Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-07-18

pass through on level ground Such a re-
suit may be reasonably anticipated, for there
is nothing easier than TO draw grades upon
paper, and to talk Of twenty of thirty feet
grade, even over Mount Holley--but to build
the Road is quite another thing. have seen
sixty feet grade drawn along the easterly
slope Of Mt. Holley, and it really looks quite
interesting on paper; but If | should say,
which is the fac, tina, such grade requires
an embankment ID ono spot, at Ludlow, Of
one million cubic yards, that II is more than
one hundred feet high, and more than three
hundred feet vide at lis base that noun
tain torrent must be arched over at the bot
tom, by strong and expensive masonry that
this mass of earth, to be deposited in one
spot, equals the whole amount moved to con-
struct the first 80 miles of the Fitchburg
Road, the public may form some idea Of a
small place in the Rutland Road, known as
Jewell Brook. But perhaps the Rutland
gentlemen will contrive bridge. or some
iron tunnel, to scale this little ravino, and
thus remove that objection. Further along,
at the summit, there was on this 60 feet grade
an interesting little excavation into the bow
els Of the mountain, measuring only eight
hundred thousand cubic yards, all earth, OF
course, and amounting 10 only as much as
was removed on the first twenty five miles
of the Fitchburg Railroad. But dare say
this, even, will vanish, for though the age OF
miracles has passed, yet it is said faith can
remove mountains. l understand that, al
ready, in the Imagination of those gentle
men, the mountain haights have been scaled
by SIS feet grade; and | should not be
astonished to hear, next, that there was no
mountain al all there; that it was all as
smooth as The CLASSY surface of the sea, freed
entirely from clay, from rock, from sliding
banks, from torrents; and, in short, from all
those little perplexites, which usually bese'
an engineer in the construction OF a RAIL
road.
| Were the Rutland route the only route to
Burlington, should say the road should be
built, at even heavier cost than have es.
timated that route at-but, when am called
upon to decide between two routes, termIna'
ting at the same place; which routes presen
such marked differences in ease of grade ant
ease of construction, my duty to myself ant
the public, requires, that should decide a
| have decided; though. in so doing, SUB
ject myselfto the gross attacks Of anonymou
writers, and the slanderous comments of thos
whose personal interests are involved in tn
controversy. There is no limit to the har
names have been called, nor to the ba
motives that have been imputed to me-bu
live IN the hope, Messrs. Editors, that m
own frail bark will ride out the storm, whic
is gathering in thick darkness around me
and that may be able, once more, TO pu
my foot upon terra frma, and look up TO
cloudless sky.
Hereafter, should it become necessary,
my own defence, only, | will 60 little NOR
al large into an analysis of the two route
Than l have gone yet; and trust can pre-
sent such facts as will satisfy my friends,
least, that am not quite annililated.
Yours, truly,
SAMUEL M. FELTON,.