Railway Matters
RAILWAY from STAMFORD.
The Midland Railway Ratify Meeting Oakham last week having been but very briefly noticed, Several of my friends - whom I believe are with me - agree that this railway is uncalled for, requested that I report publicly, my input. I have complied with their request, and shall be obliged by your inserting the following Report.—l am, dear Sir, yours truly, Melton Mowbray, Oct. 29,1844. W. LATHAM." After the first Resolution had been proposed and seconded, 1 said, Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, —1 stand here in a peculiar situation, and most probably am about to make remarks which may not be acceptable to this assembly, but inasmuch as I am the presence of gentlemen I confidently expect to be listened to with some degree of patience." But before I make any remarks I beg to read again the notice for calling the meeting which calls together the " Nobility, Gentry, Clergy, Landowners, Occupiers of Land, and others resident in the Districts of the Country through which the Railway is likely to pass, for the purpose of promoting the interest of the Town of Oakham." Now this appears to me a rather singular Meeting, for I do not quite understand what the gentry in the neighbourhood of Syston and Melton have to do with promoting particularly the interest of the town of Oakham. For my own part I consider the Railway unnecessary. All things, Mr. Chairman, however good, may be carried to an excess ; for instance, the cultivation of the tulip is both harmless and agreeable when you purchase your bulbs at 6d. or ls. each, but to such a mania did the cultivation of this flower arrive at one time that a single bulb was sold for 500/.; it then became ridiculous and absurd. So it is with Railways. I will admit that they are good things when kept within proper bounds. I believe a Railway running through the centre of this island, and connecting London with Edinbro', to be extremely useful, but we are not to conclude from this that every small Railway is of service, and my belief is that the projected Railway from Syston to Stamford is unnecessary, and cannot be profitable. However, I do not expect my individual opinion to carry much weight, but meetings are intended to get at the sentiments and opinions of parties who interest themselves about them, I will lay before you the written opinions of several gentlemen, and will read them in succession they lie before me. I like written opinions, as there can be no equivocation or denial; the first letter I will read is from Mr. Henry Payne, of Nottingham, and as he a Shareholder in the Melton Canal I do not attach great importance to it, but we will hear his sentiments. Nottingham, 10th Mo. 21st, 1844. Respected Friend,—l am sorry to say I cannot attend the Meeting Melton to-morrow, but will gladly support the opposition to the proposed line from Syston to Peterborough, which is totally unnecessary, and if made would be found to be very injurious to every interest there in the district through which it intended to pass. I remain, thy sincere friend, HENRY PAY'NE. To Wm. Latham, Esq. The next comes fiom a Canal Proprietor (alaugh), but may as well hear what he says :— Nottingham, 21st Oct., 1844. Sir, regret that a previous engagement will prevent mc attending the meeting of the Melton Canal Proprietors. My opinion that the proposed Railway ought to be met by the most determined opposition from the Melton Canal Company. This Line is projected not for the benefit of the towns of Melton and Oakham, but to stave off (if possible) the attack that the Midland Railway will sustain by the London and York Line being carried. It is attempt of the Midland Railway to establish monstrous monopoly over Lincolnshire and the adjoining counties.—l remain, sir, your humble servant, W.Latham, Esq J. BISHOP, Jun. The next letter is from a gentleman whose opinion perhaps you may think worthy of notice—it is from J. M. Wingfield, Esq., the worthy chairman of the quarter sessions—it is rather long, but will trouble you only with an extract from it. It is dated Oct. 19th, and he says—" I myself do not think the proposed Railway is wanted, and as far as I can learn scarcely any other gentleman in the neighbourhood is desirous of any Railway." The next letter is from the Rev. C. Heycock, of Owston, and he says, " I am not surprised at Lord Harborough's determined opposition to the proposed route of railway," and after sympathising with him, he says, and who are mainly to be benefited by this innovation ?—a speculative Railway Company."— The next letter is not from a Canal Proprietor—it dated September, and from Stocken Hall, near Stamford:— Dear Lord Harborough,—l hope you will excuse the liberty I am taking in writing to you, but you have probably heard a Line of Railway from Peterborough to Syston, and which, I informed, will traverse your property, and very near your house." Some large Proprietors of the County have applied to me, one of the Members, to oppose it. And lam iuformed there another line or 6 miles nearer than this one. I am very desirous of knowing what is the general wish, and have thought it right to ask your opinion, not only because, from your station, no one has greater right to be consulted, but because I am told your property will much affected by it. Believe me, very truly, ToQieEarlof Harborough. GILBERT J. HEATHCOTE. The next letter is from a gentleman the neighbourhood, but as it is marked " private" it would be a breach of confidence to mention his name ; but as we are met here to ascertain the sentiments of individuals I will read a short extract. (This was objected to by several gentlemen in the court, they contending that as the name was concealed the letter could not be read. Mr. Latham said he would be guided by the chairman, G. Finch, Esq., and he decided that the letter could not be read.) Then I will not read the letter ; but this gentleman also considers the Railway unnecessary. The last letter I shall read is from the Marquis of Exeter. Burghley House, Oct. 21st, 1844. 