Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/121

 and Rodway Hill, about half a mile south of the village of Mangotsfield; from thence it pursues a more northerly course through the collieries which abound in the parishes of Pucklechurch and Mangotsfield, to Coalpit Heath, in the parish of Westerleigh, where it terminates.

The act for making this railway received the royal assent on the 19th of June, 1828, and is entitled,  'An Act for making and maintaining a Railroad or Tramroad, from or near the city of Bristol, to Coalpit Heath, in the parish of Westerleigh, in the county of Gloucester.'  The length is nine miles; in the first two miles and three quarters of which there is an inclined plane rising 185 feet; in the next mile, another plane of 12 feet rise to the summit; at Staple Hill it enters a tunnel, which is eight hundred and eighty yards in length, and continues, on the same level, for a further distance of nearly one mile and three quarters; from which, to its termination, there is another plane declining 24 feet. The estimate for this work was made by Mr. W. H. Townsend, and amounted to the sum of £41,819, 14s. 2d. Near Rodway Hill, this railway is intended to be joined by the Avon and Gloucestershire Railway, for the making of which, an act was obtained at the same time as for this, and the royal assent was given on the same day.

The subscribers to this work, when application was made to parliament, were eighty-five in number, amongst whom were Sir John Smyth, Bart. and Sir Henry Nicoll, Bart. K.C.B. They were incorporated by the name of "The Bristol and Gloucestershire Railway Company," with power to raise among themselves the sum of £45,000, in shares of £50 each; and with further power to raise among themselves, or to borrow on mortgage of the rates, the additional sum of £12,000; or any part of this last-mentioned sum may be borrowed of the Exchequer Bill Commissioners, appointed under the act of the 3rd George IV.; but in this case the commissioners have priority over all other claims whatsoever.

The concern is to be under the management of a committee of fifteen persons, possessed of at least five shares each, who are subject to the control of the general meetings of the proprietors.