The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1845-07-22 00:00:00

EDINBURGH, LEITH, AND GRANTON

RAILWAY.
AT a stated HALF-YEARLY GENERAL MEET-
ING of the Pl‘ 0 YRIETORS of the EDINBURGH,
LEITH, and GRANTON RAILWAY, held within the
Company's Office, 8, Ahercrnmhy-place, Edinburgh, the
17th instant, ERSKINE DOUGLAS SANDFORD,
Esq., She;iff of Kirkcudbright, in the chair,
The Secretary laid on the table the newspapers contain-
ing the notice of meeting and a copy of the
.circular sent
to the Shareholders.

The minute of last meeting was read and approved.
The following
REPORT BY THE DIRECTORS
was then read :
At the stated half yearly general meeting, held on the
30th day of January last, your Directors stated, in their
report, that contracts had been taken for the Leith and
Granton Branches. of the Railway, and that they had also
contracted witeMessrs. Barr for the execution of the
larger portion of the tunnel, being ahnut 670 yards.
RANTON BRANCH.

It was stated in the report that this Branch would be
opened by the end of June, but the continued wet weather
and the difficulty of obtaining the necessary stuff for the
embankment for some time retarded its formation. Your
Directors are, however, gratified to state, that they have
now received the decided assurance of the contractors that
the whole of this Branch will be finished by the third
week of August, and ready to be opened for traffic.
LEITH BRANCH.

Your Directors have every reason to be satisfied with
the progress made with this part of the works, which are
in so advanced a state as to leave no doubt of this line be-
ing open to the public within the time specified in the
contract, if not at an earlier period.
TUNNEL.

As regards the tunnel, it was not until the month of
March that the contractors could get their arrangements
completed for commencing active operations. Since that
time, however, considerable exertions have been made,
and your Directors feel satisfied, from the vigour with
with which the operations are at present conducted, that
this important part of the undertaking will also be com-
pleted within the time specified in the contract. With
respect to the smaller or northernmost portion at the tun-
nel, your Directors were most strongly advised by their
Engineers to execute this portion of the works under the
immediate direction of the Company's Engineer and the
superintendance of Mr. William Paterson, whose services
the Directors were fortunate enough to secure ; and they
are happy to state that the expectations they had been led
to entertain of 11;s abilities and energy have been fully
realized. Your Directors are also gratified to state, that
the method adopted for securing the buildings on either
side of the street, during the execution of the works, is so
completely satisfactory, that any apprehension of danger
that may have arise❑ previous to its commencement has
been entirely removed.
Your Directors are happy to state, that the traffic on
the Trunk Line is still steadily increasing.
Your Directors consider that it will be satisfactory to
the Shareholders to know that the Caledonian Railway
Bill having now passed, and a junction between that
Railway and the Edinburgh and Glasgow, at a point to
the eastward to the city, being highly probable, there
can be no doubt that the whole export trade of the west
of Scotland sent along these railways must be carried to
the ports of Leith and Granton by their line; and, as
they have now acquired a large and valuable wharf upon
the line of railway at the harbour of Leith for their ex-
clusive use, they can afford facilities for shipping of which
no other railway can boast. The Edinburgh and Northern
Railway having also secured their bill, the important
traffic of that line (which has not hitherto been calculated
upon) must or necessity pass along the (irauton Drancb.
The projected Edinburgh and Peebles Line will also be
an important feeder to the Edinburgh, Leith, and
Granton Railway. This line is calculated to pass by the
extensive and valuable manufactories upon the River
Esk, from which great quantities of paper and other
goods are exported.
Your Directors also think it right to mention, that
Messrs. Haig, of Bonnington, have applied to them for a
small branch to their distillery, and have offered the
ground necessary for its construction. The amount of
goods brought to and sent from the distillery amoun's to
60,000 tons per annum, all of which will be carried along
the Railway if the branch is given. The Directors will
give this matter due consideration.
Different applications have already been made to the
Directors by extensive manufacturers for accommoda-
tion at their terminus in Market-street, with a view to
the facilities which their line will afford for exportation.
Your Directors have not thought it necessary to enter
into any further detail, this falling more properly under
the department of the Company's Engineer, whose report
is now submitted.
(Signed) E. D. SANDFORD, Chairman.