now come to light, viz., that in the Parliamentary
Notices of the Caledonian Line, there is a branch intended
to cut off the apex of the triangle near Lanark, and there-
by still farther shorten the distance between Edinburgh
and Glasgow ? When the plans are deposited next month,
we shall probably find that the actual difference of distance
is even less than is now given out.

There already exist, besides the turnpike roads, two
great lines of communication between Edinburgh and
Glasgow—one by the Canals, and the other by Railway.
There is invested in these undertakings about three mil-
lions of money. They ate perfect so far as frequency of
opportunities, speed, cheapness, and safety, are concerned.
In none of these respects is it even alleged that this new
undertaking will benefit the public ! There being, there-
fore, no advantage guaranteed to the public—there bring
no possibility of gain to the promoters of this Caledonian
Railway (for there is not traffic to support the triple com-
petition), can it be expected that Parliament will ever
sanction such an unjust invasion of private property ?
It is superfluous to notice to you the statement of
" Plain Dealer," that there are some of those who are
officially connected with this Railway who are also pro-
moters of the proposed Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle'
Line. The statement it-elf is exaggerated, but it is wellf
for us that it is even in part true, and I hope the effect of
the intimate union of the two undertakings will be a eon
,inuatice of the cordial co-operation of all parties against
the common enemy. I beg, however, to state that I my-
self have no connexion whatever with the Glasgow, Dum-
fries, and Carlisle Line, or with any of the other under-
takings named in the preceding letter, excepting your
own.
I shall only notice in conclO-sion what " Plain Dealer"
has said as to the map circulated by our Chairman, show-
ing (as he says) an actual connexion between the Edin-
burgh anti Glasgow and Ayrshire Railways. It does not
do so. On referring to it you will find that the " con-
nexion" is a dotted line, as ate all the other proposed
lines shown on the map. The Glasgow Junction Railway.
however, is meant to connect the termini of these two
lines, and will be before Parliament next session.
1 am, Gentlemen,
Your most obedient servant.
SHAREHOLDER.
Glasgow, 23d October, 1814.

PAPIER MACIIEE.—When this material was first in-
troduced to public notice, it was admired for its exact
imitation of the most elaborate carviegs in wood ; but so
rapidly has it risen to perfection, and so beautifully deli-
cate yet durable are many of the articles produced in it,
that it cannot now be compared to any thing that has pre.
ceded it. A most he utiful specimen of workmanship in this
material is now exhibiting at Mr. Key's, in 80ld-street.
It is a splendid Chimney Glass Frame, of foliage sur-
mounted by a basket of fruit—the graceful effect of which
cannot be described in the limits of a paragraph.
CIGARS.—It will be seen by an advertisement in
another column, that in addition to the extensive tobacco
manufactory recently established by Messrs. W. Percival
and Son, in Dale-street, these enterprising gentlemen
have commenced manufacturing cigars. Extensive alte-
rations have been made in the premises, so as to facilitate
in every way the drying and seasoning ; and the specimens
we have seen are quite equal to most of the foreign manu-
facture. Nor can we see any reason why they should not
be. when they arc produced from exactly similar material.
The greatest difference is in the price.
TRAIN'S LINE OF PACKETS.—A line of packets has
just been started between this port and Boston under this
title, for which Messrs. Baring Brothers are the consig-
nees. The vessels selected are all first-class shiFs. Those
already advertised are the Dorchester, Captain Caldwell,
480 tons, the Governor Davies, Captain Neef, 700 tons,
the Peteishurgh, Captain Trask, 810 tons, and a new ship
the Joshua Bates, The punctual sailing of these vessels
will be ereatly felt by the public. And it is somewhat
astonishing that a line of packets should not have before
been establishes to Boston, a city more noted for its en-
terprii3e and rapid increase of late years than any other
in Aotrica.
"Make way here," said a member of a rcpublizan de-
putation, " we are the rtpresentr.tives of the people."
Make way }ourself," scouted a sturdy fellow from the
throng, " we are the people themselves."