Benares Tramway: Difference between revisions

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The ''' Benares Tramway''' is mentioned in the [[India Office Records]] (IOR) stated below.  
''' Benares Tramway''' is mentioned for the year 1857 in the [[India Office Records]] (IOR) and show that an ‘Expenditure of Rs3000.0.0 sanctioned from the ferry fund/Beneres for laying down a wooden tramway on the portion of the Ghazeepore Road which lies in the bed of the River Grountee? <ref>British Library  Catalologue References (i) IOR/Z/E/4/30/F86 and (ii) IOR Z/E/4/30/F376; “Funds, Ferry, Benares, expense of laying down tramway on portion of Ghazipur Road, 1857” referring to File Reference  IOR/E/4/846, p641 “India Public Works department 19 Aug 1857" 'Side Note (393) Expenditure of Rs3000.0.0 sanctioned from the ferry fund/Beneres for laying down a wooden tramway on the portion of the Ghazeepore Road which lies in the bed of the River Grountee' </ref>).


The Benares Tram Company was formed in 1886.  
<blockquote>''Note:-
<ref>[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/The_Engineer_1886/07/23 Grace’s Guide/The Engineer 1886]; Retrieved   1 Apr 2016</ref>
*Different spellings of ‘Ghazeepore Road’  and  ‘Ghazipur road’ . These must refer to the road to [[Ghazipur]]  which is 40 km north-west of [[Benares]] (modern name Varanashi).  The Ghazipur Road is to the north of Benares from the suburb of Daulatpur (ref. Map of Benares 1909 <ref>[http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gaz_atlas_1909/fullscreen.html?object=63 “Imperial Gazetteer of India”, v. 26, Atlas 1909 edition, Benares, p. 57.]; Retrieved 29 Dec 2016</ref>).
*The ‘River Grountee’ cannot be identified.''
</blockquote>


There is no evidence that this tramway was constructed.
The 1857 proposal cannot be identified and no further information has been found.
 
 
'''Benares Tramway Company''' was formed in 1886 as given in ‘Grace’s Guide’
<ref>[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/The_Engineer_1886/07/23 "Grace’s Guide"]; Retrieved 29 Dec 2016</ref> quoting  ‘The Engineer’ 23 July 1886 page 81 ‘New Companies’ with transcript as follows <ref>[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/images/4/4f/Er18860723.pdf "Grace’s Guide/The Engineer" 23 July 1886 page 81]; Retrieved 29 Dec 2016</ref>.
 
<blockquote>'Benares Tramway Company Limited'
 
This company was registered on the 8th inst ''(8 July 1886)'', with a capital of £100,000 in £10 shares, to aquire the benefit of a concession from the Municipal Board of Benares, and approved by the Indian Government, for the construction and working of tramways in Benares. The company will adopt an agreement of the 7th inst. Between S.H.Robinson of the one part, and F.W.Haddon (for the company) of the other part, and will also enter into agreements with George Pearson and Weetman Dickinson Pearson and with Walter Wood.Particulars of these agreements are not given in the memorandum and articles of association.
 
The subscribers are:- (one share each)
*Walter Wood, 13 Delhay Street S.W., engineer.
*S.Wright, 2 Manor Road, Bradford, solicitor.
*W.D.Pearson, 4 Durham Place, Kensington, contractor.
*S.B.Lawrence, 155 Grove Lane, S.E., secretary
*G.E.Arnold, C.E., 12 Harley Road S.E.
*W.H.Churchward, C.E., 10 Kingswood Villas, New Brompton.
*D.T.Fender, 2 Trafalgar Road, Twickenham.
 
The number of directors is not less than three nor more than twelve; qualification, shares or stock in the company, but any director may act before acquiring such qualification. The first directors are :-
*Lieut.-General G.G.Anderson
*J.Brunton, C.E.
*J Walrond Clarke
*Lieut.-General T.N.Harwood
*Lieut.-General J.L.Vaughan C.B.
The company in general meeting will determined remuneration. The directors may appoint one of their number to the position of managing director, and may determine his remuneration.
</blockquote>


No further information has been found.
From “Indian Engineering” 15 Jan 1887:-
<blockquote>
‘We understand that a London company have received a concession to lay a system of Tramways in Benares. The work will be carried out by a Calcutta firm. A hitch has occurred in the arrangements owing to the Municipality wishing to impose some impractical conditions. The system will comprise three lines; one from Raj Ghat to Cantonments, another from Cantonments to the Purana Chowk, and the third parallel to the city.” <ref>[https://archive.org/stream/indianengineerin01calcuoft#page/26/mode/2up/search/Benares "Indian Engineering" 15 January 1887 page 27]; Retrieved 29 Dec 2016</ref>.
</blockquote>


