Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-07-09
VERMONT CENTRAL RAILROAD COM
PANY.

VERMONT CENTRAL RAILROAD COM
PANY.
The annual meeting Of the stockholders for the
election of Directors is to be holden at Windsor on
the 18th "Wednesday next.) We take this occa-
sion to give the best description of the road which
we have yet seen: it is from the pen of one of the
editors Of the American Traveller published at
Boston.
Leaving Windsor, our party pursued the line of
the Vermont Central Railroad, which from Windsor
TO its termination on Lake Champaign at Burlington,
presents one Of the most remarkable routes ever
traversed by railroad From Windsor the line
runs upon the west, or Vermont bank of tho Con-
necticut passing by easy grades the distance to the
WHITE River, about ~ miles, and thence following
by somewhat circultous but astonsIngy level
route, the course of that river and its third branch
to the summit in RoXbury This summit is attain
cd by grade OF only 40 feet to the mlle and that
for distance of only two miles and half For
some II or ii miles before reaching this ascent.
the grade Is perfectly straight and level. Those
VINO are not familiar with the country, and who are
accustomed to associate with the name of Vermont
nothing but rugged bills and almost impossible
mountains, can hardly believe, without the evidence
OF their own eyes, that the height of land can thus
be passed by railroad with an almost lmpcrccpti-
bic ascent From the summit the waters of the
pure, running brooks with which Vermont is 50
abundanty supplied, flow north and west to Lake
Champlaln through which they send their tribute
10 the ST. Lawrence
From the summit descent is made in the rail
road line, by grade Of only 40 feet to the mile for
about live miles, when it strikes the Dog River at
a village in Mortified, the residence Of Ex-Govcr
nor Paine, the energetic and efficient President of
the Railroad Company.
From Mortified the line of the railroad runs
along the Dog River to the town of Montpelier,
the capital OF Vermont whence it follows close IN
on the banks Of the Winooski, or Onion River, to
the terminus at Burlington. In this section the
man range Of the Green Mountains is passed. vet
by grade so level, and with so few curvalurcs,
that were 1t not for the towering heights which cv-
erywhere meet, and sometimes obstruct the view.
occasionally contracting the path into the narrow
estGorge, the traveller would need to be informed
mat he was not upon the dead level of an extended
pam That branch of the Green Mountain ridge
winch, running northcusterly to Canada divides the
streams OF Lake Champ.an from the tributarie; of
the Connecticut, and which is commonly called tho
Hel9ht oil Land, had been passed at RoX5ury The
otler or main range is crossed within the town of
Bolton, some % miles this side Of Burliprton. The
Mountain ridge Is here intersected by the valley of
Tue lnooskl, by passage which Nature seems
to have left for The express purpose of n rairoad
On either side Of the pass, aud close at hand, arc
the highest points Of the Green Mountains-on the
norm the Mansfield Mountain, and on the south the
Canefs lump, both rising more than 4OO0 feet.
FROM tins point the descent of the railroad line is
made TO the Lake by an easy grade and interrupt
ca by no serious obstacles till within a few miles
OF Burlington, the approach TO which is rendered
somewhat difficult by more broken surface of
country.
AS II whole, this route of the Central road is
highly favorable Considering the general char
acer Of the country by which it is traversed, it is
truly remarkable that so feasible a line could have
been found. In the whole distance, of nearly 100
miles, there is grade Of more than 40 feet 10 the
mile, and no curvature Of Il less radius than 400
lcet-say degrees. In some sections there are
grades, for several miles in extent which are with
out curves and which require neither excavation
or cmbankmcnt.
The average cost of the road will not probably
exceed $4,000 per mile The route for the most
part is through fine agricultural country, and the
scenery which will come within the view Of the
passenger i'll the railroad cars is exceedingly pic
turesque, and at some points romantic and sublime
so that while the road may be travelled with I'M
usual expedition and ease, i will afford a summer
ride Of greater variety and beauty than perhaps
any railroad in New England. That king of con-
tractors, Mr. Beknap, is engaged with his accus-
toned energy, with force of $500 men, upon the
construction Of the road and it is confidently cx-
pected that early in the spring of 1915 the whole
line will be open for travel.
Just out OF Windsor is deep cut through n sand
bank, from which something like 100000 cubic
yards OF earth are to be removed This is the heav-
lest excavation we believe, upon the whole route.
NORTHERN RAILRoAD.-The first annual re-
port OF the Directors of tho Nor,hprn Rnilrno0