0 l - am not an adrocate Jor the Line of Railway between in and r sta '"f°rd, I conceive the 6cheme was put forth ,P° ssible - t0 injure the projected London and York t, helieve it will fail in preventing that line line from carrled ,n Parliament, lam unwilling oppose the to which . provided it shall take a direction Stamford fancy it " °, bjec^,e6 P •* the inhabitants of and York Railway C™nC t0 them Tallington Rented to a Branch from extended beyond thelatter town" T° f borough should feel himself under the line on account of its °PP°" a habitants of Oakham are hope the company will be able to alter their line BO as not to interfere with his lordship s park, should it be thought for public advantage, that it should be persevered in. ' I am. Sir, haste, your obedient humble Servant, W. Latham, Esq. EXETER. You will perceive from all this written testimony, that am not singular in thinking that the Railway is un, called for, but, gentlemen, I have not come here to argue the question as to whether a Railway is desirable or not, for being surrounded by persons residing in Oakham and the neighbourhood who fancy Railwaywill be of service to them, I am certain to be out-voted, I come here to give notice to the projectors of it, that it will be opposed, and I think it fair and candid towards them to do so at the outset, that they may not say ultimately that they have been put to an unnecessary expense. I will do my utmost to oppose the formation of this Railway, first before the board of trade, and afterwards in a committee of the House of Commons. Let us consider for a moment the unnatural mode of forming the company to make this Railway. If the inhabitants of a district of country feel the necessity of any particular public work (the improvement of roads for instance), what follows ? the leading and influential gentlemen in the county meet together to discuss the propriety of it, and if approved it is proceeded with. But how is this Railway brought about ? No one in the neighbourhood ever thought of such a scheme, but a set of strangers, to forward some piece of policy of their own, say " we will have a Railway," and then the inhabitants of particular districts declare if there is to be a Railway they must have it near to them, exciting jealousies between one locality and another. But the truth after all is this, in all companies there is generally a master spirit which controls the whole, and the master spirit of the Midland Railway Company is Mr. Stephenson, the gentleman before me If Mr. Stephenson had been content with his deserved reputation of a skilful engineer (he having raised himself to a high character and standing in society from having worked for fourpence per day as I once heard him say) and not entered into other speculations, he would have gone down to his grave a greater and a happier man: but Mr. Stephenson is now the owner of coal pit near Chesterfield, and, being desirous of obtaining a more extended market for his coals, has persuaded the Midland Company to undertake this Railway And to forward his views, or to check the line from London to York, private property, and the plans and capital of individuals, are to be set at naught. My own opinion is, with respect to passengers, one good four-horse daily coach is quite sufficient to carry all the persons wishing to travel from Stamford to Syston,—and with respect to coals there is no necessity for their travelling quickly; there is no impatience in coals ; it is just as well for them to travel from the pits in four days as in one; and as to the price, it is not improbable that some arrangement may be made amongst the Canal Companies and Coal-owners to reduce the tonnage and piice of coals, now they see their property in jeopardy. I shall therefore, oppose this or any other Railway from Syston to Stamford.—lt will be asked on whose behalf I make this opposition. I will tell you.—Fu st, on behalf of the Earl of Harborough, who has been the best and kindest friend that I and my revered Father ever had. lam his solicitor and agert. Lord Harborough has his peculiarities; but his great delight has been improving his park, building cottages and in his privacy; and if this scheme is carried out his happiness at Stapleford is gone. This Railway is to pass through his park, and at no great distance from his cottage. So deeply does his lordship feel the proposed annoyance, that I heard him say to Lady Harborough, " If the Railway comes through or near the Park, I will leave this country altogether and go to Switzerland." I mention this to show his earnestness. I also oppose this plan on behalf of the Melton Canal Company, whose Clerk I am. There was a Special General Meeting of the Proprietors yesterday, and they p.ave me full instructions to join in the opposition.— They feel that the capital they have expended in forming the canal will be nearly annihilated. I shall also oppose it behalf of Mr. Guydo Dickinson, the carrier from Melton to Leicester. (A laugh.) I am not surprised at that laugh, because I know that there is generally more sympathy for the great and rich than for the middle classes and the poor, when their respective rights are about to be invaded. But sec the effect of this Railway upon this man. Mr. Dickinson has a wife and eight children—has expended during the last year a considerable sum in erecting warehouses and purchasing waggons to carry on his occupation, never dreaming of so wild a project. If it succeeds Mr. Dickinson, like many others, is a ruined man, and he will have to journey to a court which I am constrained occasionally to call " that infernal Bankruptcy Court of Birmingham." I will oppose it also, on my own account, to prevent the rural beauties of my native place being spoiled. Close to the town of Melton, and near to Col. Wyndham's house, is beautiful meadow, called the Prior's Close, bounded by a meandering river, and a small hanging wood or plantation and no doubt belonging to an ancient monastery, the ecclesiastics of old generally erecting their abodes near to some favoured spot. It is proposed to cut through this meadow, and to erect a station in it, and thereby spoil all its beauty. I, therefore, must conclude by again giving the projectors of this line fair notice that it will be opposed ; and I cannot conclude without saying how much obliged I am to you, Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, for your patience in listening to my remarks.
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