Accrington on Rails - The Tramways: A Complete History - Robert Kenyon

(This is a letter received from the Managing Director of the Accrington Corporation Steam Tramway Company to The Town Clerk of Accrington, in response to criticisms of the Company and its obligations.) ‘Belvedere’, Whitchurch. Salop. March 15 th , 1888. Dear Sir, I now return the list of Tramway Shareholders. From it I should judge that there is sufficient local power to wrest into future property out of the hands of the London few, before settlement is made with the Construction Company, which is realistically 3 or 4 men. If this could be done, I think there would be no difficulty in supporting this full claim. I have a copy of the Act, which is being obtained for the Rossendale Tramway Company. It is being promoted by the same men and care should be taken as to them obtaining tramway powers over our lines. I spent a few hours in Accrington last week, with the object of seeing for myself the state of the lines in the town and also in Clayton-le-Moors, and I was shocked to find it in such a bad state. If it had been properly laid by your Corporation it could not possibly been in the state it is in so soon. In places it seems that there is no foundation at all! I could push my stick deep into the earth by the side of the rails. I fear you must have been well cheated in construction by your Contractor. It is now for the Company to look at once this fact in the face. I feel as far as I can see at present that your Corporation will do justly to press hard on this, in the matter of incurred expense for the physical junction in Baxenden and for the use of the depot. In fact I think that the Company will put serious claims on your most liberal consideration to face the fact that your roads are already in a state which warrants relaying. There is a Directors meeting scheduled for Tuesday the 21 st in Accrington, and I will try to see you before then. I will do my best to get my report into a more satisfactory form, and I must ask your kindness & consideration in this business. I should try to induce the Directors to go over the lines and the depot. I am yours truly, Joseph Beckett. May A letter was received from Mr William Clegg, inquiring as to the price of a ‘small’ strip of land on Hyndburn Road adjoining the Tramway depot on the western side. The Committee resolved that the price be fixed at the same rate as had been paid by the Council to the late Jonathan Peel for two small plots on which the new tramway depot now stands. July A letter was received from the Clayton-le-Moors Local Board, asking the Council to require the Steam Tramway Company to start running an early morning service of cars for the benefit of workmen. It was resolved that the Town Clerk forward this correspondence to the Tramway Company with a directive that they comply with this request. October The Town Clerk submitted a letter from a Mr Becket with reference to the Tramway Company fixing a 1 penny stage between Eagle Street (on Blackburn Road), and the Grey Mare public house on Whalley Road in the Oakleigh district of the town. He stated that the Tramway Company were willing to adopt such a penny stage if the Corporation would not proceed against them for ‘not stopping their cars to set down or pick up between Green Gate and Milnshaw House’. The Committee acceded to the request of

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