The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-01-27
Sarr1RnAn L,n %

The report relative to the Massachuse it's
Claim was also taken up and, after discussion,
was made the order of the day for Monday next.
HOUSE. Petition presented-of the Gen.
tral Bank at Worcester, for renewal of charter,
by Mr.. Allen of that town.
The consideration of the bill establishing the
Massachusetts Rail Road Corporation, was re-
sumed.
Mr.. Makepeace then rose and finished the
remarks he had commenced on Friday. Much
OF the substance of his remarks consisted OF
statistical facts and numbers, which could not
be taken down with accuracy during its deliv-
cry. 1t is but justice to Mr.. M. to say that
his statements and calculations are received by
the House with great confidence in their ac-
curacy, and all the differences drawn from them
go to prove the immense Importance of the
projected rail way, and the necessity of passing
the bill now before the House.
Mr.. Perkins of Beckett, said that he had made
thorough examination of the report of the
commissioners, and he was satisfied that the
execution of the plan was practicable and would
afford an income to the Commonwealth. 1t
was immaterial to him whether the rail road
was made to run from here to Springfield, or
by the northern route only let us have a rail
way to Albany or to Troy. He insisted much
on the income as an argument in favor of the
bill. The transportation of passengers would
pay the cost of construction How many thou
sand were there passing between Albany and
Boston, for mere pleasure, now, and 1t the rail
way should be completed, there would be near
ly as many on this route as there now from
Albany to New York. There were eighteen
stages running daily between these places. He
regretted that the bill did not propose that the
State should take the whole of the stock. He
was almost tempted to move an amendment to
the bill to that effect
Mr.. Cogswell of Ipswich, asked if Mr. Speak
er thought the people in the country would
bring their produce, their turkeys, and their
butter, to the rail way, and tumble them into
the carts to bring to Boston? People talk, said
he, of bringing -four to Boston; but, sir, they
have no -four to bring-they have but little
Rail ways, Mr.. Speaker, may do well enough
in old countries, but will never be the thing
for SO young country as this. When you can
make the rivers run back, it will be time enough
to make rail way.
Mr.. Hudson of Westminster, said he was well
convinced of the utility of rail ways as modes
Of Accommodation but he thought the
present bill was Of too" general a nature, he
Thought it necessary to fix on the route it should
occupy. 1t was very evident from the report
of the Commissioners, that with them, the
southern was a favorite route 1t appeared
manifest to him, that the business Of the CoHnty
of Berkshire, was transacted almost entirely
with Albany and New York, and he had very
serious doubts whether rail road from Boston
through Springfield TO the Hudson, would turn
the current OF that business towards Boston
He adverted to the Pennington Canal, running
from New Haven to Northampton, and its prob
able continuation up the river-and was il 10
be expected that traders, who had sent their
produce down this line of canals having passed
all the locks and overcome all distractions at a
great expense, would, when they arrived at
Springfield or Northampton, unload their boats,
place their produce upon cars, and send it to
Boston? Then as to the County of Wurces.
ter, that large, and productive region-the
Blackstone Canal had been carried into the
heart of its principal town and it could hardly
be expected that the trade of that thriving
place could be converted from its present chan
mel, by rail road to Boston. 1t is proposed to
continue that canal to Fitobburg, and was it
probable that if the canal should be opened 20
Fitchburg, that it would stop there2 would it
not more likely be still heightened out and
stretch far into New Hampshire. Now a rail
way on more northerly route, than that which
the commissioners seemed to have fixed on, to
Greenfield or Brattleboro', would be likely to
intercept this trade on its way to Providence,
and would probably put stop to the project
of continuation Of the Blackstone Canal.
Mr.. Strong of Pitts6eld, moved to amend the
words " on the easterly line of the State of
New York" and insert "on the westerly line
of Massachusetts,
Mr.. Shaw of Lanes6oro', suggested to the
mover of the amendment, to insert the words
through Springfield so that the direction
would then be distinctly pointed out-from
Boston through Springfield to the westerly line
of Massachusetts,.
Mr.. Strong adopted this modification of his
andf
support Of it.
Mr.. Makepeace opposed the amendment.
Mr. G. Blake opposed the amendment. The
direction of the road was left, as it should be,
with the commissioners They had rs deep an
interest in the project as any inhabitants of the
Commonwealth.
Mr.. Perkins was very sorry that the amend
ment had been proposed. For his part he
should not object to- any route. If the route
through Springfield were as good as any other,
he should prefer it, because it would pass near
where he lived-but if the northern direction
was better, he would not object to that But it
must go through Berkshire, where there was
iron and marble enough to supply the wants of
Boston.
Mr.. Shaw advocated the amendment, because
he thought it right that laws should be framed
IN an ineligible manner, and in language that
could be easily understood. Is not (said MIR. 81
the Cohlmonwealth crippled III all her resource
es-her spirit of enterprise depressed--and, are
not ali her young men flying away, as from the
wrath to Gomez This was plan to restore the
state to its former prosperity, and expectation
should not be disappointed. He thoug that,
till the route of the railway were known many
would be unwilling to vote for it. Some def.
mite course should be pointed out. 1t was a
magnificent project to invite the trade from New
York, Ohio, and the still more western regions,
and it was importan: to individuals to know
where it was to be located. The state too,
which is to be, in some form or other, at the
bottom OF all the expense, ought to have some
more definite knowledge. Are not enterprises
already in contemplation by those through
whose farms it is to pass Suppose, after the
Dill passes, the commissioners should take the
other route how would these people be de.
celved Are not specuatons already going on
among those in the vicinity of its location But