Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-01-15

winye route, and were able, in the limited time
allowed them during the hearing, TO make impor-
tant improvements upon Mr. Hayward's line aud
though they had not time TO prepare and submit
careful estimates, it was obvious to those who wit
messed the proposed alterations upon the ground,
that they were great Improvements upon MIR Hay
wards line. BY these changes Of the line, the OBJ
iectionable curves were avoided, the grades reduce
ed to nearly if not quite the standard of the Win
chendon line, and the distance shortened three
quarters of mile. And il appeared obvious that
these Improvements could be made without any in
crease ofthe aggregate expense, and probably with
reduction 1t was also shown, at the hearing,
that the Winchendon line passed through
cession Of swamps, in which the soundings in.
dcated depth Of mud from ten to twenty-six feet,
aud in some places the swamps so soft as to
render IT almost certain that they would not hold
up the embankments which must be thrown upon
them. The points upon the Badwinville line which
had been indicated by MIR Hayward as probably
containing rock for which an increased estimate
had been made were examned and by sinking
shafts, it was ascertained that rock existed 1t
was also made to appear, during the hearing that
from the junction near Gibson's to Bush Hill, in
Royalston, the line passed over several swamps,
with an embankment of from twelve TO eighteen
feet, where the soundngs indicated depth of soft
mud about equal to the height of the embankments,
and also through heavy cut Of some thirly-our
Ieet, winch mas proved 10 ne TOOK great cAltIl
II was shown that this Objectionable and expensive
section, which was made common to both routes
could easily be avoided by the Baldwnville line,
aud at the same time save nearly half a mile in dis
lance, and have a much more feasible route
These facts were laid before the Commissioners
and are, in substance, contained in their report
| am aware that effort has been made to dis
credit these statements, and to keep the public
mind confined 10 Mr. Hayward's Report. The
nub1 liz ba,.a koon tha tha
Commissioners were actuated by local and personal
considerations and that the facts or positions sta
ted by them are imputatons upon Mr. Hayward
! have no disposition TO detract from the merits Of
Mr. Haywards survey on the contrary / am will
ing TO give TO his report all the consideration he
claim for it, Its facts one TO my knowledge
ever called in question. lie states the curves on
the Badwinville route to be Of 1900 feet radius
This was true on his line and obviated this obec-
tionable curvature. Mr. Hayward stated that the
Baldwinve line was l Ia miles shorter than the
Wnchendon but the subsequent surveys have
shortened the distance about "a of mile as to
make the Baldwinvlle route about two miles short
err than the Winchendon. He stated the grade
from Fairbanks TO the reservoir dam be IS feet
TO the mile but the later surveys have shown that
it can easily be reduced TO 90 feet lie made
very heavy embankment at Dadmanville, for dis
lance of more than half mile, crossing Otter river
twice. with two expensive bridges. The new line
saves nearly one half Of the embankment and
avoids the two bridges altogether Mr. Hayward
was apprehensive that ledge would be found in sew
eral points upon the line whchhe indicated shafts
have been sunk at those points, and no ledge has
been found. Mr. Hayward connected the Baldwin
vile line with the Winchendon, near Gibsons; an
examination Of the country beyond the termna-
ton of Mr. Haywards survey shows that junction
al that place is very preudicia TO the Baldwinyle
route, subecting ii to some two or three miles of
severe cuts and embankments, which could easily
be avoided at the same time greatly reducing the
expense and shortening the distance nearly half
mile, No injustice is done TO Mr. Hayward, to say
that he could not in the limited time allotted him,
and by running a single line, hit in all cases upon
the best location. | am confident that if he had re-
examined the ground and run the second line, he
would have made very great, and in all probability
the very same Improvements. The one at Dad.
manve was so obvious after his survey, that he
could hardly have overlooked it and ifhe had ex-
tended his survey west to South Royalston, he
have seen that he was doing great injustice to
the Baldwinville route, by his union OF the two
lines near Gibson's
Mr. Hayward was unacquainted with the country
when he first came upon the ground. He explored
it, and put his assistant upon the route, TO one
line He did so, and it proved to be great i'm
provement over Mr. WhitwePs line other engi-
neers, availing themselves Of Mr. Hayward's plans
his and have yet 10 learn that it is an imputaton
upon Mr. Hayward 10 say that he did not, in the
limited time allotted to him, find the best possible
line. He is gentleman Of too much character and
intelligence to claim that sort Of omnlsclence and
infalibility whichthe advocates Of the Winchendon
route, for the sake of effect to ascrbe to him.
But how is it on the Winchendon line, and the
part Of the line common TO both routes Does the
President adhere to Mr. Hayward's line, as though
it was too sacred 10 be departed FRONT Nothing
like it. He had engineer upon the route for
months, for the express purpose Of improving upon
Mr. Haywards line; and from the points where Mr.
Hayward commenced his survey, near Crocker's
paper mill in Fitchburg, to Winchendon village
there is scarcely a rod where the President has
adopted the line and grade of Mr. Hayward. The
President even had an engineer upon the Winchen-
don line, 10 amend and improve upon Mr. Hay
4 wards survey, before he submitted his Report 10
the Board.
From the facts elected at the hearing, and 9TH
ers which have fallen under my own observation
am satisfied that in a fair comparison the two
routes would stand thus the Badwinyille route is
about two miles the shorter and its are more
favorable. That from each summit eastery to
Fitchburg, the maximum grade will be the same !;
and from the summit westerly, the maximum grades
OH the Winchendon, will be about as feet per mile,
and on the Baldwinville, about AZ though be-
leve, with reasonable expense it can easily be re-
duced to 45. That from the character of the soil,
the road can be kept in repair the Baldwinye
line at less expense than on the Winchendon. es-
peclaly when we consider that il is two miles less
in distance and that the road can be constructed
for less sum. Mr. Hayward estimated the cost of
the Baldwinville route at 500 900 more than the
Winchendon But the change made by Mr. Ed.