Advances made by Commissioners of Public Works: second report

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SELECT COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS (Ireland). 
173 to h hat it is at present ?— 
Certainly, the more we open" those districts byroads, PierceMahonV)E&q. 
canals and railways, the greater will be the sum of general wealth in Ireland. 
0050. 
I believe you are the solicitor to the Kingstown Railway Company?— 
J Jline l%35-Yes; I'have been so from its commencement. 
2051. 
Has your attention been at all called to the beneficial effects that might -n-isVfrom railroads in general in Ireland ?-—From 
almost the commencement of that work, it has been the conviction of those who took the lead in it, that so soon as the Kino-'stown Railway had proved a successful project, it would lead to the' general' extension of the railway system through Ireland ; and more than two years since, at a meeting of several gentlemen interested in that project, which was held at my chambers in Trafalgar-square, for the purpose of deciding on the best principle on which the extension should proceed, it was agreed, that so soon as the Kingstown railway fulfilled our expectations, that arrangements should be made for its exten¬ sion from Dublin, towards the South and West of Ireland, by a great trunk or arterial line, having for its object a general system of accommodation to the district through which it passed, without peculiar regard to the several towns, as we con¬ sidered it a matter of certainty that those towns would take their respective branch roads towards such a trunk line to the capital and the sea coast. 
When the Kingstown railway had proved a successful work, it was determined to make a survey of such a new line, and Mr. 
Cubitt was spoken to on the subject. 
He then suggested that we ought to bear in mind some ultimate terminus, with a view to command the greatest amount of national interest and advantage, and that terminus he recommended should be the harbour of Valentia, as the best and most western in Europe. 
I give in now to the Committee, the first sketch of the Plan which he furnished to me. 
I also hand in a Chart of that harbour, which proves its advantages above all other harbours on that coast. 

Plan for die Amelioration of the South and South-west of Ireland, and for the Improvement of the Communication between London and America, die West Indies, the Mediterranean, &,c. 
The best mode of improving the South and South-west of Ireland, and bringing it into more intimate connexion with England, would be by making the most perfect line of rail¬ road possible from Kingstown Harbour to Valentia, making the latter the out-port and post-office packet station for the Canadas, the United States, West Indies, Spain, Portugal and the Mediterranean ; thus getting entirely clear of the chops of the Channel, and all delays and difficulties attendant thereupon, and bringing the most south-western point of the United Kingdom within 50 hours' distance from London in all seasons via Holyhead and Kingstown, as the shortest sea passage, or via Liverpool for those who may prefer that route. 
That such railway should be carried in such direction as would make it the most perfect as a main trunk line, without particular regard to the towns or places in its route, which could all branch in as circumstances might require, and which would most probably com¬ prehend all the principal towns in the counties of Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Kilkenny, Queen's, Carlow and Kildarc, and thus bring a district nearly 200 miles long and from 40 to 50 miles wide into direct communication with the capitals of Dublin and London, and all parts of thc North of England. 
If a plan of this kind could be carried into effect, it would more conduce to the benefit of every class of inhabitants of the district through which it passes, and be of more utility to the public service as regards the transmission of troops and despatches to and from foreign countries, than it is presumed any other at the <same probable cost could possibly «iect, and is therefore well deserving of the serious attention of every well-wisher to 

P. 
Mahony, Esq. 
W-C-» 3d April 1S35. 
I understand Mr. 
Pirn has given in to the Committee the Resolutions agreed to wi«iin this month by the directors of the Dublin and Kingstown Railway, and under which it is intended to prosecute that inquiry; and finding so many concurrent ^monies in favour of the line to Valentia, there is no doubt that almost imme¬ diately Mr. 
Cubitt will be instructed to make a survey, and should that line be dI ¥y found the best for the South of Ireland generally, I expect that it will be a opted, and I know of no place which embodies within itself so many national bef ^'i?3* 
S° calculated t0 promote the general interests of the Empire. 
It has not sen taken up hastily, nor will it be followed without giving it due deliberation, ne Kesolations I allude to are of the 15th May. 
But this project is not confined ideH? 
1fmfdiate cirde; it has been discussed in America last December, and the ntical plan is laid down in a pamphlet by Mr. 
Cobden, of Manchester, lately 7* 

Y » published