The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-08-28

be made on The Central route His zeal
for his employers carries him, in this in.
stance, to the very verge of absurdity;--
ior if equal Improvements shouid bo
made on theCentral road,it is hardly too
much to say that that road will possess
the novel advantage Of having descend.
amg grade both aoays on its whole line!
The 65 miles from Rutland to BurIng-
ton furnishes one Of the most favorable
routes for railroad in New Eneland:-
and 1t may be interesting to Engineers
at least to learn by what process the sur
vey which Mr. FELTON, superintendent es-
tabllshes 70 miles of grade of from GO
to 70 feet per mile on that route. II
will be recoIlected that by Mr. Gilhert's
survey, 40 feet per mile is the maximum
grade on this portion ofthe line of which
grade there are found but six miles.
his discrepancy will excite less aston.
Ishment than The reason for it. Rutland
Is 4lo feet above Lake ChampIain at
Burlington. By careful computation
from the reports and labIes of grades fur.
nIshed by Messrs Chase and Tracy the
~''''OSN 'HNiSNiOIC luC' 10 dSCGItdllGQ In0t
lhere are TEN HUNDRED AND FORTY
EIGHT FEET OF ASCENDING grades in
proceeding from Rutland, towards the
Lake, to Burlington! This exceeds the
elevations required by MIR Gilbert by at
least 1886 feet Consequently there is
accumulated on this IS miles ,by the sur.
vey which is endorsed with the approba<
ton Of MIR FELTON,, an aggregate eIeva.
ton and depression of SIXTEEN HUNDRED
AND SEVENTY TWO FEET, which is eptire-
ly uncalled for and unnecessary.
and this too, without securing
a line single rod shorter than Mr.
Gilbert's. This result is well calculated
to excite establishment, and in no way
can Mr. FELTON, avoid the responsibility
1t, in the estimation Of honorable men.
AT no time previous to, nor during the
progress OF the survey which he assun.
ed to superintend and direct, did no set
his foot on the line ofthe road. And he
now dogmatizes and declaims upon its
merits and difficulties with the least pos.
sible personal acquaintance with either.
He has never been over it but once; and
then IN the capacity Of Agent and Engi.
neer of the 'Fitchburgh Board for the
purpose of determining, by a most expo
dlli us flight, which precIuded the posi-
bility OF faithful examination, whether
or not it was best for that Board to en-.
ter into what they supposed TO be a Most
advantageous arrangement This 'ar
rangement' was completed with indecent
haste, at Mortified, before even UirI
of the Central Route had been subjected
to the keen inspection of this most rapid
but discriminating Investigator, who nov
finds douGls motive, as Engineer of
the Fitchburgh and Locating Engineer
OF the Central Road, to attack and dis.
parage route, which has long been la,
boring under the heavy burden of an i'll
performed and worse digested survey,
made under his direction.
The survey Of the Rutland Route L.
MIR Gilbert, convicrs Mr. Felton, Of most
culpable neglect Of his professional, duty,
and establishes that route as one of the
most feasible and advantageous in New
Eenoland, Mr. Gilbert has done Just wha,
Mr. FELTON, was honorabIy bound to do
when he accepted the Office of Engineer
OF tina! route ;-he has determined The best
general location for The road. He has
determined it by Iaborious and faithful
personal survey. That survey will en-,
iure the test of the most critical examipn>
Ion. But Mr. Fel!on, with gross lack
Of genlemaniy. as well as professional
courtesy, without waiting for the maps.
1rofles, and estimates, which he knew
we're preparing with all practicable rapid.
~, has thought proper to attempt TO dis
;redlt the survey of NJ: Gilbert, and Tho
'sImates, in advance. Mr. Giiber, il
'bundanIIy competent to protect himself
'gainst this unmanly aud unmanneriy at,
ack. But the public have a right to know
omeihing of the estimation in which thIs
,enteman is held By those most compe.
en' to Judge and determine his professional
merits. We, therefore, insert the following
totes from Mr. Wright and Mr. Broadhe0d.
veil known as eminent and most success
al Civil Engineers; simply calling al
entlon 10 their respective dates. Il viii
re seen that Mr. GiIbert's professional eS-
ertence contrasts very favorably with
hat OF his volunteer assailanl; and nat he
las quite as valuable reputation 10 pro-
ect -
NEw- York, February Is, 1887.
The bearer hereof, Mr. William B. Gil.
erl, has been a practical engineer for sew.
raj years, and for nearly two years was
nder my particular charge and supervis.
IN, In locating and constructing railroads.
have found him skilIful and capable, and
;lh good Judgement in the management;
his labors. | believe he will be found
npabe and Irusty in the management Of
ny work he may take the charge Of
BENJAMIN WRIGHT.
Civil Engineer.
Da.-4N- AUnnet IS4B