Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-07-30
ENGINEERS REPORT.
ENa,NrrR's OFFICE, V. G. X. H. !
NortbEcld. July z, 1S4t.

To The Directors ofhs Ycrnont Central Ra'ro'a
Company -, H. L.;
GENTLTMEN: + Herewith is submitted the ms
tory and character of your road, cohho0'eu WIN
The Engineers department
From fine commencement Of the surveys TO the
close of 1915. the operations of that department
were principally in making preliminary surveys
and the time of the greater portion OF the bnsi
neers was consumed IN surveying ana re-suiNVy,
ing tbe disputed routes between Royaltoh ana
Montpelier 1t was unfortunate that the progress
of the definite location should have been SO nuch
retarded MS the unusual depth of the SHOWS Oh last
winter caused slow progress IN inc nelu, u,tl iato
in the month of March; and upon about oO ilIlcs'
between Mortified and Royalton, nothing was ~
tempted until March On the remaining portions
of the line parties we're kept in the held, Wnen
bossble 10 accomplish anything The work tlus
done. however, made the labors Of the succeeding
spring much easier; and before It's close, ue en-
tire line had been established, save at TWO Ut t"cc
points requiring little time to complete anu tne
definite location of which will not vary material
w. if at ALL the annexed statement OF the charac-
Ter of the lire Repeated revlslons OF the line
have subsequently been made, but no material
chapre has been deemed necessary, and the char-
octer of the work is now well developed, being
opened upon every division (seyen) OF the me
and considerable amount done upon all butthc
fourth, or lightcst which, at the heavier points,
has been commenced since May. The aggregate
Of the work fully meets the character anticipated.
The general plan of construction is upon very
substantial and apptovod basis. Nature has done
much to aid Us in carrying it out. No road IN
the country, of any considerable extent will re-
quire less expenditure per mile for repairs the
material of the route being generally sand or gray
ell; in fact, with the exception OF an occasional
rock point, very little else occurs. There will DC
no trouble with claims for " hard PAM" Much the
greater portion OF the line Is In cmbankmcnt; in
iact, there will be but little waste upon any part
Of til and in consequence of the almost invaria-
bic excess of embankment, the excavations will
be wdencd, for MATERIAL thus offering great IA
citcs for drainage, - and as there are but few
naturally wet cuts the road may be said to re-
quirc protection from rain and snow only 1t is n
well known fact that the SHOWS in the valleys of
Vermont though deep, do not drift badly and the
shape Of your road will offer an easy way of clear
ing it off Much attention has been paid to this
subject, and the position of the road has been con-
sidcraby influenced by it.
CHARACTER OF AILlNEMENr AND GRADIENTS.
The distance from the commencement Of the sur
veys tBlin's wharf at Ruringon,) to the centre of
the village of Windsor, is II miles from Bur
lington TO the mouth of White river 80 S9-lC0
(say 1C0) miles; of which 70f is straight, and
ive-siXths of the remainder is upon curves OK
cceding 1900 feet radii one-half of it over $500
feet There is no curve, between Lake Cham
plain and the Connecticut river, of less than 1872
feet radius; and but two or three of that class
whore a maximum rate o? speed would be desir-
able, and but one (of small cxten) where a max
imum grade occurs - TO wit: adjoining and below
the level plane at Mortified depot. Between White
river and Windsor there is one 80 q l46 feet curve
and one 1850 feet III lengthy of 1872 feet radius.
Upon one half of the line, the maximum grade
is 20 feet - 10 feet on nearly fifty miles. On
hree-fourhs of the line it is 30 feet and under
and ca one-fourth the grades vary from 30 to 80
feet, with one exception near Burlington, where
for distance of l.l6mles it remains undecided
whether to have a 40 feet grade or less The As
can be adopted, and from the nature Of the case
be docrcased hereafter, at an expense not exceed
ing what it would now cost. For all practical pur.
poses, your road may be said to have no grade
over 40 feet per mile, as the exception is slight
and further, the planes are generally short, yo,
can, before laying your second track, (which vii
doubtless be soon needed,) reduce all but two o
the planes, on the maximum grades, several fee
per mile with but little Inconvenience to the rave
Of the road.
sUPERsTRUCTURE.
Sub-ss 10 By 3. Ties by q, and y feet long
to be laid 2 feet apart, or say , feet between
bearings. Rail, SO lbs. per yard, with heavy ant
close chairs, stoutly spiked The whole to be laid
upon welprepared bed of sand or gravel through.
out the line
With a road of such line and grades, and a
track easily kept in order as yours can be, there
is no good reason why you should not maintain
speed equal to that of any other road Your
Engineers are aiming to enable you to maintain a
speed superior to all others.
The summit is near the middle of the line and
che grades start from two main stations, where as
sistance will always be on hand, if needed.
There are now over two thousand hands upoT
the line OF the road, aud the number is increasing
Several slight deentons, not unusual on a long
line, have occurred upon sections Of the road
but no work, requiring constant attention. has thus
far been suspended.
Over onc-third of a million of cubic yards Of
earth, and 10000 of rock were moved during the
month of June, and near 1000 yards of mpsonry
built Considerable work was also done in the
way of making and changing town and ether roads
opening quarrles, &c.
On the whole the developments thus far arc
very encouraging.
Respectfully submitted, by
Your obcdicnt servant,
J. C.. CIIESBRO'.
The subscriber has examined the above report
by Mr.. CHEsBRo and concurs in the sentiment
and opinions therein expressed
RpsnpCtfullv rourS