The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-05-07
RAILROAD No. l.
Iiddlebury. March %, 1915.

In the observations we are about 10 make
VIC shall at present address none to those
who are not entirely satisfied that Rail Roads
are among the most astonishing and useful
improvements Of the ags, or at least having
been constructed through extensive sections
o. the country that they are indispensable to
all others. In these respects VIC may confde
in the intelligence Of The people OF Vermont
Among all the great RAILROAD projects
which remain TO be accomplished IS that from
Boston to Burlington. So immense would
be the transit of passengers, goods and pro-
ducts which would seek their WAY over this
road If built, that no sensible man can doubt
the speedy accomplishment ofai least single
track, either that from Bellows Falls to Bur
lington, or from the mouth of White River
through Montpelier TO the same terminus
To test the merits of these is our object Bos-
ton capitalists however are to decide upon
these at last, and whether one route or the
other will best advantage greater number
of Counties or extent Of TERRITORY, Interpreter
enccs viii be grounded upon keen iryesti-
CATION the question, which route will best
command the most business and afford the
best income from the amount Of their invest
mcnts. This Of course involves a consider
ton of the comparative distance, expense Of
construction and repair,and Of the population,
resources and business connected with each.
In estimating the expense of construction
however, at this time, the friends ofihe Yves
tern route are laboling under serious disad-
vantage.not having as yet been put in possess
sion Of the survey and estimates which have
been made but have not appeared in print
We shall therefore at present be obliged TO
rely upon a general assertion which will har-
dly be disputed by the most sansuiue of our
rivals, that the expense Of construction for
the Rutland route viii notbe greater ifiudeed
equal to the Central.
Nowhere.on this route is there an elevation
of over so feet to a mile. The approaches
through the Mount HoIIey gap from Cayen-
dish and Ludlow are perfectly easy, while
GSm Rutland 10 Burlington distance Of a.
bout sixty miles, this track passes through the
most level portion of New England. Indeed
we are bold TO assert, that it viii be found thai
the expense of construction in this direction
will be much less than that in passing the
gorges Of the mountains TO reach Montpelier.
Even this will be far less than to level the
rocky promontories which in multitude
instances obstruct the route down the Onion
River from Montpelier to Burlington. In
deed, the public have been frequently assured
by our surveyor whose estimates we trust will
soon be before the public, that there are very
few and inconsiderable earthly and rock exca-
Nations or entertainments on the whole route,
and in these and other respects Involving ex-
pense. that it is the most favorable route in
New England or New York The expense
it is believed will not exceed from 20 10 25
Dollars per mile, about half that OF
the great Western Massachusetts road. Be
sides, it is conceded, il is at least % miles
shorter than the Concord route 10 w hite
River, ard 26 miles SHORTER than by way ofthe
Cheshireroad to the samepoint, making about
$500, 900 difference in the expense of con-
structiou. The expense Of operating the
Rail- Road when finished is an important con-
sideralion. In Ibis Northern region espe-
cially, the removal Of snow is often very on
erous. In this respect the Western route
would have vastly the advantage. 1t is
well known fact that from Rutland to Bur
Iington seldom more than half the amount of
snow falls in winter as on thsSe ppOsi;e side
of the mountain.
The expense of reconstruction and operation
having been considered, we are next to ascer-
ala the amount Of business which the rival