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WORCESTER AND MERTHYR TYDVIL…

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WORCESTER AND MERTHYR TYDVIL JUNCTION RAILWAY. A public meeting of the inhabitants of Merthyr Tydvil and its neighbourhood was held at the Castle Hotel on Friday last, for the°purpose of taking into consideration which of the proposed lines of railway from Merthyr to Abergavenny, will be most de- sirable for the interest and convenience of the town and neigh- bourhood. We observed present the following influential and highly respectable gentlemen:-William Thomas, Esq., Court, Merthyr; Walter Thompson, Esq., Banker, Merthyr; Edward Davies, Esq., Surgeon, Cyfarthfa; Edward Davies, Esq., Merthyr: William Davies Esq., Solicitor, Merthyr Watkin Scale, Esq., Aberdare; James Russell, Esq., Solicitor, Merthyr; Thomas Browne, Esq., Sirhowy: David James, Esq., Merthyr; Walkingshaw, Esq.; Lewis Lewis, Esq.; Charles James, Esq., Solicitor, Mer- thyr; lllingworth, Esq., Tredegar; Needham, Esq,. Llandaff; Samuel Homfray, Esq.; David Evans, Esq.. Dowlais Works; Benjamin Martin, Esq.; Mr. William Williams, Swan- sea; Mr. Kirkhouse, jun., Vale of Neath; Mr. Stephens, Mer- thyr, &c„ &c. The following gentlemen attended as a deputation from the Worcester and Merthyr Tydvil Junction Railway Company:- William Chadwick, Esq., Chairman Thomas Bridges Simpson, Esq., Deputy Chairman; W, L. Whitmore, Esq., John Hem- ming, Esq.; W. H. Cooke, Esq., and the solicitors; Charles G. Jones, Esq.; and C. Chamberlain, Esq. David James, Esq., was unanimously called to the chair. Shortly after two o'clock, the Chairman rose and said he was sorry the meeting had not placed in the chair a person of greater influence than he was, or one who was more intimately con- nected with the important district which this railroad (the Wor- cester and Merthyr Tydvil Junction) was likely to open out. However, having frequently experienced the kindness of his fellow-townsmen, he trusted that upon this, as upon former oc- casions, they would assist him in discharging those duties which devolved upon him. (Hear.) He had no doubt they should get through the business of the day very pleasantly, and that all present would give their support to that line of railway which, upon examination, would be found the best calculated to promote the interests of the district with which they were con- nected. (Cheers.) With those few preliminary observations, he would call upon some gentleman of the deputation to address the meeting, and to state what their views were. (Hear.) William Davies, Esq., thought it right to state at this stage of the proceedings, that having received a private communication respecting this line, and with reference to the course it should take, and having taken some interest in the matter, he thought it to be his duty to call a meeting of the inhabitants, in order that they might hear fully what its promoters had to say. (Cheers.) He had given every publicity to the announcement that a meeting was to be held, so as to procure a full attendance; and he now trusted, that when the gentlemen who were assem- bled had heard the views stated which the promoters of the line entertained, they would give the subject due consideration, and act in the manner best calculated to promote the prosperity of the place generally. He thought this line would place at the convenience of the inhabitants the most direct communication to Ross, from whence they could proceed to London, or any other part of the kingdom. (Hear.) i_ v William Chadwick, Esq., then rose and said he had the honor to appear before the meeting as one of the deputation from the r Worcester and Merthyr-Tydvil Railway Junction Company. The gentlemen present were, no doubt, perfectly acquainted sajd familiar with the course which this line was intended to take, namely, to commence at the station of the Monmouth and Hereford and Worcester and South^Wales Junction at Ross, and to proceed to Abergavenny, thence by Llanelly, Nantyglo, Tre- degar, Ebbw Vale, Rumney, and Dowlais, to Merthyr-Tydvil, at which place it would join the Taff Vale Railway-the distance being about 40 miles. (Hear.) The line in contemplation would form not only the nearest communication to England, but what was of far greater importance, it would, by way of Aber- gavenny without going to Hereford, form the nearest line to Gloucester, and connect the inhabitants of Merthyr with the -nearest line to London. (Hear.) It was evident that, situated as the town of Merthyr-Tydvil was, in the centre of a valuable -al district, it would be most important that they should some better means of communication with the great towns f empire than mere water carriage. He was convinced that when this line was made the greater portion of their manu- tnaiwnej wouid be carried by it—communication by factured m • nllickest possible, and despatch being of the xaxlway being the q^ (Hear.) This line, as they utmost importance Ross to Abergavenny, and thence were aware, would ru Merthyr. Whatever commu- proceed as straight as P^hle Taff Vale Railway xucation may after war rnmDany the committee would be Company, or with any «' e hich would most conduce to ▼ery happy to carry out tha p „ Having stated those the prosperity ef the district. (Hear. accrue to the general outlines of the advantages whicn inhabitants of Merthyr by the establishing wnnld inform thpm t>ia« nmnnoATVaS 1U wnnld infonn thpm t>ia« +}'ö was in the room, and would be happy to answer any question haying chadwifk) be termed engineering difficulties. (Hear.) He (Mr. C j was quite satisfied that in the present age such difficult e were not susceptible of removal were hardly known- perseverance and money