The Sun. — 1863-11-09 (London, England)

REPORT ON RAILWAYS.--The Commission appointed in November, 1861, by the Minister of Agriculture, Commerce, and Public Works, to inquire into the working and construction of railways in France, has just published a voluminous but highly interesting report. and it is signed by the vice-president, M. Michel Chevaier, senator, and the secretary, M. Adolphe Moreau, auditor at the Council of State, whose ability and skill in putting together the materials collected with great pains and research, reflect equal credit on his industry and talent, and fully entitle him to the honour of having his name asssociated with that of so eminent a man as M. Michel Chevalier. There is not a point of interest connected with the subject that has not been thoroughly sifted in this volume, which may be considered more in the light of a treatise on railways than of a dry official report. We glean the following recommendations of the Commission as most likely to interest the general reader. Touching the speed of express trains, which in France does not exceed a maximum of 57 kilometres (351 miles) an hour, while in England it attains as much as 71 kilometres (44 miles) an hour, the Commission acknowledges the expediency of raising the average speed to 60 kilometres, but admits that this condition cannot be imposed upon railway companies in the case of lines the gradients of which require a slackened speed in the interest of the passengers themselves and their personal security ; that it is desirable that there should be at least one express train per day each way on every line, and that, although no steps should be taken in the matter, it would be desirable to admit second and third class pas-' sengers to the advantage of the express train. Regarding omnibus trains, there should be one at least of these trains per day on the principal lines, going at the rate of 40 kilometres (25 miles) ifer hour. The correspondence or check granted to a passenger for the purpose of exchanging the line by which he has come for another which crosses it has always been the object of special agreement between the companies. The agreements are communicated to the Government, and cannot come into force until the sanction of the Minister has been obtained. As this necessity usually causes great delay, and therefore inconvenience to the public, the commission is of opinion that the agreement should be allowed to be acted upon five days after it has been communicated to the Government. The Minister may then, if necessary, suppress it ; but if it should work well, he may sanction it at his leisure. Concerning the important question of personal security in trains, so as to prevent the recurrence of such crimes as that of the murder of M. Poinsot, the Commission examines at length the various plans proposed, such as bell-handles within the reach o passengers, or the guard being enjoined to pass from carriage to carriage by means of the footboards and handles' &c., and arrives at the conclusion that the first plan would would enable any one to stop the train, either for groundless sake, or from some foolish motive of g fear; and that the second plan impracticable vran I where on these lines where the tunnels are too narro the guard would be exposed to lose his life. At all events, to render legislative enactments would be necessaryemadea bad use of the passengers liable to punishment if thetyh means placed at their disposal for the purpose of obtaining recommendation of the Coamp.pmarisastiuosn. assistance. Another .dbe provided for third-class is, that either curtains or s moke .consumin g ctharereianggeisz,eainsdptrhoavtidcsoad twbite.hbul.Fd instead of coke, whenever stations. Concerning the goods' tr • It also advocates the admission of all Bests of omnibuses to trains, the the railway Commission is of opinion that the present rate of 125 kilometres per 21 hours ought to be raised to 200 kilometres. But in order further to promote the speedy delivery of goods, it propose that companies be authorised to convey moderately-sized parcels by express, but only from one terminus to another, the total weight not to exceed 2,000 kilos. The diminution of stoppages is a great consideratioL with the Commission throughout the report, where it is stated that with this view an apparatus has been invented for exchanging mailbags not exceeding 12 kilogrammes at the stations without stopping the trains. Lastly, the commission proposes to empower companies to modify their tariffs, on condition of their communicating them to the Government. If after a month the latter has not interfered, the tard may be put in ; but the Minister has always the right of suspending it. The volume is full of interesting details, isn4 is well worth the perusal of professional men.