Railway Expansion 251 



sures " they had taken with a view to removing " that op- 

 position of dissentient landowners and proprietors which was 

 the sole cause of their failure . . . had been successful to a 

 greater extent than they had ventured to anticipate. The 

 most active and formidable had been conciliated," and the 

 Bill would be introduced afresh in the following Session. 

 This was done, and the Bill became an Act, receiving the 

 Royal assent on May 6, 1833. 



The nature of the " measures " which had succeeded in 

 overcoming the opposition may be judged from some facts 

 mentioned by John Francis, who says that land estimated 

 in value at ^250,000 cost the company three times that amount. 

 One landowner, in addition to getting ^3000 for a certain plot, 

 extorted 10,000 for what he called " consequential damages" ; 

 though, instead of injuring the remainder of his property, the 

 line increased its value by twenty per cent. For land used 

 only as agricultural holdings the company is said to have had 

 to pay at the rate of 350 an acre. 



But this was not all. There was the opposition of towns 

 as well as the greed of individuals to be taken into account. 

 According to Robert Stephenson's original survey, the London 

 and Birmingham Railway was to pass through Northampton, 

 where, also, it was proposed to establish the company's loco- 

 motive and carriage works. The opposition in Northampton, 

 however, was so great that in order to meet it the company 

 altered their plans and arranged for the line to pass at a 

 distance from that town. They further undertook to start 

 their locomotive works at Wolverton, and thus not interfere 

 with the amenities of Northampton. 



How much the town and trade of Northampton lost as the 

 result of its scruples could hardly be told ; but the conse- 

 quences to the railway company of this enforced alteration 

 of route were as serious as any of the extortions practised by 

 the landowners. The line had now to pass through a tunnel 

 at Kilsby, five miles distant from Northampton, and a con- 

 tractor undertook to cut this tunnel for ^90,000. But, while 

 engaged on the task, he came upon a quicksand which reduced 

 him to despair and led to his throwing up the contract. Robert 

 Stephenson thereupon took the work in hand and he had 

 to have 1250 men, 200 horses and thirteen steam-engines at 

 work raising 1800 gallons of water per minute night and day 



