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Leader (1850-1860), 14th August 1858, Edition 1 of 2, Page 817, No. 438, August 14, 1858.] T H E X, E A ...

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      The London And North-Western Railway. N ...

      cause it has the deepest , interest . The noble chairman contended , unless full ^ jower were g iven of stopping " reckless competition and ruinous rates , " tbat no real good would be effected : If Parliament hesitated to give that power , then / let proprietors come forward at meetings and iusist on suitable rates being established . There were hopes that this would eventually be the case , from what had been done by proprietors at various meetings during the last two or tliree months . The noble chairman suggested that " some tribunal for the settlement of disputed railway questions sliould be established , but

      he admitted there would be great difficulty in arranging such a tribunal , though certainly he did not conceive the difficulty to be insurmountable . He would suggest that , in adjusting the rates , the company having the shortest line snould settle the tariff "— -a suggestion well worthy of consideration . The question of subsidising other companies to buy off opposition—a practice not inaptly described as analogous to levying " black mail " —was then alludca to , and very properly condemned . A railway tribunal , suitably constituted , would very soon put an end to this scandalous tax on the fair profits of leading railway companies . That the desire of putting an end to the scandals

      now prevailing in the railway interest , both as regarded legislation and competition , was approximating towards the universal , would be proved by the fact that the holders of 130 , 000 , 000 ^ . of railway stock had already given in their adhesion to the system , by . which , railway disputes should be _ referred to arbitration a-nd finally settled . This was the only way by which injurious competition could be extinguished . The noble chairman , in conclusion , declared that he " looked with confidence to every railway company responding to the appeal , and yielding such an assent to the principles laid down as would morally effect the observances of them . "

      We need hardly say tliat- the aoble chairmaawas listened to with attention throughout , and warmly applauded at the conclusion . The- proprietors , and they were numerous" appeared to be of one mind that something should be done to put an end to competition , and they appeared . to share in the hopeful feeling of the noble chairman , that competition once ended , and disputes with rivals amicably adjusted , there was a hopeful future for railways . There is nothing specially to remark upon iu the report or proceedings beyond the circumstance that

      we think must be obvious to all / after an examination of the accounts , that proper economy lias been exercised in the various departments of this vast concern , and that a very considerable reduction of expense has been made at Wolverton , without impairing the efficiency of that establishment , or curtailing the accommodation of the public . We are of opinion that this meeting will do much to quiet the public mind , which has been needlessly alarmed on the question of the stability of railway property , by parties who possibly have special interests to serve , or who arc not well acquainted with the subject .

      To bear out the noble chairman s statement at the meeting , that the traffic arrangements of the London and North-Western Company were quite as good as their rivals , and that the Manchester people were quite satisfied with the accommodation afforded to them , we make the following extract from the cross-examination of Mr . Warth , manager of the extensive firm of Messrs . Cook and S 0113 , warehousemen , St . Paul ' s-churchyard : — You are well accommodated "by both lines ?—Yes , avc

      are . Have you any reason to complain of tlio accommodation given by the London and North Western ?—No . Before August last ?—Not nny -whatever . They give you , and have always , or for many years , given very fust trains to London for your goods?—They have given us great attention ; wo have been Batisfied with the attention they have given . By tlic Committee : — Did you ever apply for a reduction of the rates ?—! Not that I am aware of .

      No. 438, August 14, 1858.] T H E X, E A ...

      No . 438 , August 14 , 1858 . ] T H E X , E A D E R . 817

      Pook-Katics And Paupicnrsm.—2,127,715/. ...

      Pook-katics and pAUPicnrsM . —2 , 127 , 715 / . was expended in ( he half-year ended Lady-day hist , in G 43 unions and parishes for tho relief of paupers in and out of doors . Tho population of the places referred to was 17 , C 2 G , 8 (> 5 . Ffjp irremovablo paupers 452 , 814 / . was spent in G 10 unions and singlfl parishes . The cost of relief to the irremovable paupers was 30 . 8 per cent , on tlie cost of rclkf to tho other paupers , tho proportion having risen 2 . 1 per cent . Tho number of paupers in rccoipt of rolier on tho 1 st of January last ( the middle of tlio hnlf-yonr ) -was 902 , 082 , and tho number of ablebodied paupers , 165 , 770 .

      General Trade Report.

      GENERAL TRADE REPORT .

