Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-10-11
MIR. POLK'S ANSWER.
a." Put Master Silence to bed !"
From the Boston Courier.
VERMONT AND MASSACHUSETTS RAIL
DOAn

HoS AnBoTT LAWRENCE:
Dear Sr,-Havlng been detained nj my lodgings y
ludisposiiiun, and prevented from attending the
afternoon session of TIE railroad meeting over winch
Won had the honor 10 preside on Friday last; and
learning thar the claims Of the keeue route were pre-
s'n,ed with great earnes'ness and force, take the
liberty Of starting in this noe the points which
should have urged in opposition To that route had
been present In the first place, they have no char
for railroad to Keene from our Legislature, and
the rldm Of that route s vst;iay n claim fur delay
for one year, and that without any assurance that
| charter can e obtained 50 that posponencnt foi
n year. may prove an indefinite postponemcnt. But
there are four other distinct reasons. which, had
been present should have felt compelled TO urge
against the keene IOute.
|. ! he Brateboro' route is designed to nccommo-
date our own citizens aud to build mp interests IN our
own State. Though have no desire to lnlure hut a
wish to enefr, the good people of New Hampshire,
when their claims come IN competition with the claims
of our own citizens, and al other things equal it
is want ofpn'roiism, but the dictate of that virtue
to provide fir for the wants of our own people. The
route from Fichhurg to Brarilehoro' will accommo-
date at least 35 900 Of the population Of our state;
whereas the route to Kerne will not accommodate
single town in Massachusetts, which cannot be as
well accommodated on the other route.-The only
town that could be thought Of ms an exception TO this
| remark, is Wnchendon but if the Braieboro road
should be constructed on The most norhely roue, it
would accommodate that town ihs MS well as though
the road were continued through Keene. The ronte
to ratleboro is be preferred, because it will ac
4
! the Krene rou'e will not
| 2. The Braurboro route is preferable, because il
will furnish the greatest amount of business BY
striking the Connecticut as low down as Greenfield
or Norihield you will secure the trade above; where
as If YOU nersect the river AT Bellows Falls yon lose
! the business o, Bratleboro' and the towns below
There is also more population on the Br"ttleboro'
route than the Keene; more business Al present,
md vastly more water power unlmproved, Which
wnnld he br' ught into use by the road
3 The laws of New Hampshire n great O. ec-
ton 10 The kecne rouc. have nothing to say about
! the policy of New Hampshire; il may be wise. But
so far II relates enterprises of this character It
certainly throws very great obs aces N their way
In the first place, the charter of the Kcene road IN
New Hampshire. forbds the CORPORATION 10 occupy OF
any lands for the road without the consent Of The
owner. This would pun it into the power Of any ndl-
vdua whose land should Law across The route, to stop
the enterprise altogether nu'ese the corpora ion would
paw him any eyhorhiiant sum which he might choose
| to exact Besides New Hampshire laws a under
stood. hold the private property Of the Stockholders
liable for all the debts of the corporation And add to
all this, the Kcenr charter contains provision, thai
the legislature Of New Hampshire nav alter or reped
the charter, whenever they please. With laws crea
ting this unlimited personal liahllty-laws which pu
the corporation in the first place, completely into the
hands Of the andhoders the route, and ever after
Al the mercy Of the legislature, think prudent cnp
tnliss would he unwilling take the stock. Suppose
that the legislature Of New Hampshire should take
mo their heads to impose tax of fifty cents on one
doa per head upon every passenger passing over The
between Baltimore and Washngion-w which, by The
very terms of the Keene charter they would have
| night 10 do-hs wonld destroy the income OF The
| rond by suhleciIng the corporation 10 n heavytax
for which they could have no better remuneration
than hv an increase of their fare, which would drive
travel from the road, ] cast reflection upon New
Hampshire legisla,ion.-They sovereign, and car
do ms they please But when they invite us 10 become
subject to their laws have an undoubied right lC
! decline the invitation.
4. There is n serious ohieciicn the route ITSELF
The friends Of that route have published report of
survey nj the route, which | confess deals more IN
generaIties than any report Of the kind have eve
seen But brief as the report is, learn that The
route contains many bad features. Speaking of the
Frzwllnm summit, the report says, 'some rock ex
cnvaiion will be encountered in passing round the
points Of he hills hi, part Of the route; the Iargcs
amount, however, will he found in cutting through
the ridge near the house NJ Abel Agier. The Gu
through this ridge is about 700 feet long varying from
four TO sixteen feddeep nearly Oh his rH be rock
Speaking of the route below Sibey's Factory, in Troy
IN the Keenc valleys the report saws "a large portion
NJ this part ofMc route passes Orer rery rough, bro
ken ground requiring a heary amount ofeacaratior
and embarEment: rock cutting uW be encountered Al
sererai points along hisfne." OF The Surry summit
II saws, 'Ihe cut NJ the summit varies rom rs 10 AZ
feet dcep for distance Of 5000 feet and from 10 Il
% feet for about l000 feet some portions OF niich io
undoubtediy be rock This cut is rendered difficult
and erpensire in consequence ofthe large amount o.
,odfer rhich collects from The hills each side,
passes or through This rdHey. Further on. the repor
saws, from Changers mills, the line passes by a sue
cession ofcurres. along the high grounds, &c. This
part Of The roue rendered expensive in consequence
OF The rough, broken character Of the ground ore'
rhich II passes The line in lis course from the sum
mt crosses sererdI deep rdrines requiring high EN-
bankmenfs, and greater amount oferpensire mason
~ man any other part Of The route"
" the foregoing description he correct ms we have
no reason TO doubt the roUle is lar from beng de-