Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-03-29

FRIDAY, MaRcH 30, 1874.
Rail Road to Rutland and Burlington.


Al an early stage in the rail road movement an
earnest, and 10 extent successful effort was
made by our indeia.gable Keene friends to con-
vince Western Vermont that the West River route
from here to Rutland was an impossible or at least
an impracticable one, and that the only feasible
route for a road was by the Mount Holly pass and
the valleys of Williams and Black rivers Under
this conviction, many of the citizens of Rutland
and Middlebury signed petitions praying for char
ter for the Keene road The feasibility Of the two
routes was particularly enquired into, by the com
mttee of the Massachusetts, Legislature before
whom the whole subject came, and the rail road
charter 10 this place was granted with especial rel
erenco TO the extension of the road 10 Rutland and
Burlington. The committee were fully convinced
not only of the practicablity, but of the perfect fsa-
sbility of the West River route, while the easiblli-
" OF the more northern route not so clear. 1t
is useless deny that there is serious difficulty,
that there must be tunnel at the summit Of nearly
two thirds Of mile in length. But this is diff
Guilty obvious certain and definite in its charac-
ter and extent The formation of the rock has been
carefully ascertained by one Of the most eminent
geologists of New England. An accurate estimate
OF the entire expense of excavatng the tunnel has
!
has been definitively ascefiained that the whole
cost cannot exceed 100000, while it is believed
il may be done for two thirds of that sum. This is
the only obstacle that presents itself upon the route
from Brattleboro to Rutland. And when tho length
and Importance of the route, and the extraordinary
cheapness with which the rest of it may be con-
structed, are considered it shrnks into compare
tive insignfcance. The average ascent per mile
from Brattlcboro to the tunnel-42 mes-is but 30
feet, and this is spread with a wonderful equality
over the entire distance. II is emphaticaly to this
point ri1er route, being entirely within the valley
of the West River, one of the most gently flowing
streams in Vermont, with few places Of sufficient
rapidly for the erection of mills. II is believed a
cheap road may be built, at grade not exceeding
an elevation of As feet to the mile, in any place,
until within two or three miles of the tunnel where
a grade of 60 feet may be required
The most difficult part of the route between the
summit and Rutland, is the first six miles from the
summit, where the descent is &C feet per mile,
while for the first four miles from the summit west,
upon the Bellows Falls route the descent is 80 feet
per mile.
Such facts as these, we'll attested, convinced the
committee of the Massachusetts Legislature and
that body itself, that the route to Rutland via West
River was not only better route than the more
northern from Bellows Falls, but that it was an
exceedingly favorable route. Indeed there are no
difficulties upon it to be compared with the difficult
ties existing between Keene and Bellows Falls.
A little attention to this subject cannot fail 10
convince the friends of the extension of the Fitch
burg road, in Western Vermont, that the West
River route is not only feasible one, but The most
feasible one between the Connecticut and Rutland