they could accomplish any thing; be- sides, when they heard what had been done by the assistance of the atmospheric principle, which principle was now coming into operation, engineering difficulties could more easily be encountered. (Hear.) He (Mr. Chadwick) would also be ready to answer any question having reference to this line. The Chairman asked whether the engineer was prepared to give the meeting information how he intended coming from 10 give Dowlais and what would be the rise. Thf Engineer: 1 have ascertained the levels from Aberga- IThVthaimaT:' IIow do you come from Abergavenny to the Ebbw Vale 1 ten miles at the rate of ^The Engineer: I come upthe » £ and after that the 100 feet in a mile, which is about one iu is comparative^ level to Dowtetf' v The Chairman: And does that 10 miles bring you to EbbwVale? The Engineer: Yes, between Beaufort and Nantyglo. Thomas Browne, Esq., said that for his own personal satis- faction, he had spent nearly a day with the engineer in going through the levels from Abergavenny up to the valley above the Ebbw Vale and as far as that portion of the line went he (Mr. Browne) was satisfied that it was perfectly practicable (cheers) and that he (the engineer) would have a line to form that would not present difficulties of any extraordinary charac- ter. (Hear.) He (Mr. Browne) had with him at the time of survey the plans of a line by which he could check the accuracy of the levels taken by the engineer, inasmuch as the late Ebbw Vale Company had surveyed that line of country some years ago, and the parliamentary survey he had with him. (Hear, hear.) He was much pleased to find that the levels taken by the company's engineer were correct. From that part of the country in the direction of Merthyr he could not speak accurately as to its nature, but as far as his knowledge of the district went, to the summit of the Dowlais Hill, the report made by the surveyor was correct. However, the country was better known to gentlemen who resided in Merthyr than it was to him (Mr. Browne), and the meeting would probably have the benefit of their local knowledge. (Hear.) Mr. Chadwick said that if Merthyr could not be approached by the line in question the company would undertake to make a branch for that purpose. (Cheers.) The Chairman said that no person could make the line from Merthyr to Dowlais a passenger line, as the nature of the "round rendered the matter impossible. He then asked the deputation in what way was it proposed to connect Ross with London. There was no connecting railroad at present. (Hear.) W. H. Cooke, Esq., explained that by means of this line, and the Monmouth and Hereford, parties would be brought within six miles of Gloucester, from whence they might proceed in any direction. Further explanations were given from which we gathered that a plan had been matured for connecting the district of Merthyr with the Great Western and other leading lines of railway. Mr. Chadwick and other gentlemen explained that by the present undertaking the most direct route would be formed for the north by way of Worcester, and for London by way of Gloucester. Charles G. Jones, Esq.: Our line from Merthyr to Worcester is much nearer than the Eastern and Western line, because that line goes from lUrrthyr tj Hereford, and then from Hereford to Worcester whereas we go in the most direct manner. (Hear.) Some time was then occupied in conversation, and in exa- mining maps of this and other lines. After which, William Thomas, Esq., rose and proposed a resolution con- taining an expression of opinion that the meeting highly ap- proved of the contemplated undertaking-, and would give the promoters its strenuous support. [See advt.] The proposition was seconded by Thomas Evans, Esq. The Chairman suggested the expediency of withholding any specific pledge upon the subject. He thought they should not pledge themselves to give this undertaking their strenuous sup- port lest they should thereby deprive themselves of the right to support any better line which might, possibly, be proposed for their approval. In n<-cnunla at public meetings, at which deputations from railway companies had been present, he perceived that no pledge was given. He suggested that they should not give a pledge, but pass such a resolution as would just stop short of that point. (Hear.) W. H. Cooke, Esq., thought that pledges had been withheld only in cases where the neighbourhood did not feel sufficient confidence in the promoters of the line. (Hear.) Thos. Browne, Esq., thought that if they pursued the course suggested by the Chairman, they were not likely to have any line of railway at all. (Hear, hear.) He thought sufficient time had been given for considering the matter, and that when they viewed the quantity of preparations which were necessarily required in order to comply with all the provisions of the stand- ing orders of parliament, he thought they would be of opinion that no time was to be lost. With reference to the proposed undertaking as a means of affording a direct communication to London, he (Mr. Browne) thought it was the best thing for this district which had yet been proposed. (Cheers.) He had not heard of any line which took them beyond Abergavenny. If they ran down either of the valleys to join the South Wales line, why, they would be left at Chepstow (cheers); whereas this line took them within seven miles of a connecting link of the Great Western line. and there could be no doubt but that that seven miles would be filled up, (Cheers.) He firmly felt that the proposed undertaking was fully deserving of their cor- dial support. (Loud cheers.) The resolution was then put formally from the chair, and car- ried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the