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THE MAWDDWY RAILWAY.

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THE MAWDDWY RAILWAY. RAILWAY COMMISSION AT MACHYNLLETH. Two Light Railway Commissioners — Colonel Boughev, R.E., C.S.I., and Mr Henry Allen Stewart (with Mr E. Welby Everard as acting secretary) sat at the Town Hall, Machynlleth, on Wednesday, to inquire into an application of the Mawddwy Railwav Co., under the Light Railway Act of 1896 for £ 13,000 as a free grant and partly as a loan for the purpose of repairing the permanent way, bridges, culverts, etc., and provide locomotives and rolling stock for the Mawddwy Railway. Mr Woosnam, solicitor, Newtown, appeared for the promoters of the scheme to work the railway as a light railway; Mr Bullock for the Menllyn Slate Coy.; Mr John Rowlands, solicitor, Mach- ynlleth, for the Mallwyd Urban Council; Mr A. J. Hughes, Aberystwyth, for the inhabitants of Dinas Mawddwy; and Mr Kendrick Minshall (Messrs Minshall, Parry-Jones and Pugh, Oswestry) for the Cambrian Railways Company. Amongst the large and interested attendance were Lord Henry Vane- Tempest, Sir Edmund Buckley, director of the Company; Mr W. R. M. Wynne, lord lieutenant of Merioneth; Mr C. S. Denniss, secretary and general manager; and Mr W. H. Gough, superintendentof the Cambrian Railway; Mr Cbas. E. Williams, Oswestry, secretary of the Mawddwy Railway Mr R. Bur. ton, Wrexham, engineer; Messrs Wm. Pugh, Thos. Thomas, John Parry, and the Rev R. H. Joues, Aberangell; Mr Francis, Aberhiriaeth; Messrs Mallory, Aberystwyth John Jones, J. and W. H. Bullock, Thomas Davies, G. Griffiths, jun., Row- land Evans, — Evans, Post Office; Dr Morris, and the Rev R. E. Davies, Dinas Mawddwy Messrs E. H. Davies, Aberangell; Mr R. Jones, Llanerch Mr Richards, Maesgainda; Col Norton and Mr M. E. Francis, Dolcorsllwyn Mr T. Steadman, Mallwyd; Messrs E. and Gillart, R. Machynlleth; Mr John Edwards, Rbydygwail; and the Rev R. Richards, Cemmaes. Mr Woosnam explained that the company was fine was finished in aiig .tgt1 the line was closed to passenger traffic, and now only two goods trains ran daily. It ran up a beautiful valley, and the traffic on it consisted principally of agricultural stock and minerals from the quarries there. It was estimated that £13,000 would be required to put the line in order, and it was proposed that the Cambrian Railways Company should work the line for them upon terms to be agreed upon. Mr Charles E. Williams, Oswestry, secretary and manager of the Mawddwy Railway Company for the past 15 years, stated that the Company was, in a way, a private concern, though built under a special Act, and had been worked at a dis- advantage. Some of the disadvantages was the purchase of coal at full price, repairs of engines were costly, the engines having to be sent to Leeds and railway carriage was X30 to £ 40 each; sleepers cost them 3s. 6d. each, whereas the Cambrian Company purchased them at 3s. They had not spent on the line what they should have spent, with the present result. They stopped the passenger trains because they considered it unsafe to run, and they bad no money to spend on the line. A goods train ran daily each way, and the company dealt with the postal work at Dinas Mawddwy. They had been assisted from time to time by traders in the valley and the fact of their paying an extra rate showed their interest in keep. ing the line open. They bad agreed in 1882 to pay Is. 2d., and a few years later Is. 6d. extra rate. Tne company had five stations altogether and there were several off-shoot valleys, in each of which there was a considerable number of farms so that the line was and would be of considerable benefit to the agricultural interest. Three out of four quarries were working and if the line were put on a proper footing the traders would feel more secure and it was very likely more money would be spent in the valley. There was a lot of growing timber and there were three noted fishing rivers in the district. He mentioned tourist arrangements which had existed. The record ton- nage on the line during the thirty years prior to 1900 averaged 3,045 tons per year and the for- warded tonnage averaged 3,076 per year; and the gross receipts which did not include extra rates received, averaged £1,413 per annum. The pro- moters asked that the rates for the carriage of minerals should be increased 100 per cent. In reply to a commissioner, Mr Williams handed in the brginal Act of 1865 which he said was upset by the Act of 1891. Under that Act some of their rates were reduced and others raised. Proceeding Mr Williams said that at present the rate for coal, &c., class A. from Cemmes road to Dinas Mawddwy was Is. 6d. and most of the traders paid Is. 6d. extra rate in order to help keep the line open; so they were paying a total of 3s. Under the new arrangement the promoters proposed to double the statutory charge of lOd. a terminal charge of 3d., a total of Is. 13 d. instead of 5s. under class B. for slate, slabs, lime, &c., the present rate Is. 9d. with the extra rate was 33. 