==Records==
No further information concerning the 'Benares Tramway Company' has been found. It can only be presumed that the ‘impractical conditions’ being laid down by the Municipal Board of Benares caused the proposal to be abandoned.
An on-line search of the [[India Office Records]] (IOR) records held at the [[British Library]] relating to this tramway <ref>[http://searcharchives.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?vid=IAMS_VU2  “British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue”  - Search];  Retrieved  1 Apr 2016</ref>
gives the following: -
*Z/E/4/30/F86; Ferries, Funds, Benares, expense of laying down tramway on portion of Ghazipur Road defrayed by”; 1857
* Z/E/4/30/F376; Funds, Ferry, Benares, expense of laying down tramway on portion of Ghazipur road defrayed by”; 1857
* Related Resources: See entry at IOR/E/4/846, p641


''These records have not been examined and may provide further information.''
There is no evidence that this tramway was constructed.


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 10:15, 29 December 2016

Benares Tramway is mentioned for the year 1857 in the India Office Records (IOR) and show that an ‘Expenditure of Rs3000.0.0 sanctioned from the ferry fund/Beneres for laying down a wooden tramway on the portion of the Ghazeepore Road which lies in the bed of the River Grountee? [1]).

Note:-

  • Different spellings of ‘Ghazeepore Road’ and ‘Ghazipur road’ . These must refer to the road to Ghazipur which is 40 km north-west of Benares (modern name Varanashi). The Ghazipur Road is to the north of Benares from the suburb of Daulatpur (ref. Map of Benares 1909 [2]).
  • The ‘River Grountee’ cannot be identified.

The 1857 proposal cannot be identified and no further information has been found.


Benares Tramway Company was formed in 1886 as given in ‘Grace’s Guide’ [3] quoting ‘The Engineer’ 23 July 1886 page 81 ‘New Companies’ with transcript as follows [4].

'Benares Tramway Company Limited'

This company was registered on the 8th inst (8 July 1886), with a capital of £100,000 in £10 shares, to aquire the benefit of a concession from the Municipal Board of Benares, and approved by the Indian Government, for the construction and working of tramways in Benares. The company will adopt an agreement of the 7th inst. Between S.H.Robinson of the one part, and F.W.Haddon (for the company) of the other part, and will also enter into agreements with George Pearson and Weetman Dickinson Pearson and with Walter Wood.Particulars of these agreements are not given in the memorandum and articles of association.

The subscribers are:- (one share each)

  • Walter Wood, 13 Delhay Street S.W., engineer.
  • S.Wright, 2 Manor Road, Bradford, solicitor.
  • W.D.Pearson, 4 Durham Place, Kensington, contractor.
  • S.B.Lawrence, 155 Grove Lane, S.E., secretary
  • G.E.Arnold, C.E., 12 Harley Road S.E.
  • W.H.Churchward, C.E., 10 Kingswood Villas, New Brompton.
  • D.T.Fender, 2 Trafalgar Road, Twickenham.

The number of directors is not less than three nor more than twelve; qualification, shares or stock in the company, but any director may act before acquiring such qualification. The first directors are :-

  • Lieut.-General G.G.Anderson
  • J.Brunton, C.E.
  • J Walrond Clarke
  • Lieut.-General T.N.Harwood
  • Lieut.-General J.L.Vaughan C.B.

The company in general meeting will determined remuneration. The directors may appoint one of their number to the position of managing director, and may determine his remuneration.

From “Indian Engineering” 15 Jan 1887:-

‘We understand that a London company have received a concession to lay a system of Tramways in Benares. The work will be carried out by a Calcutta firm. A hitch has occurred in the arrangements owing to the Municipality wishing to impose some impractical conditions. The system will comprise three lines; one from Raj Ghat to Cantonments, another from Cantonments to the Purana Chowk, and the third parallel to the city.” [5].

No further information concerning the 'Benares Tramway Company' has been found. It can only be presumed that the ‘impractical conditions’ being laid down by the Municipal Board of Benares caused the proposal to be abandoned.

There is no evidence that this tramway was constructed.

References

  1. British Library Catalologue References (i) IOR/Z/E/4/30/F86 and (ii) IOR Z/E/4/30/F376; “Funds, Ferry, Benares, expense of laying down tramway on portion of Ghazipur Road, 1857” referring to File Reference IOR/E/4/846, p641 “India Public Works department 19 Aug 1857" 'Side Note (393) Expenditure of Rs3000.0.0 sanctioned from the ferry fund/Beneres for laying down a wooden tramway on the portion of the Ghazeepore Road which lies in the bed of the River Grountee'
  2. “Imperial Gazetteer of India”, v. 26, Atlas 1909 edition, Benares, p. 57.; Retrieved 29 Dec 2016
  3. "Grace’s Guide"; Retrieved 29 Dec 2016
  4. "Grace’s Guide/The Engineer" 23 July 1886 page 81; Retrieved 29 Dec 2016
  5. "Indian Engineering" 15 January 1887 page 27; Retrieved 29 Dec 2016