PORTSMOUTH RAILWAY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE MORNING HERALD.
SlR,—Observing in your paper of the 1st inst. a letter from Mr. Coles, of Ditcham Park, disproving the statement that all the landholders on the proposed line have signified their assent to its adoption, I beg permission to add that I also declared my dissent within the prescribed time, and that the parties under whom I hold a residence and a tract of land, extending a full mile along the proposed line, have done the same.
Our objections, however, do not lie to the railway per se, but to the singularly-objectionable and expensive line of country selected, so far as we are concerned, for its construction.
Were it proper to trespass on your columns with personal matters, I could detail circumstances of domestic affliction which render the immediate vicinity of a railway peculiarly objectionable, and yet I am now threatened with a line through our grounds and under our windows. Not only will it ruin this property as a county residence, but the line being planned to pass through two additional farms held by me, and to cut almost through the very buildings, the further damage must be very great.
Now, sir, were all this waste and destruction really necessary, I am quite free to admit that private convenience must give way to the public good. But, let the shareholders take notice, I am prepared, and have offered, to show that it is perfectly needless.
The public will hardly believe, though such is the fact, that in coming into my meadows the projectors are diverging from the straight line, encountering many difficulties in crossing a very circuitous river in several places, forming high and expensive embankments through very bad ground, which will amuse them, and endanger the passengers with slips for ten years to come; whilst by, keeping the straight line they may avoid every house, as well as the river itself, pass through land of less value, where probably no opposition would be offered, and where a simple and by no means a deep cutting would form the line without any obstacle whatever, unless, indeed, crossing the turnpike-road may be so considered.
The difference in the expense of the two plans must be frightful; and as to the practicability of the course proposed by me, all those persons who know the locality agree in what I have stated.
I am, therefore, led to the conclusion that the proposed line has been selected in haste, and without a due consideration either of the interests of the shareholders or of the engineering difficulties to be overcome. Possibly the were told to keep the course of the river, and the engineer may never have examined the place at all.
Under these circumstances no one can feel surprised if a blind adherence to a plan which will inflict an incalculable amount of injury on innocent parties, as well as entail enormous expenses on the shareholders, should meet, as it certainly will, with a firm and uncompromising opposition.
The importance of the subject to all concerned will, I trust, be a sufficient apology for my requesting the insertion of these remarks in your valuable journal.
I have the honour to remain, Sir,
Your obedient humble servant,
EDWARD DANIELL.
Stodham House, near Petersfield, Jan. 10, 1853.