gentlemen wno composed tne deputa- tion, was then proposed by Thomas Browne. Esq., seconded by Benjamin Martin, Esq., and carried by acclamation. Thomas B. Simpson, Esq., returned thanks on behalf of the deputation. He was much obliged to the meeting for its unani- mous support. Probably, if he had been in the chairman s situation, he might have adopted the course he (the chairman) had taken. He (Mr. Simpson) admired his caution; but still, looking at the whole measure—its importance to the district- the difficulties its promoters would have to encounter-and the time which would necessarily be occupied in preparing for Par- liament-the deputation did certainly look for that measure of support from the meeting, which would have the effect of sending them forth to do their duties with something like con- fidence; with something like a knowledge that they (the depu- tation) had the inhabitants of the district with them in all that they did. (Cheers.) He assured the meeting that although this undertaking might be considered a speculation on which they entered, and from which they proposed to derive personal profit, they could not conceal from themselves that in obtaining such advantages, they would also be affording great advantages to the entire neighbonrhood. (Loud cheers.) The meeting would feel, with the deputation, the importance of the proposed under- taking. (Hear.) He was obliged to the meeting for the mark of confidence which it had given. He could truly say, that he had not yet heard one single dissenting opinion on the matter. (Hear.) For the courteous manner in which the deputation had been received, he begged to return, once more, his best acknow- ledgements and also to assure the meeting, that in carrying their object into effect no time should be lost; and no principle of honour and integrity should be wanting to render it as satis- factory to the district, as it could possibly be made. (Loud cheers.) C V:„ onrl n 1 A vote OX tnanKS to tne cua.iiuia.ii Wi ""1' presidency was then proposed by Mr. Simpson, seconded by Mr. Chadwicke, and carried unanimously with loud cheers. In acknowledging the compliment, the Chairman said that he had entered the room rather adverse to the plan proposed. He thought it was not a better plan than some others which had been proposed for public consideration; but the map of the line which he had seen, together with the remarks which he had heard convinced him that a better line from Merthyr to London had not yet been devised. (Cheers.) If his opinion had not been altered, he would not, certainly, have taken part in the proceedings, but he was compelled to acknowledge that he thought this line gave the inhabitants the best communication frotnMerthyr to London—at least the best that had yet been submitted for public attention; and therefore he felt very great pleasure in having been present when such resolutions were carried. (Cheers.) The names of several gentlemen present were then added to the provisional committee, after which the meeting separated. RAILWAY SpECULATION.-Wild and ludicrous though many of the speculations be that are now eagerly received—head- long and unreflecting though the passion with which the pub- lic neglectful of almost everything else, runs after them- there is yet no general danger. Money is transferred from old channels of investment, or withdrawn from inactivity to be poured into the new one; head and hand labourers are employed and paid; &"d the available roads will remain to the public when the phreazy subsides. The money will have changed hands, but will not be lost substantially. The fever of speculation has as yet been confined to the" share-market" -the produce and other markets are exempt from it: it is only a limited, though a large number of the community, that has caught the infection; and the majority of this class will awake from its dream in time, and be contented to find itself half as rich as it imagined. But, incidentally, there will be a great deal of individual suffering. Nearly half of the railway projects now In the field can never be carried into execution, either from natnral obstacles, or the success of rival lines. Their shares are like the card in the old maid," which every one tries to pass to his neighbour; he who cannot get quit of it being accounted the loser. And shares of this kind will be most likely to remain in the hands of those who do not understand the nature of the share-market—a class largely engaged in railway speculation. There is something so at- tractive in being told that Mr. —— has made so much by buying shares a week ago and selling them to-day. Any- body can do that; and everybody tries it. Annuitant dowagers, beneficed clergy, lean men of literature, briefless barristers', the whole of the uneasy class," nay, menial ser- vants will have a nibble in passing. Hailway speculation is at present what the Government lottery used to be-a tempta- tion to persons with slender means to throw away their little money and incur liabilities they can never meet. And it were well if It ended there but the moral taint which this over-speculative spirit brings along with it is more pernicious still. The desire of ladies young and old, and all classes of annuitants, to make a liule money by some lucky railway hit, is like the desire to make a little money by a lucky night at cards • and when the desire grows to a passion, engrosses the hole"soul and spreads through whole fami ies, as it is now doine the respectability and happiness of not the least valu- able class of society are compromised. This must be of right attributed not to railways, but to railway finance.—Spectator. a t I

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