. turer.

276

AMERICAN RAILROAD JOURNAL.

The Gauge Question.

We find in the Railway Express, of 3d April, a
list of those who were examined by the commission-
ers in relation to this question. It includes 46 per-
sons, among whom are several of the most eminent
engineers of the kingdom. We give the list entire,
that our readers may know who they are.

“The appendix to the report of the gauge

commissioners, containing the evidence taken
before them, will form a thick folio volume
of nearly 400 pages. Forty witnesses were
examined, many of them more than once.
This number included almost every individ-
ual eminent in the railway world, either as
an engineer or a manufacturer of locomotives,
a manager, a secretary, a carrier, or an amal-
gamator. The following will be found the
only correct list yet published, and will give
some idea of the mass of information on
which the commissioners founded their report.
For convenience of comparison, the list has
been divided into—-‘ in favor of the narrow
gauge with national uniformity:’ ‘in favor of
the broad gauge, with break of gauge 5’ ‘in
favor of an intermediate gauge.’
In Favor of Narrow Gauge and U7ti]‘'ormz't_r/.
, 1. Robert Stephenson, civil engineer and
manufacturer of locomotives (son of George
Stephenson, the inventor of railway locomo-
tion).

2. Joseph Lock, civil engineer, (who com-
pleted the Grand Junction railway).

3. James Edward M’Connel, superinten-
dent of the locomotive department on the Bir-
mingham and Gloucester railway.

4. J. U. Rastrick, engineer of the Brigh-
ton railway.

5. Albinus Martin, resident engineer and
superintendent of the Southwestern railway.

6. Captain J. M. Laws, general manager
of the Leeds and Manchester railway.

7. John Braithwaite, chief engineer of the
Eastern Counties (adopted narrow gauge in
lieu of Erfeet gauge).

8. Captain Wm. O’Brien, secretary of the
Southeastern railway.

9. Thomas Bucton, secretary to the Brigh
ton railway.

10. Thomas C. Mills, manager of the
goods department at the London and Bir-

mingham railway.

11. George P. Bidder, civil engineer on
branches of the London and Birmingham,
and a friend of R. Stephenson.

12. George Bodmer, locomotive manufac-

13. William Furnihough, superintendent
of Eastern Counties locomotives.

14. Wyndham Harding, late manager of
the Bristol and Gloucester railway. ‘

15. Captain Mark Huish, general mana-
ger of the Grand Junction and Liverpool and
Manchester.

16. Benjamin W. Horne, carrier and part-
ner with Mr. Chaplin.

17. Evan Jones, agent for Chaplin and
Horne, carriers, at Camden station.

18. Thomas Whitaker, civil engineer.

19. Richard Creed, secretary to the Lon-

." don and-Birmingham railway.

20. Peter Clarke, manager of the Brigh-
ton railway.

2l. James Brown Head, of Sir Robert
Price’s iron and coal works.

22. W. James Chaplin, chairman of the
Southwestern, and a carrier with Mr. Home.

23. John Hawkshaw, engineer of the
Manchester and Leeds.

24. VVi1liam Bass, agent to Messrs. Pick-
ford.

25. John Ellis, deputy chairman of the
Midland railway.

26. Joseph Maynard, of the firm of Pick-
fords, carriers.

27. Edward Woods, civil engineer.

28. James P. Budd, manager of copper
works and coal mines, deputy chairman of
the Welsh Midland.

29. Nicholas Wood, civil engineer, (au-
thor of a celebrated work on the steam en-
gine).

30. George Hudson, M. P., director of a
thousand miles of railway.

Opposed to Brcalc, Ercpressirzg no O]Jim'on
about Gar/.ge.

31. Gen. Sir Willougliby Gordon, quar-
termaster general.

32. Major General Sir John Burgoyne,
quarter master general.

33. Major General Pasley was opposed to
break, but in favor of a five foot gauge if
practicable now.

In favor of Broad Gauge with Break qf

Gauge.