3d., but the proposed new rate was 2s. 4d. Under class C which included corn, flour, &c., the rate was 2s. and with the extra rate 3s. 6d., but under the new rate it would be 3s. The rate for beer, sugar and round timbet was 4s. 2d., but the new rate would be 4s. Mr Williams explained that the agreements signed by traders to pay the extra rate were not now in force, bnt several persons paid the rate voluntarily and they thought it hard lines that the others did not also assist in a like manner. Col. Boughey said if the increased rates were granted it would be on the ground that the Board of Trade would have the power to reduce them at any time if it was thought necessary. Mr Woosnam said that was so. Mr Williams, referring to the passenger fares, said that they now asked with regard to them that the first class should be increased from 3d. to 4d. per mile; the second class from 2d. to 3d., and the third class ljd. to 2d., leaving the parliamentary trains, of which there were two daily, at Id. as before. The chairman of the company and he had met the clerk to the Mallwyd Urban Council and three or four ofhers making the committee, and discussed these rates, and they practically agreed that the third class fare should remaiuatltd as before." Mr Hughes asked if it could not be made a penny as the reduction would be immensely appreciated. Mr Woosnam said that was a matter which might be Arttuaged with the Cambrian Company. Col. Norton asked why Mr Williams asked for an increase of 100 per cent in the rates, and Mr Williams replied that it was because they did not think they could do with less. Mr Richard BurtoD, emgineer to the company, stated that his estimate of putting the line in order was £13,013 18s. In reply to Mr Stewart Mr Barton said that the line was liable to be closed any day perhaps the next fall of heavy rain would bring this about. By Mr Rowlands The sum of X575 was set apart in the estimate for improving the road at Dinas; nothing was allowed for new sidings or warehouse at Aberangell. There was a siding there already. Mr C. S. Denniss, general manager and secretary of the Cambrian Railways Company, said the Cam. brian Company was interested in the Mawddwy railway because of the large tourist traffic which passed off the Cambrian on to it. They believed this was capable of considerable development. From a railway managerial point of view, the slate traffic in the district was of great value, and in the event of the line being closed the cost of cartage to Cemmaes-road, about 10a a ton, would make it practically prohibitive, and unless something radical was done, that traffic would decrease and the Cambrian would also suffer. A large popula- tion in the valleys would also have to use the roads exclusively. He had the authority of his Board to state that the Cambrian Company were prepared to enter into an agreement to work the line for 65 per cent of the gross receipts, which was a little more than the cost of working the Cambrian line last year. In working it they would rely on the mileage revenue they would get on the Cambrian itself, and not with the desire to exhoit high rates out of the traffic. In reply to Mr Sewart, Mr Denniss said it would mean a loss to the Cambrian Company to work the line on the old maximum charges. He did not suppose if the new maximum charges were granted that the Company would impose them to the full, but fix them at what was considered reasonable. In reply to Col. Boughey, Mr Denniss said it was a Qj^jstion of^the working^^xgeiise. For the same carry four or five times the amount of traffic that they did. Mr Hughes saying that a great deal depended on the agreement and that he would like to see it, Mr Woosnam said personally he was quite willing to shew Mr Hughes the draft agreement. Mr Hughes then enquired if the working agreement would in- clude the provision of