The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-08-06 00:00:00

' traffic in the merchandise department was stated to be
again larger than in any previous six months, and,. in
order to provide for this, the directors were increasing
' their permanent complement of waggons. The leading
features of the agreement with the London and Birming-
ham Company were then stated as follows :—" That the
two concerns shall remain separate and distinct as at pre-
sent, but shall unite for mutual protection. That the
London and Birmingham Company be at liberty to pro-
secute the Holyhead and Birkenhead lines, with any
branch south of Birmingham ;—the Grand Junction any
branch north of Birmingham. That the London and
Birmingham Company, with the concurrence of their
Shropshire party, shall withdraw from the guarantee of
the Shrewsbury and Birmingham line; the Grand Junc-
tion Company, with the concurrence of their Stafford
shareholders, undertaking to make a line to Wolverhamp-
ton, and to guarantee 4 per cent. on the capital, and an
equal division of further profits ; the Shrewsbury and
Birmingham shareholders, under the same conditions as
the Shrewsbury and Grand Junction, having an option of
half the capital, the Grand Junction Company taking a
lease in perpetuity, and working the line in a manner
coi;venient to that part of the country. That the Trent
Valley, or Stafford and Rugby line, shall be prosecuted
by theLon,.on and Birmingham, Grand J.unction, Man-
ingham, and Trent Valley party, on the
Chester and Bir:.'n
terms already agreesi upon between Mr. Moss and the last
named, and as subsequent explained to the London and
Birmingham Company, unless the latter can induce the
Trent Valley party to agree to other terms; the London
and Birmingham Company being at liberty so to do, so
far as regards the Grand Junction Company, provided
the latter are not by such new terms called on to make
any sacrifices which the London and Birmingham Com-
pany do not equally make : the Grand Junction using
their best endeavours to secure fair terms in the arrange-
ment between the London and Birmingham, and the Trent
Valley promoters. That if the Holyhead line is made,
the Grand Junction Company shall not, either by a dis-
proportionate reduction of rates to and from Liverpool,
or by arrangements with the Irish steam-boat proprietors
thence, compete for the Irish traffic, but leave it to take
its natural course. That neither company, except as
above, shall engage in any new enterprise, without the
previous consent of the other; that they shall mutually
co-operate and assist each other for the accommodation
and increase of the joint traffic ; and that each shall, as
far as possible, direct over the line of the other all its
legitimate traffic." The document further proceeded to
state, that a committee should fix the prices over both
lines, always having a reduction in view as far as practi-
cable; and to make other arrangements for the efficient
joint working of the two lines. Any difference arising to
be left to the arbitration of three directors (not proprie-
tors) chosen by each board, and their umpire. Some
progress, it was added, had been made in carrying into
effect the portions of the agreement relating to the Trent
Valley lines. Arrangements bad also been nearly com-
pleted with the Postmaster-General for increasing the
speed of the trains, to take place on the 15th instant, so
that the journey between London and Liverpool would
be increased about half an hour, and between London
and Carlisle more than an hour. The directors also in-
tended to apply to parliament for authority to connect the
district of the Potteries with their line ; and the satisfac-
tory state of their finances would enable them to try the
experiment of a reduction of fares. The bill for regula-
ting railways had been so altered, that the measure need
no longer be viewed with apprehension. With regard to
the clauses securing certain advantages to the government
and the public, the directors had resolved to adopt the
recommendation of the select committee ; and it was their
intention, as soon as practicable, to put on third-class
trains at a penny a mile, for the conveyance of the poorer
classes.—A resolution approving of the report was then
carried.—The Cha;rman said, that at the corresponding
period of last year they finished with £6OO, and now they
had £lo,9oo.—Messrs. G. H. Lawrence, James Gilfillan,
and Thomas Booth, were elected directors in the place of
Messrs. C. Lawrence, G. Winter, and C. Turner, who
retired by rotation, and were not eligible for re-election.