      Ploymeufc Is General, And There Is An Am...

      ploym general , and there is an amount of consumption of raw materials going on as large , if not larger , as in any previous year within our recollection . The harvest i . 3 now in full operation over the greater part of the country ; and the reports of tie yield are upon the -whole satisfactory . An average crop is certain , -while the potato crop in Ireland will be more abundant than any for the last ten years . Under these circumstances , particularly as capital is cheap and abundant , and there is a cessation of political anxieties , the commercial tone has been very cheerful throughout the week , and there is no immediate prospect of any unfavourable reaction .

      eufc is London , Friday Evening . With the single exception of the branches connected with iron and hardware , the trade reports from all parts of the country continue most satisfactory . There are symptoms of a permanent return of confidence everywhere , ¦ without undue extensions of credit . Indeed , credits are being curtailed , and as there is little or no tendency to speculation , there perhaps never was a time when commerce looked more healthy or more sound . There are few rumours of disaster . Such as have prevailed have proved either temporary or altogether unfounded . The prices of all leading manufactures are improving ,

      em-In Manchester , business has been , active all the -week , and extreme prices have been realised : for most descriptions of goods . " With regard to yarns , there has been a good demand tor export ; and spinners , finding the India and China buyers still operating to a considerable extent , as well as the Greeks and Germans have , after a hard struggle succeeded in giving an upward direction to values . They have been most successful in warps and certain descriptions of cops , all of which are scarce . On the whole , the extreme prices of last week have been generally and more readily obtained , even where no advance ba 3 been possible . Some counts of twofold have been found easier to sell . Twist and pin-cops , for home use , have been extremely firm , and an advance of | d . per 11 ) . has "been established . The rise , however , has

      partially restricted business in this branch , as purchasers have only bought for immediate use . The aggregate business in the middle and lower counts has been considerable . The principal buying has bean in bundles and-warps of-water twist up to 30 for export , and in Indian qualities of mule . For these the advance is fully d . per lb . In doubled yarns there has been a fractional mprcvement ; and the Bolton spinners of single have also obtained rather better prices . The cloth-market continues extremely steady . For domestics , T-cloths and 36-inch shirtings , the demand is good , and prices are hardening . India and China shirtings -were in active inquiry on Tuesday , and again to-day , most makers being -well engaged . All the home warehouses are doing a good business .

      With regard to the woollen trade at Leeds , no alteration can be reported . Cloth and wools are about the same as last week , but prices are hard , and apparently likely to advance . The public markets have been active in goods for the season , and also in those for winter use , for - which there are considerable orders from the United State 3 . In the warehouses a good trade "has been done , particularly in heavy goods , for the fall trade . All the manufacturers are busy , and the operatives have no cause for complaint . The flax trade of the district is more lively than it has lately been , and stocks are moving off a , little more to the satisfaction of the spinners . The other staples of Leeds are in a satisfactory position , with the single exception of the machine trade , which is only quiet at present .

      la Bradford a good steady business Las been done in English wool . Prices are very stiff , and as regards bright-haired qualities , higher than last week . Noils and brokes are firm at late rates , while tho amount of business doing remains about the same as it has been during the last few weeks . The . demand for worsted yarns for export continues without any abatement whatever , and there is also a good demand for home consumption . Prices have still an upwaTd tendency , and

      buyers in many instances find considerable difficulty in placing orders , as tho principal spinners have engagements which will last for some time to come . With regard to piece goods , there is a steady demand both for export and home consumption . Old stocks have been cleared off ; and as manufacturers are fully occupied with orders , they are firm in their requirements , and prices arc going up . There are , however , complaints from some of them , that though well employed , these arc not making great profits .

      At Halifax there is continued activity in wool and worsted . Both yarns and piece-goods have considerably increased in domnnd , and decidedly higher prices have b « cn obtained . Long wools of tho bright-haired classes aro higher , and altogether the prospects are in nivour of aollors both of tho raw material and of goods . The carpet trade , of which thia ia a groat Beat , ia steady , nrtu employment full . At Hudderafield , tho homo and the export houses have been operating freely , and thoy have made large deliveries of goods without diminishing tho demand . The manufacturers , therefore , are . busy , and a cheerful tone pervades the district . Union fabrics , especially

