Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1844-07-25
Eor "A. K,tail.

Massachusetts Railroad" Iipuipots to
be a 'b'ic' Statement Of facts relative to the
proposed Raj Road from Frchburgh' IN
Scr 'aa banis OF the Commiiee, aal dated
7,h June 1874
lfths pamphlet IS rightly understood, it
is well 6uod TO give an erroneous impress
iou. IN relation TO the extension Of the route
by Toe way Of West river to RuiIiul and
Darlington; and it is only in relation TO
this extension that this article has any thing
to do
It is asserted, that this us the natural
route between Massachusetts Bay, Lake
Champllin and Canada and WILL without
doubt, be soon adopted as the great line OF
communication between these places. "
This position is entirely denied-it may
indeed have been 'the old Indian ratl,"
but there is scarcely a probability that it
Will ever be the track by which the Iron
horse will reach Rutland and Burlington,
It may have "been already asceraned
that no difficulty exists in its course, ex-
cepting the Grcon.mountains" and the
rock may be "singularly favorable for a
luuncl" while at the same time there may
exist and probably does exist an insurmount-
able difficulty north Of the proposed tunnel,
where it is understood in the first seven
miles there is a descent Of 500 feet, which
is not easily to be ayoidod--though posi-.
bly, by assessing" any extra expense upon
the whole line, it might not, in the eyes oil
Committee, seem large per mile And so
Of the tunnel, assessed upon the whole
line" it amounts to only "about $500, per
mile" and in the aggregate to only about
S9840O.
The Otter Creek valley, affords a very
easy route for a railroad but the grand
difficulty will be found in reaching it, by
West river, and if it cannot be reached, by
that way, of what benefit are the general "a
ciities of the other parts Of the line"
This pamphlet claims to be abrief statemen,
of facts" and if " in an air line" the distance
from Brauleboroto Lake Champlain is only
6j miles. it cannot be reached by road which
requires something more substantial for it;
! foundation than "air" in less than "a miles
stance greater than, stated in the pam
phlot, Of . miles.
This pamphlet would lead us to the con
clusion that there was no other route from
Boston TO Burlington than the one mention
ed, except the route by Concord n. H., bu
the Committee are not ignorant that a rout,
has been surveyed from Fitchburgh by thu
way Of Keene to Bellows Falls, and the rout,
will open a more direct communication, by
the way of Rutland, TO Burlington, than tn,
Braulcboro route, the distance being less b,
If miles.
The Committee says, very''fcasible lin
for railway charter and more expedition
than any yet proposed, to Lake Champlai
has been explored from Brattlcboro by tn
valley of West river and Otter creek &c, t
:, Burlington" for evidence of this statemer
, they refer to the letter Of Mr. Higginsor
r the Engineer.
, The letter referred to, warrants no snc
= statement 1t gives no definite opinion {
: the grades beyond the mountain, excel
that the average fall from the summit
Rutland is about GO feet per mile. tn
. whole descent from the base Of the tunn
a 10 Outer Creek at Rutland, as learned frol
f the Engineer who took the levels, is l3C
y feet, or something over 70 feet, per mil
; and 500 feet Of this fall is in the fest seve
}. miles
/ The letter also admits the possible ne
/ essity Of heavy grades for some miles nor
Of the mountains
d Now ii is very much doubled by tho
Il acquainted with the proposed route lhroug
r weston, whether it is even practical
! North fthe Tunnnl.
=. l have moi space for further CONNER
upon this "bref statement Of fact" but on
is say that the summit in Mounlholly ov
T. which the route from Bellows Falls W
pass is, more than 800 feet below the ba
l., of,he Tunnel IN Weston as shown by t
y levels taken on the two rontes.
RAILROAD.