12 MAY 1990, Page 21

One hundred years ago

THE House of Commons Committee has decided that the preamble of the Central London Railway Bill had been proved, subject to certain conditions, chief among which are provisions for preventing the sewers and mains being interfered with. In addition, until the City and Southwark Subway has been used by the public for a certain time, no prospectus is to be issued or capital raised. Since it seems pretty clear the latter scheme will work, we may, then, look upon it as certain that we shall have a tunnel bored under Oxford Street, so deep down in the London clay as to interfere neither with foundations nor pipes, in which will run a light and rapid electric railway. The Metropolitan line, the Omnibus Companies, and the Oxford Street shopkeepers are, of course, furious; but in all probability they will find that, as in the case of other improvements in transport, traffic will be created, not diverted, by the new undertaking.

The Spectator, 10 May 1890