REPORT OF THE COST, EXPENDITURE, AND INCOME OF THE RAILWAY BETWEEN BRUSSELS AND ANTWERP.

The railway between Brussels and Antwerp is now completed; and, as it is one of the latest of the Continental enterprises, the following statement of its present position, reduced to English money and measure, will not be uninteresting.

Original Cost of Land and Buildings, and of Locomotive Engines

and Carriages.

The increase upon the original estimate is occasioned principally by the calculations having been made for rails of 35 lb. the yard, whereas seven-eighths of those used are of 45 lb.; and because it was necessary to purchase land not requisite for the railway, in order to meet the demands of the landowners, for a sum amounting to 11,2274. 10s. 10d., which can certainly be resold at a profit.

Expense of Maintenance of Way, Locomotive Engines,
Carriages and Management.

First Year-Revenue from the experimental Section between
Mechlin and Brussels.

Note. During the month of May, 1836, the revenue has beenFrom the 1st to the 20th May 59,198 Passengers

Total for the first month, from

the opening of the whole line

42,281

from Antwerp to Brussels... 101,479 Passengers £4,313 19 5

Of which the interest at 5 per cent £3,701 26

Yielding, in addition to the interest of 5 per cent., about 4 per cent. on the capital employed.

Estimate of the Expenses and Income on the whole line from Antwerp to Brussels, from the Carriage of Passengers alone, for the Year ending May, 1837.

Original cost, per statement

Cost of land and buildings

£134,920 9 6 44,050 6 8

Total...... £178,970 16 2

Of which the interest at 5 per cent £8,948 10 10
Add the expense of maintenance

of way, &c. .....

12,000 0 0

Total......

20,948 10 10

Deducting this from the estimated receipts,
according to the experience of the month of
May, which will amount to at least 1,100,000
Passengers, at

40,948 10 10

Presumed profit...... £20,000 00

Answering to about 11 per cent. on the capital invested, in addition to the ordinary interest of 5 per cent.

Coaches

Fares from Antwerp to Brussels by the Railway.

Diligences.....

8. d.

30

26

Carts with benches... 1 8

Waggons ....

10

Six regular departures every day, from Brussels to Antwerp, and vice versa, passing each other at Mechlin.

The average duration of the passage from Brussels to Mechlin (a distance of nearly 13 miles), is from 30 to 35 minutes, including stoppages.

That from Brussels to Antwerp (nearly 27 miles), is from 1h. 25m. to 1h. 45m., including stoppages, while the speed originally calculated was two hours.

Before the opening of the railway, from 15 to 20 diligences ran between Brussels and Antwerp, carrying a yearly average of 80,000 passengers, at from 2s. 6d. to 4s. each. These have entirely ceased to run, as well as the canal boats, except a few for the conveyance of goods, for which the railway has not yet been employed.

RAILWAY NOTICES.

Brighton Railway. - Notwithstanding the enormous expense already incurred by the rival parties in this proposed undertaking during the present session, the contest, it seems, is to be renewed with double vigour in the next, for which purpose each is already making active preparations. In one line, even the lawyers are so warmly embarked in the cause of their clients, as to have proffered their future services for nothing.

Bristol and Exeter Railway.-The Directors of this undertaking are impelling its progress. We learn that the line will carry the work within the boundary of that remarkable level, which continues, without interruption, to the immediate vicinity of Taunton, and that its gradients will not exceed eleven feet in a mile. This, we are informed, is to be immediately succeeded by a similar movement from Exeter towards the Valley of the Culm, and sanguine expectations are entertained that the whole will be opened at very nearly the same period of time, as that which is now anticipated for the completion of the Great Western Railway.

Cheshire Junction.-A meeting was held at Wilmslow, on Monday, at which various resolutions were agreed to approving of this Railway.

Calcutta and Saugur Railway-[We have reason to believe the following article relates to the Calcutta and Saugur Railway, and will therefore prove highly gratifying to the shareholders of this undertaking. ED.] "We are glad to learn, that there is every probability of railways being soon laid down, both to the Mount and to the Red Hills; the Conservative says, an order to that effect has already passed Council.

Another report says, that it has received the approval of the Military Board, and waits the confirmation of Sir Frederick Adam; but we believe there is no doubt of the fact, that the estimates of both lines of road have been given in, and approved of by the authorities, and that they will be immediately carried into execution. If the calculation which we have heard has even any approximation to truth, there cannot be the slightest doubt of the desirableness of the establishment of these railroads, for it is stated, that one of them would pay the cost of construction in one year. Gazette,' April 16th."-(From the "Bengal Hurkaru and Chronicle, Saturday, April 30th, 1836.")

Cheltenham and Great Western Union Railway.—We understand that the engineer, Mr. Brunel, has received instructions from the Directors to set out the line, and proceed in the execution of it with all possible dispatch; and that the Directors have a balance in hand on the deposit of 21. 10s. per share, paid up, after liquidating every demand upon them up to the passing of the Act.

Railway to the Cove of Cork.-At a meeting held in Cork, of the gentlemen interested in the projected railway to Cork, it was resolved, that subscriptions should be immediately set on foot for the purpose of surveying the ground between Cork and Cove. Opinion at present appears to favour a commencement near the present Packet-office; then a water level by Glanmire; then by the rear of the Little Island and the eastern shore; then across to Merino; and so, by the river's edge, to Cove.

Devizes and Melksham Branch Railway.-The Directors of the Great Western Railway have offered to take a considerable number of shares in the Devizes and Melksham branch, provided a given number of shares were first subscribed for by persons of the neighbourhood. There is also a probability that there would be a deviation from the original line of the Bradford and Trowbridge Branch of the Great Western Railway, so as to bring it much nearer to Melksham, which would afford a saving to the shareholders of about 10,000%.

Railroad between London and Dublin.-Great efforts are making to secure the shortest and best line of communication between the two capitals of England and Ireland. A considerable difference of opinion exists as to the Shrewsbury line and the Holyhead harbour, and as to which is the best route and best harbour. At present nothing seems to be fixed on.

Durham and Sunderland Railways.-Since the opening of these railways, a novel experiment has been tried upon the line, which proves the practicability of railroad vehicles being propelled by wind. A temporary mast and sail were erected on a vehicle, which was set agoing at an easy rate. On the sail being trimmed to the wind, the speed increased to the rate of ten miles an hour. A train of five coal waggons was afterwards attached, but no additional sail hoisted.

Grand Junction Railway-The whole of this line is in so for