A history of the English railway: its social relations & revelations 1820-1845

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1851. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER V. WKW PROSPECTUS ISSUED. -- PROPITIATI01I OF A CANAL COMPANY. -- NEW fcCRVEY.--OBJECTIONS IN PARLIAMENT.--THE BIIX PASSED.--ANALYSIS OP THE RAILWAY DIRECTORATE.--NAMES OF FIRST AND SECOND COMMITTEE. --LOCOMOTIVE CHOSEN.--PRIZE OFFERED FOK THE BEST LOCOMOTIVE.--. GAINED BY THE ROCKET.--CHATMOSS.--BENRY BOOTH. The first attempt in parliament had failed, but the directors had lost no jot of heart or hope. They assembled their friends, discussed their difficulties calmly, and the more closely the question was canvassed the more evident it became that railways must form the locomotive power of England. The difficulties thrown in their way were temporary, but the principle was true. Their first efforts were therefore turned to the errors discovered in the sections and levels. These were corrected; attempts were also made to soften and subdue the landowners. A new prospectus was issued. The estate of Lord Sefton, who had opposed the bill, was entirely avoided, while a few detached fields of the estate of Lord Derby--" far removed from the Knowlsby domain"--were the only portions desecrated. "The committee have to state," pursued this interesting document, "that they have spared no pains to accommodate the exact route to the wishes of proprietors whose estates they cross, by removing the road to a distance from the mansions of proprietors, and from those portions of estates more particularly appropriated to game preserves." But the important part of the document was the following: "The opposition of the most powerful of the existing establishments has been removed, by the Marquis of Stafford having for himself, and those of his family who are beneficially interested in the profits of the Duke of Bridgewater's canal, become a subscriber to the extent of...