Title: The Chester and Holyhead Railway and its Prospects
Author: Morgan, William
Language: English
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AND ITS PROSPECTS***


Transcribed from the 1849? H. Hughes edition by David Price, email
ccx074@pglaf.org

                   [Picture: Public domain book cover]



                                   THE
                           CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD
                                 RAILWAY
                                   AND
                              ITS PROSPECTS.


                                    BY
                             WILLIAM MORGAN,
                              A SHAREHOLDER.

                                * * * * *

                                 LONDON:
              H. HUGHES, BOOKSELLER, ST. MARTINS’-LE-GRAND.

                          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

                                Price 4d.

                                * * * * *



THE CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAILWAY.


Amongst the Railway enterprises in England, the above line must be
considered as possessing peculiar claims to our attention.  The
stupendous character of the work—the difficulties which had to be
overcome, and the vast sum invested in the undertaking, place this line
in the foremost rank amongst the splendid achievements of our days;
indeed, we may justly consider it the masterpiece of the human intellect,
and the wonder of the 19th century.  In its course, it divides broad
estuaries, it penetrates the bowels of the loftiest hills, and the
hardest rocks have succumbed to the irresistible energy of human action
and scientific skill—it crosses the important navigable river of Conway,
and the Menai Straits, by the means of immense iron tubes, at such an
elevation as not to impede the progress of the largest vessels.  The
practicability and safety of the tubes over the Conway have been amply
tested during the last six months, and the greatest difficulty attending
the elevation of the tube into its position over the Menai, was
satisfactorily overcome on the 22nd of June, and in a short time we shall
have an uninterrupted journey between London and Holyhead, at a
considerable saving of time and expense.

Whether we contemplate the magnitude of the undertaking, or the vastness
of the interests, which it is intended to accommodate, it is hardly
possible to exaggerate its importance.  Indeed, we may safely affirm that
there is not a line in England which links together interests of greater
importance in a _social_, _political_, and _commercial_ point of view,
than the Chester and Holyhead Railway.  To our vast American and West
India trade this line will prove itself a most valuable adjunct; and on
the completion of the Irish Midland Great Western line, which will unite
the important harbours of Dublin and Galway in the West of Ireland, the
mails and passengers from the United States, Canada, Nova Scotia,
Newfoundland, New Brunswick, in fact, from every part of the western
world, will be conveyed to the shores of England in about seven days, or
three days earlier than by the present route, and by which means the most
dangerous part of the voyage will be avoided.  It is well known that the
voyage along the north coasts of Ireland to Liverpool, has been attended
with as many disasters as any in the annals of navigation.

The harbour of Galway is not only ample in its dimensions, but easily
accessible at all times; and the Midland Great Western line will traverse
the very centre of Ireland, forming as it were a vast artery for the
flowing of its produce into the markets of England.

Our observations are peculiarly applicable to Ireland.  What can tend
more to a speedy and healthy development of the resources of that
unhappy, but fertile island, than a means which facilitates the
exportation of its agricultural produce to supply the increasing demands
of our large manufacturing towns?

We find that all the Irish lines converge into Dublin, the produce of the
north and south of Ireland can thus be conveyed to that port, and shipped
off to the port of Holyhead, and from thence by railway to the markets of
England.

The passenger and parcel traffic bids fair to become a very important
feature in the development of this line.  The week ending the 16th of
June, the revenue derived from this description of traffic amounted to
about £1,700, while on the succeeding week it had increased to £2,100;
but it is right to observe that the great influx of visitors to witness
the floating of the Menai Tubes, operated, to a great extent, in causing
this increase, at the same time we may fairly anticipate that this is but
a commencement of a succession of other numerous excursions, not only to
view the romantic sceneries of Wales, but also to the picturesque lakes
of Ireland.  Arrangements are even now in progress to enable the public
to visit the far-famed Lakes of Killarney, and the enchanting sceneries
by which they are surrounded.  And we may anticipate the happiest results
from such a facility and cheapness of communication between the two
nations.

Of the geographical position of the Chester and Holyhead line, the public
at large are comparatively ignorant; and even on the Stock Exchange we
hear little more than that it has Chester at one end, and Holyhead at the
other, and that it crosses the Menai by means of stupendous iron tubes.

But let us examine for a moment into the advantages conferred and to be
derived by this line from its geographical position.  In the first place
it traverses the beautiful vale of Clwyd, and the romantic vales of
Llangollen, Conway, and Ffestiniog, are situate conveniently for the
resort of visitors from its stations.  The delightful watering places of
Rhyl, Abergele, Colwyn, Llandudno, and Beaumaris; the ancient and
castellated town of Conway, with its elegant suspension bridge, and
stupendous iron tunnel.  Bangor, with its commodious hotels, slate
quarries, and slate shipping wharves; the sylvan and picturesque banks of
the Menai, with its celebrated suspension and tubular bridges.  The whole
range of the Snowdonian Mountains, abounding with lakes such as would
gladden the hearts of all true Waltonians; the town of Carnarvon, with
its time-honoured castle, are all within easy distances from this line.

The influx of visitors from London, Manchester, Liverpool, &c. to North
Wales, is daily on the increase, and we may fully expect that North Wales
will enumerate as great a number of visitors in the course of the present
summer, as any other attractive spot in her Majesty’s dominions.  To the
pleasure seekers, the antiquarians, the lovers of the gentle art, and
invalids, North Wales affords a combination of interests and advantages
not to be excelled.

Independent of its prospects from this essential and remunerative
description of traffic, and its guaranteed payment of £30,000 a year for
the conveyance of her Majesty’s mails, we may calculate on a very
extensive merchandize traffic.  The conveyance of corn and agricultural
produce, slates, flag stones, and minerals, will form an important item
in the receipts of the line; the districts traversed are replete with
commodities of this kind, and capable of being rendered doubly productive
when transit has become so cheap and expeditious.  And, while the best
railroads in England have to contend for the _share_ of the traffic of
one county, in consequence of competing lines, this railway has the
monopoly of the entire traffic of the districts through which it passes.

It is by no means a flight of imagination if we add another important
feature to this line by associating it with our vast interests in China,
New Zealand, Australia, &c.  The completion of the great railway across
the Isthmus of Panama will greatly facilitate our intercourse with those
distant possessions; from the port of Galway our mails could reach those
places many weeks earlier than by the present circuitous voyage round the
Cape of Good Hope, or Cape Horn, with less danger, and at a lighter rate
of insurance.

Having thus glanced over the prospects of the Chester and Holyhead line,
we would respectfully urge upon the shareholders not to sacrifice their
interests in an undertaking whose prospects are of the most hopeful and
cheering character.  In parting with their shares at the present prices,
they do so at one-sixth of their real value.  The works are on the eve of
completion, and the traffic is very much on the increase.

                                * * * * *

                                * * * * *

                     Hancock, Printer, Aldermanbury.





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