§ Mr. Barnebyrose to move the following resolution, of which he had given notice:—
That a clause to the following effect be inserted in all the Railroad and Canal bills which may pass through Parliament during the present Session:—And be it enacted, that no bridge or tunnel, or approaches to the same, for carrying any other public carriage road over or under any part of a railroad or canal, shall be made or constructed of less width between the fences, walls, or parapets thereof, than twenty-one feet; nor shall any bridge or tunnel, or approaches to the same, for carrying any other public carriage road over or under any part of a railroad or canal, be made or constructed of less width between the fences, walls, or parapet thereof than sixteen feet, nor in any case less than so much greater width, not exceeding thirty feet, as may be the average width of the turnpike or other public carriage road for one hundred yards on each side of that part of the railroad or canal where any bridge or tunnel is intended to be made or constructed; and that the committee on the bill do report specially to the House that this resolution has been complied with.He did not mean that it should apply to bridges already built, but only to those hereafter to be constructed.
§ Lord Granville Somersetapproved of the principle of the clause, but doubted whether it ought to apply to acts already in progress.
§ Mr. Laboucherethought, that there was an objection to legislating on these matters one by one when there was a committee sitting on the whole subject of railways; and he recommended, the hon. Gentleman to refer the clause to that 88 committee, as being the best way of duly considering the importance of the clause.
Sir George Stricklandwould also recommend the hon. Gentleman to adopt the course pointed out by the right hon. Gentleman.
§ Mr. Barnebysaid, he had much pleasure in acceding to the request which had been made.
§ Resolution referred to the committee.