The Sun.
London, England, 1865-12-05 00:00:00

THE BOSTON, HARTFORD, & ERIE RAILROAD.

It has been said that of the one hundred millions of dol-
lars invested in railroads by Massachusetts, nearly one-
half has been expended upon lines that carry business to
New York, and do not directly aid the business of Boston.
Without accepting this statement as literally true, we can-
not but feel satisfaction in any opportunity which presents
itself for taking reprisals in a friendly way upon the pub-
lic works of New York. With one of the two great rail-
roads of the empire state—the Central—our city is already
closely connected ; and with the other it is expected that
we shall soon come into similar relations. The Erie Rail-
way, with the Atlantic and Great Western and the Ohio
and Mississippi Railroads, has been well-denominated the
great continental line; and the value to Boston can hardly
be estimated of a road which shall place us in immediate
communication with it. This is chiefly what the Boston,
Hartford, and Erie Railroad is projected to do, and it is
this feature which awakens our especial interest in it.
The length of this road, as surveyed, from Boston to the
Hudson river, not including branches, will be two hundred
and twenty-six miles. Its western terminus is to be at
Fishkill, sixty miles above New York. On the opposite
bank, at Newburgh, a branch of the Erie Railway comes
in from Chester Junction, This branch will form the con-
necting link in the new route between Boston and the
valley of the Mississippi. At Salamanca, 381 miles west
from Newburgh, and about 600 miles from Boston, is the
junction with the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad,
which, running thence south of west, terminates at Cin-
cinnati, its length being 350 miles. The Ohio and Miss-
issippi Railroad, 340 miles long, which unites Cincinnati
and St. Louis, constitutes the western division of the line.
The total distance from Boston to St. Louis will be about
1,300 miles. From the main trunk branches have been ex-
tended to Buffalo and to Cleveland, and another is pro-
jected to Chicago. The plan, therefore, of the Atlantic
and Great Western management is seen to embrace all the
principal cities of the West. It is laid in a broad and com-
prehensive spirit, having reference to the future develop-
ment of the country, as well as to its present necessities,
and it proposes a policy which may be new in the his-
tory of transportation in this country, but which has
been successfully adopted in Great Britain and else-
where in Europe. This policy, in a word, contemplates
uniformity of gauge ; through carriage without change ;
constant opportunities for shipment, and low rates. To
this end there must be unity of action on the part of all
connecting roads, if not absolute consolidation. There
must also be a continuous double track and a supply of
rolling stock adequate for a large and rapidly increasing
traffic. The co-operation of Boston capital and enterprise
will be cheerfully welcomed in the opening up of a new
route ; New York is of course largely interested in it, but
there need be, and we believe there is, no jealousy toward
us in reference to it. It is estimated that one thousand
tons of freight reach the city of New York every day by
the Erie Railway, destined for New England. It will be
to the advantage of Now York (as might easily be shown),
as well as for the benefit of the freight itself, to bring it
direct by way of Chester and Fishkill. There is also a
large passenger business between New England and the
West, which now passes through Now York; this also
would be much better accommodated by a direct line which
would not only shorten distance, but insure connections.
If Boston should be placed on precisely the same footing
as New York, in all respects, with the Erie, and the At-
lantic and Great Western Railroads, our commerce will be
doubled at least in the first ten years. It is for the Boston,
Hartford, and Erie Railroad to secure for our city this
golden opportunity. We hope the Directors will adopt
liberal, progressive, and far-reaching views, and that its
stockholders will furnish freely all the money which may
be required. No labor or expenditure can be too great
which will result in the extension of the great Continental
line to Boston.—Boston Journal.