i873«] Railway Development, 161 



extravagance and destructive speeds ; and, furthermore, the 

 travelling public have been so spoilt by the useless waste of 

 space in the three classes, with smoking and non-smoking 

 division, that any attempt at reform would be vigorously and 

 successfully opposed. 



The present enormous weight of dead load to paying load 

 in England is to be greatly accounted for by the variety of 

 classes and the fluctuating demands for accommodation ; for 

 to each class there must be a large margin of allowance. 

 We have — 



First Class. 



Ditto Smoking. 



Second Class. 



Ditto Smoking. 



Third Class. 

 Break van and engine. 



Here we have five different sets of travellers to accommo- 

 date ; and sometimes, as on market days, there will be three 

 times as many persons of one particular class to accommodate 

 as on others ; therefore, practically, on each of the five 

 orders nearly treble the average demand must be provided 

 for. It is all very well for main lines, but on branches 

 something else is requisite. Let there be but two classes--- 

 i. Covered carriages, no smoking. 

 2. Open side cars, smoking. 

 And by the use of continuous breaks safety can be increased 

 and a break van dispensed with. 



We should here have two classes instead of five, and, 

 therefore, bearing in mind that three times the average 

 number carried has to be allowed for, a proportion of six to 

 fifteen in our favour. It cannot be too often repeated that 

 what exists cannot well be altered; the public have acquired 

 certain rights by mere custom, and they must be maintained ; 

 but it is in view of future undertakings only, that the terms 

 of the new contract can be revised, as between the public 

 and the coming shareholder. It is, after all, the public's 

 best interest to do away with that which impedes railway 

 development, for it is the public who reap the advantage. 



When a little branch railway has to be constructed, why 

 should the country expect a scale of magnificence in works 

 and stations like that upon the main line from London to 

 Liverpool ; why should the undertaking be saddled with 

 bankruptcy from its inception, and what is beneficial in 

 itself be converted into a bye-word and a hissing. The fact 

 is, that the world, not excepting engineers themselves, has 



vol. in. (n.s.) y 