the rolling stock by the Cambrian Railway Company. Mr Denniss replied that he could not say at present. With regard to the Tanat Valley Railway, which the Cambrian bad agreed to work, they would provide the rolling stock, but that line was double the length of the Mawddwy and traversed a richer district. Sir Edmund Buckley, chairman of the Mawddwy Railway, stated that he agreed substantially with what Mr Williams had stated. He was anxious to facilitate the working of the line. He might add that neither chairman or directors had ever re- ceived a shilling out of the line. In reply to Colonel Boughey, Mr Chas. Williams said that the original capital of the company was £21,000, and Sir Edmund Buckley had paid in £ 20,000 without any security. No dividend or interest had been paid the shareholders and no fees to the directors. Mr Woosnam added that he was told that the secretary had been poorly paid. He had received stoker's wages (laughter). Mr W. R. M. Wynne, Peniarth, lord lieutenant of Merionethshire, said that the closing of the line would be a great detriment to the farming industry. The line itself had been a great advantage. With regard to the present rates, if the cent, per cent. were agreed to the rates they would be lower than now. Much of the rate was paid voluntarily, and he as a landowner up the valley agreed to it. Mr John Jones, manager of the Mawddwy Coal and Lime Company, spoke of the advantage the line was to him. If the line were closed the goods would have to be carted from Cemmes Road in carts and wagons to Dinas Mawddwy, and he would not be able to carrv on business as well as now. Cartage of the coal and lime would mean an extra rate on the consumers. At present he paid 3s per ton, but for cartage it would be 7s or 8s. He thought that the new rates suggested were fair and reasonable. Mr Arthur Hughes said that in order to shorten the proceedings he might say that the people up the valley were heart and soul in keep- ing the lise open, but it was merely a question of rates with them. It did not appear to him any. body had gone into the matter with sufficient care to place reliable figures before the inquiry. In reply to Mr Stewart, Mr Hughes said his clients would agree to remunerative rates, but be did not know that they and the charges in the order were identical. Mr John Rowlands agreed with Mr Hughes's statement. He then went on to detail the objections and what had taken place between Mallwyd Urban Council and Si" Edmund Buckley. Speaking of the rates, Mr Rowlands said the schedule of the proposed rates which had been supplied had cleared a great difficulty from the minds of the Council and others, and they abandoned any objection they had thereon. However, they would still urge with regard to the passenger rates that the third class fare should be a penny. They had reason to think if that were done the traffic would increase con- siderably. With regard to the working agreement, it had been stated that they should see it before it was approved finally, and that being so he took it there would be no objection from any other parties. Mr Bullock said the rate for coal was heavy enough already. A charge of Is. 6d. was too high ane could not be afforded in many cases. Had it not been for Sir Edmund's plantations many people would have been without fire in the winter. Asked by Mr Stewart whether the slabs would not be put out of the market if the line were closed, and if they would not be, how could they be got to Cemmes road, Mr Bullock said they would haul them on the railway by means of horses (laughter). Mr Charles Williams: Oh no (more laughter). Mr Bullock admitted that the cost of cartage, 63. to 8s. per ton to Cemmes road, would be prohibitive. In reply to Col Boughey, Mr Woosnam said that the opening of the line was dependent on the grant from the Treasury. No attempt had been made to raise money locally. Col Boughey said the efforts of the promoters must go to show how the money was to be raised. When that arrangement was done it must be sub- mitted together with the working agreement with the Cambrian to the Board of Trade, and when the rates were definately put before them an order would be framed. Without that, no order would be framed. Mr Woosnam said the promoters relied on the Treasury to come to their assistance, as the district was a very poor one. Mr Woosnam having thanked the Commissioners for a courteous hearing, the enquiry closed.

MONTGOMERYSHIRE COUNTY GOVERNING…