Unless they had taken the line by Oxford, Tame, and thence between Warwick and Stratford-upon-Avon, to Birmingham. This line may be two or three miles longer in point of distance, but would avoid the tunneling, and a better level and under strata would be found; as well as the traffic in coaching, &c. from the West of England, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Worcester, Kidderminster, Tewkesbury, Stratford, Warwick, and Oxford, at a considerable less expense.
The estimated expense is 2,205,352l., and the annual revenue, when completed, is 793,407l. This may appear, to some, a considerable outlay of capital; but I respectfully submit, that it will prove one of the most beneficial designs ever projected in England. It opens a grand, safe, and expeditious line of transit through the midland country, by which science, manual labour, agriculture, manufactures and commerce, will be extended beyond the power of man to contemplate, and a flood of prosperity will return, hitherto unknown to civilised man.
2d.—The London and Greenwich Railway Company was incorporated by act of Parliament, on the 17th May, 1833. Distance of this line is about 3¾ miles on a tide level ; estimated expense is 400,000l.; the annual revenue about 105,550/.; and the expense of conducting, wear and tear, &c. of the railroad, is 23,550l. per year. It may be considered that the London and Greenwich railway is only the commencement of the Great Eastern railway to Dover. This design is novel; it is proposed to be constructed upon arches about twenty feet high, from London Bridge to Greenwich, on a tide level the whole of the way; designed by George Landman, Esq. the engineer, who has laboured hard with Mr. Walters, the secretary, whose conduct deserves public thanks. The engineer, no doubt, has reflected well upon the cause
