Inland Transit/Cheetham
Mr. H. Cheetham.—p. 96.
1. Are you a cotton manufacturer in the neighbourhood of Manchester?
I am.
2. Are you well acquainted with Manchester and the neighbouring towns?
I am.
11. What is the fare per coach from Manchester to London now?
Four guineas inside, including guard and coachman.
12. What is the expense of posting?
From 1s. 3d, to 1s. 6d, per mile.
13. Do you know that persons who travel from Manchester to Chester go by the Railroad to Liverpool?
I do.
14. How much is that round?
Twelve or thirteen miles.
15. Do they save much time and money?
Yes. I recollect at the last election for the county we sent voters by the Railroad to save expense.
16. Are you acquainted with the trade of Nottingham and Leicester?
I am.
17. Do goods go from thence by coach conveyance to London?
Yes; they are obliged to send them by coach on account of the expedition.
20. According to the effects of the Manchester and Liverpool line, do you anticipate that great benefit will accrue to Manchester, from a saving of six hours' communication between London and Manchester?
Yes; and also from the reduction of expense. Between Liverpool and Manchester it has been a reduction to me of 150l, per annum on the conveyance of cotton alone. To the Manchester spinner there has been a considerable reduction on the article of coal; as much as 2s. per ton, or 20l. per cent.
21. Has the communication by canal been improved since the establishment of the Railroad between Liverpool and Manchester?
Very much.
24. Do you know the time at present occupied by the coach from Leicester to London?
About eleven hours.
25. But calculating if the Railroad is executed, what time would be occupied?
It appears by the calculation that passengers would join the Railroad at Rugby, getting from Rugby to Leicester by coach, and the distance would be completed in about six hours and a half.
26. Do you know the expense of coming from Leicester to London by coach now?
About 2l, or 2l. 2s.
27. Have you made an estimate of the tolls demanded by the Railroad company?
It comes to about one guinea.
29. What time is occupied in coming from Nottingham by coach?
From fifteen to sixteen hours.
30. Have you made a calculation of the time occupied in coming by Rugby?
Joining Rugby in the same way, it would be completed in eleven hours; a saving of from six to seven hours.
31. What is the expense of fare by coach from Nottingham?
It costs 35s.
32. But calculating the expense by Rugby?
It costs about 25s.; the greatest part of the lace made in Nottingham is forwarded by either van or coach; the saving that accrues to a passenger also accrues to the lace.