CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAYS. 



on railways was solved in 1830, and the profitable character of the 

 enterprise soon became apparent. Dividends of 10 per cent, were 

 declared, and the shares were greedily bonght up at 120 per cent, 

 premium. Then followed in rapid succession those results which 

 must necessarily have ensued. Other lines of railway, connecting 

 the chief centres of population and industry with the metropolis, 

 and with each other, were projected. In the four years which 

 elapsed from 1832 to 1836, about 450 miles of railway were com- 

 pleted, and 350 miles were in progress of construction. 



22. From 1836 to the present time the construction of these 

 great lines of intercommunication in the United Kingdom has 

 proceeded at a rate of progress of which no previous example has 

 ever been recorded in the history of the industrial arts in any 

 country. From the official reports presented to Parliament, it 

 appears that the whole extent of railway communication open for 

 traffic in the United Kingdom at the end of 1852 was 7336 miles, 

 which were distributed in the different portions of the kingdom in 

 the following proportions : 



In England and Wales .... 5650 miles. 



In Scotland 978 



In Ireland 708 



Total in the United Kingdom . . 7336 miles 



open for public traffic. 



It further appears from these reports that, at the close of 1852, 

 the legislature had authorised the construction of a total length 

 of railway (including the above 7336 miles) amounting to 12561 

 miles, of which 676 miles had been abandoned by the companies 

 which had originally undertaken them. Thus the account of the 

 total amount authorised by Parliament, to the end of 1852, 

 stood thus : 



Constructed and in operation. . . 7336 miles. 

 In progress or intended to be commenced 4549 

 Abandoned 676 



12561 miles. 



23. The following table, taken from the report of the Committee 

 of the Privy Council, dated August, 1853, will exhibit 'the rate at 

 which the railway projects were sanctioned by Parliament, and 

 the rate at which their execution has progressed up to the end of 

 1852 : 



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