Railways and their Practical Working. 6i 



The lecturer concluded with a number of most interesting 

 statistics. Amongst these he mentioned that the total amount 

 of railway capital in the United Kingdom is ^1,029,475,335, 

 which is considerably greater than the national debt. The 

 gross receipts for 1896 were ^90,119,122, and the working 

 expenses ;^50, 192,424, while the number of passengers carried 

 annually were so great and the fatalities so few that if a person 

 travelled daily from Belfast to Dublin and back he would, 

 according to the law of average, require to make these journeys 

 for over 4,000 years before the railway terminated his earthly 

 career. The present rolling stock was so great that if it was 

 all coupled up together it would form a train long enough to 

 encircle the British Isles, whilst the number of railway servants 

 was greater than the British Army at home and abroad. Army 

 Reserve, and Militia all combined. 



Mr. John Horner moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Morris for 

 his able and interesting lecture. 



Mr. John Pim seconded the motion, which was passed by 

 acclamation. 



The Chairman, in conveying the vote to Mr. Morris, said 

 that by the averages as to accidents which he had given, it 

 would appear that if they had a railway to the sun they would 

 be killed twice on the way, so that they would never get to 

 the sun. 



Mr. Morris briefly acknowledged the vote. 