      trouserings , have been chiefly in request for shipping , but a good deal has been done in broadcloths . Among the home dealers similar goods Lave been in request , and in addition they have taken largely in all qualities of doeskins and checks . The descriptions of fancy trouserings most in demand are "brown and white and black and white cheviots . These are being most extensively manufactured . The demand for woollen and Bedford cords has suddenly revived again , and very few pieces are now to be found in the market . Large orders are being again freely given to manufacturers of these goods , more especially for drab Bedfords at from 3 s . 8 d . to 46 d

      s . . per yard . Although there is no perceptible variation in the prices of goods of all kinds offered for sale , tlie offer of prompt cash in the Cloth-hall this morning has in several instances effected purchases at reduced prices . There is a slight improvement in the demand for pilots and thick liningB , which have not , as is usually the case , been much inquired foT daring the sumnwr months . The local wool trade continues steady ; manufacturers as usual buying carefully and in small parcels . The Entre Kios , Chilian , Peruvian , and other South American wools are now being more extensively used in the lo- \ v goods manufacture of this district than heretofore . Prices continue firm .

      The Leicester hosiery trade has been good , particularly for plain articles , and fancy descriptions continue in fair demand . In the country districts the people are fully employed . Wools and -worsted yarns continue in request at full prices . Owing to tlie season , the home demand for Nottingham lace has been dull , but the prospects , for the autumn are considered to be very good . For export the demand is brisk , and some continental houses are busy . Plain goods are yet in request , but in fancies there is not yet much doing . Upon the whole , workpeople are rather

      better employed . Silk remains firm , at late prices . In hosiery there has not been much , doing- for the home trade this week , and but few buyers have been in the market . Manufacturers are for the moat part busy with orders previously on hand , and there continues to be a fair demand for shipping goods . The glove branch is flat . The stocks on hand of all descriptions of hosiery goods are unusually light . Yams ate firm , vith an upward tendency , and manufacturers complain that they are more difficult to purchase than they have teen for some time past .

      The accounts from Norwich are satisfactory . The manufactories are fully occupied . The shoe trade is quiet . The silk trade in Coventry , Macclesneld , Manchester , and Spitalfields is improving , although there are exceptional Complaints of distress . The deliveries of the raw material last month , were the largest ever known ; arid it is satisfactory to observe , that the nature of the operations indicated a resumption of a . really healthy trade , the demand evidentl y being for consumption . The linen trade at Belfast is upon the whole in a satisfactory state . At the local flax markets , all the supplies have been quickly bought up at the extreme prices of last week , and as the stock of foreign flax is very limited , some effect has been produced upon the value of yams . They have rather advanced , and where the spianers have required extreme rates ! business has been

      somewhat curtailed . The light stocks previously reported are not , however , increasing . Tows aro wanted , chiefly for export . Brown linens at the country markets , at Armagh , Lurgan , and Ballymena , including diapers and damasks , were in active demand , and ia most cases an advance in price was obtained . Light handloom linens for bleaching have been in brisk Mquest , but demand checked by the advanced rates asked . Stocks moderate . The demand for drills is improving-, and stocks decrensing . In diapers , with small stocks , little has been doing-. Huwns , cambrics , and handkerchiefs met increased sales ; stocks of these goods getting reduced . Goods for Hollands and dyeing have been active , at an advance of Jd . to | d . per yard . Stocks moderate . Power-loom linens have not been so active ; but prices are firmly maintained . White linens for export aro wanted . The home trade has been dull . But for all this class of goods prices are hardening .

      In Dundee the demand for the better kinds of flax continues good , and prices are maintained ; but inferior descriptions have attracted little attention . Yarns and linens aro about the same as last week . Certainly , ttiero is no improvement cither in the . price or in the demand . Trade at Glasgow is improving , particularly in cotton , linen , and mixed fabrics ; but there ia depression in tho iron and metal markets . Employment , on tbe whole , ia good . The hardware trades of Birmingham , Wolverhampton , and tho neighbouring places have not yet undergone any improvement worth notice ; but within tno last ftw days a more hopeful feeling has sprung up . Iu somo departments tbe home trade ia more active ; but these indications of reaction have before manifested

      themfiolvos , to disappear almost as suddenly , and before more than a very partial reaction had been experienced . Tho "bulk of tho factors and travellers havtj again reminded their journeys , and ah a natural consequence there aro more orders coining in than there were a month ago , but theso are so small a » to be almost inappreciable , and aro barely aufficiont to enable the manufacturers to

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 14, 1858, page 817, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/ldr_14081858/page/25/