34. Isambard Kingdom Brunei, (inventor
of the broad gauge,) engineer of the Great
VVestern railway.

35. Charles Alexander Saunders, secreta-
ry of the Great Western railway.

36. Seymour Clerk, superintendent of traf-
fic on Great Western railway.

37. Daniel Gooch, superintendent of loco-
motives on Great Western railway.

Irttermediate Gauge.

38. C. Vignoles, civil engineer, in favor of
a six foot gauge.

39. C01. Landmann, late engineer to the
Greenwich, five feet to six feet.

40. Edward Bury, locomotive manufac-
turer.

41. Benj. Cubitt, engineer and locomo-
tive manufacturer to the Croydon, Brighton,
and Dover railways.

42. Richard Roberts, formerly a locomo--
tive manufacturer.

43. John Gray, locomotive superintendent
of the Brighton railway.

44. Richard Downs, contractor, against
break. ,

45. Thomas Jackson, against break.

46. William Cubitt, civil engineer.”

I1-on Ship Building.

We find the following account in relation to
the progress of iron ship building near Liver-
pool, Eng. It will very naturally lead those
who watch the signs of‘ the times, to the con-
clusion that this branch of business, as well as
railroads, is destined to make large demands
upon the iron manufacture of this country as
well as England. Few indeed, at this day,
estimate this demand correctly.

Iron Steam Vessel Building on the Mersey/.
Arnongthe numerous objects of interest which

Liverpool presents, perhaps few are more
important than the progress now making in
the new and rising art of iron ship building.

The extensive new premises erected b
Messrs. Vernon and co., being highest up
the river, first require attention. No expense
has been spared by these builders to provide
the most eflicient means for carrying on their
work. Three very fine ships are now on the
stocks. The first is the I/Virtclsor, of about
800 tons, building for the city of Dublin com-
pany, from the plans of Mr. Grantham.-...
The second vessel of the same dimensions as
the Wirzdso9', is for the Cork company, and
is called the Ajax. The third is a very large
steamer, of about 1,300 tons, building for the
Peninsula and Oriental company ; this vessel
is about half plated, Messrs. Vernon and
Co. have orders for two more steamers, one
of about 700 tons, also for the Cork compa-
ny, and one of 300 tons for Fleetwood, from
Mr. Grantham’s plan. (The Winrlsor and
Ajax have been both launched since this no-
tice was written.)

At Messrs. Hodgson and Co.’s works,
Brunswick dock, five iron vessels are now
building. That nearest completion is about
250 tons, and is to be worked by a screw.———
She is intended for Buenos Ayres. The next
is the Arztelope, ofnearly 600 tons, intended
as a packet ship between this port and the
Brazils. She is of great length and very fine
lines, and is to be powerfully rigged. The
next to her is a large vessel for the New
York trade, to be 1000 tons old measurement,
or 1500 tons now. She is to be heavily rig-
ged, and with four masts. These two last
vessels are built from the plans of Mr. Gran-
tham, and are to be propelled by the screw,
on the direct principle.

Two other vessels are in this yard: one
for Bombay, of about three hundred tons, and
one for the Woodside ferry.

Mr. Cato has orders for four vessels, all
from the plans of Mr. Grantham: one of 650
tons, lately launched but not yet completed,
for the city of Dublin company, to be work-
ed by paddle wheels. Also two vessels of
300 tons, which are for the same company, to
be fitted with the screw propeller, and rigged
as three masted schooners.

Mr. Laird, the well known builder at Bir-
kenhead, has also five steamers in the course
of construction. The frigate “ Bz'rken/marl,”
of 1400 tons, lately launched, is now receiv-
ing her engines in the Trafalgar dock, and
looks remarkably well.

Three other vessels are intended for the
Folkstone station, to be similar to a beauti-
ful steamer lately completed for the same
line, named the Prince Ernest, which has
been highly approved of for her speed and
good qualities.

The first iron steam vessel which appeared
on the Mersey was built in Staffordshire and
came here in l824, and the first that was
built here, was constructed by Messrs. Faw-
cett, Preston and C0,, in 1829 ; both of these
were intended for the inland navigation of
Ireland. They have been constantly at work,
and are said to be still in good condition.

While on this subject we may relate an