Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-02-23


The Rail Road can be constructed from
Fall River village to the Stone Bridge on
the north end of Rhode-Islsnd, n distance
of about seven miles, in an entire line of
perfect level, keeping along the shore on
the edge of The upland, not far from the
river aud Mount Hope Bay. This section
can be graded at less expense than the
same distance on any other railroad built,
or now building in the U. S. The road
| formation for these seven miles can he eff
fected at an expepce short of $4,000 per
! mile, of "A width to take double track OF
rails. Along the whole line, the top earth
/ is n rich soil of easy excavation, resting on
/ a firm compact bottom of hard clayed
! ground with but little rock in place. This
! kind Of bottom is the most desirable for the
/ permanency of n railroad. From liver
ton and the Stone Bridge to Newport, there
! have been examined two routes for cross
ing the river on to this Island--the first is
over the present Stone Bridge, crossing
1.-THE Ferry neck near the shore; thence
down the east side of Rhode Island to IA
point south of the new episcopal church IN
4 Portsmouth thence following the hollow
across the Island to the western shore;
thence along the shore to Newport. On
| this route. the width of the Stone Bridge
| has been found ample to accommodate the
! railroad, and leave sufficient space for IL
stage road, and not interfere with the gem
/ eraI country travel. There will be but one
place on this rou.e, where the ascent will
/ be at til @ rate of about 10 feet to IA mile, for
about three quarters of mile; aud the re-
mainder of The distance will nol average D
feet to a mile to Newport. There are no
obstructions of formidable nature along
| this route the excavations will be light
and easy the elnbankments narrow and
shallow the bridging and masonry much
less than common in the same distance.
\ The second route is to cross the river
about mile and a half north Of the Stone
Bridge, and to keep along the north side of
the great cove, to Bristol ferry, thence south
erly along shore through Portsmouth and
\ Mildletown to Newport. This route is
equally feasible with the other; but it may
be constructed in more direct line with
curves of greater radii the distance will
be less, and the inclinations will not average
3 feet in n mile. The bridging on this route
will cost more than that on the first route
the masonry, excavation and enbankment
will he about the same extent and COST
These two routes will come together south
of the coal mines on the west shore of this
Island, and proceed along the upland south
crly to the east end of Coddngton's Cove
i'm Middletown thence west of Tammany
Hill, through the low land near Dyer's
swamp, to any point on Washington street:
or, i, may continue from point west Of
Tammany Hill in line to the Randolph
Factory, thence in line parallel to Thorn
as-street, crossing the cove near its western
shore to the long wharf; thence, south on
the contemplated new street crossing all the
wharves and docks to any point most con-
venient for its termination. The first route
will pass near the Case coal mines, and the
second near the New York company's coal
niue.
The length of the railroad from New
port to Fall River village, is estimated ut
seventeen miles, but will probably fall short
of that distance. The distance from Fall
River to Taunton is about l6 miles and "A
recent examination of this part of the route
has confirmed the opinion of the practicable
ity of its construction, at an expense very
little above that ofthe Newport and Fall Riv-
er part of the line.
! The whole distance from Newport to
Boston by the contemplated railroad will
not exceed 65 miles, and at the present
speed of travelling on railroads the whole
distance can be easily performed in three
hours, which will make saving in time
of two hours IN travelling from New York
to Boston.
I The average cost at $4,000 per mile
from Newport to Taunton distance of 33
miles, will be equal to $3.50, 900. These 33
miles of railroad will carry us to the rail.
road in Taunton, which is now travelled
from thence to Boston. The average pow
er to propel ton on the railroad from
New port to Boston at the rate of 81 miles
per hour, will not exceed IA pounds, and
the velocity may be safely increased to 80
miles an hour, without corresponding in
crease of power.
The location of this railroad is remarka-
bly, favorable on account Of its not interfer-
ing with the farms across which it must
pass, being at the western extremity of the
farms, at the greatest distance from the
main roads, where the land is the least VAL
liable. 1t will cross only one mail road on
either of the routes examined, and this may
be carried over the line of railroad with but
trifling expense. Another very Important
advantage is gained by the location Of this
road-its direction being nearly N. e. S.,
and its position. beinU IN the edge of Tho