Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/588

 branches, amounting together in length to above twelve miles and a quarter, laid from the main line to coal and other mines in the neighbourhood; one from Ridnall's Mill; one other from Park End Bridge to the Birches; one other from Park End Bridge to Scroll's Tump; one other from Park End Bridge to Milk Wall; one other from opposite the Lodge Inclosure up Brookhall Ditches; one other from White Ley to Bixhead Quarries; one other from Cannop Hill, up, through and to the head of Howler Slade; one other from Vallet's Inclosure to Wimblow Slade; and one other from Miery Stock to the summit at Churchway Engine.

The first act of parliament relating to this undertaking was passed in 1809, and is entitled, 'An Act for making and maintaining a Railway from time River Wye, at or near to a Place called Lidbrook, in the parish of Ruarclean, in the county of Gloucester, to or near to a Place called the Lower Forge, below Newern, in the parish of Lydney, in the said county; and for making other Railways therein mentioned, in the Forest of Dean, in the county of Gloucester;' and incorporates the persons who applied for it by the name of" The Lydney and Lidbrook Railway Company." The act states that the undertaking will open an easy communication between the Rivers Severn and Wye and the collieries and quarries in the forest of Dean, and greatly facilitate the conveyance of coal, stone and other productions of the forest to the cities and counties of Hereford and Gloucester.

The proprietors are empowered by the act to raise, amongst themselves, the sum of £35,000, in shares of £50 each, (but of which sum £3,000 is to be reserved for those free miners of the forest of Dean who shall signify their desire to possess shares before the 1st day of August next after the passing of this act, to be divided in shares of £10 each) and if necessary, a further sum of £20,000 may be raised, either amongst themselves, by the creation of new shares, by optional notes, or by mortgage of the undertaking as a security. The act likewise authorizes the company to levy the following