The Chester and Holyhead Railway and Its Prospects — Reading Companion

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.

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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.