Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-05-21
VERMONT PHOENIX.
From The .4mhsrs, Express
Rnil Road Convention.

Of persons in various towns in Hampshire and Frank
In counties east of Connecticut River, the friends Of
the railroad now chartered between CIRCUITS in Monta-
que and the village ofWilIiamansett in Springfield, met
in Convention at Sweetser's Hall in Amherst Tues
day, May 9th, at 10 O'Clock A. NJ The Convention
was called to order by Hon. f. Dickinson OF Amherst,
and alter temporary organization Committee con-
sstiug Of Messrs j. S. Adams, Amherst j. Hartwel,
Montague Sias Ball. Leverett Emmons Russell,
Sunderland Elijah Nash, Hadley Alonzo Bardwel,
South Hadey Joseph c. Brigham, Mortified, and
John Russell, Pelham, was chosen 10 nominate officers
Fl ofhe Convention.
The Committee reported Hon. James White, of
cit Gen Parsons West, of Hadley, Vice Presidents
F. e. Bowdon, OF South ladley Newton Fitch,
Of Amherst, Secretaries.
i The report was accepted
On motion it voted that Messrs E. Dickinson,
Amherst Martin Grout, Montague Silas Ball, Lew
ereli {; Horace Lyman, Sunderland Samuel Nash,
lIalIey Moses Montague, South Hadley Joel Fay,
i Mortified and John Russell, Pelham be a commit
prepare and report business for the consideration
n oi the Convention. This committee in their report
suggested the poprey of reading several charters and
acts passed by the Legislature, and they read nc
cjtdnglY The charter of the Hampshire and Frank
la Railroad CO., the charter of the Mt IIolyoke Co.,
the Act authorship extension Of the CT River road,
the Act in addition to the Act incorporating the Vt.
and Mass. Railroad Company, and the Act in addition
Il to the Act Incorporating the Winchendon Railroad
a Company.
The Committee also reported the following pream-
N bic and resolves -
"a
to The Northampton and Springfield Railroad Compa.
ny TO build Railroad the East side of the Connec.
cut River, from Cabotville to Hockanum, thence
n crossing the river TO Northampton
And Whereas the Legislature of 1914 extended the
time for filing the location and building the road, for the
Il term OF two years beyond the time originally fixed by
the Charter for that purpose
And Whereas the people on the East side OF the
4 Connecticut River, in 1914, while the Charter for a
road from Springfield to Northampton authorized the
location and construction of road as far North as
Hockanum, only on the East side of the river--made
application to the Legislature, procured The necessary
surveys, and took all the preliminary measures requir
ed by law, to obtain Charter for extending the road
up the East side of the river, and obtained Charter
for such extension from Hockanum to CIRCUITS at Mill
II ers River
And Whereas, after such Charter was obtained to
extend said road, the Legislature granted leave 10 the
III Northampton and Springfield Railroad CO. to the
+, Connecticut River between Wilimansett and West
Springfield and construct their road on the West side
Of the river, for out of 10 miles between Cabotvie
and NoTthampton-and that TO abandon two-thirds in
distance, of their originally chartered route, without
the petitioners pretending that the change would bet
ter accommodate the business of the place between
Northampton and Springfield, but solely upon the OIL
legged ground OF saving IN the grades and expenses OF
construction
And Whereas the friends of the originally chartered
route have felt obliged TO apply TO the Legislature for
leave to build railroad over the route thus abandon
ed by the Northampton and Springfield Railroad Co.
II and have obtained charter for that purpose-There-
n fore
Resolved That Railroad on the East side Of Con-
uecticut River is demanded as mperaiively as ii was
4 in ls42, when the Charter of the Northampton and
II Springfield Railroad Co. was first obtaned-and in
ls44 when the time Of constructing il was extended
and that the road upon the West side OF the river
does not afford us reasonable accommodations.
Resolved, That the route OF the Hoyoke and Hamp-
shire and Franklin Railroads is feasible and that they
can be made for reasonable expense and in our O.
pnon, road when constructed there would pay good
dividends.
Resolved, That the interests of the people on the
road in the valley the Connecticut River, and The
interest of the public generally, require that railroad
should be built from GToutson MieT's River, to Will
mansett, at The earliest practicable period and that
will ourselves TO the utmost OF ability &c
accomplish this object
After the reading of the resolutions, the Convention
on motion Of Mr. HarlwelI OF Montague, adjourned til
| l-a O'clock p. Nj.
Afternoon. The resolutions were taken up and dis
eussed by several gentlemen, in the course Of which
discussion a history given Of what has previously
been done in relation to the road, the present state
things, its probable cost, the great importance OF h
road to our interests, the extra charge for Teght pas
sengers, Sc, TO which we now and must continue e
besubected, without il, the exhierating or ruinous el
iecs Of railroads, the want Of them, on other places
the necessity OF the united and vigorous efforts oil al
10 accomplish the work, the connection OF the Toa'
with the interests of the Connecticut Valley, and tn
public generally statement OF the action OF the Legs
lalure at It's late session in relation TO this and som
other roads in some way connected with II, Sc
Prof Smell stated the result OF some observations re
Gently made by him, illustrated by drawing, reativ
70 the feasibility Of the route at the west end OF MI
Holyoke, near Hockanum village. These observation
90 10 show that good road may be built at that pon
at moderate expense. The descending grade TO III
north, Of % feet per mile, south of the mountain, an
the heavy rock cutting necessary 10 enable the road
cross the Connecticut the point of the mountain
as originally contemplated, are both avoided.
DR.. Gridley, of Amherst, who had also examined th
place. expressed his views in relation 10 il, and consld
cred il quite a feasible route. His views in regard I
the road had been much changed since examining an
aMerlainng the feasibility Of passing that point
What he had formerly regarded as formidable obslI
II Gle, was most feasible and practicable route. Ih
doctors remarks in reference TO the President of III
~ River r. II. Company, were sarcastic and sever
lie said il appeared TO be the belief OF that gentema
mat all west fConnecticut river was his by right, an
all east by adoption.
Hon. James White of Mortified, President Of III
Convention expressed his opinion that The Vernon
and Massachusetts, road will 60 ahead and be built
The right place. They had had many difficulties
contend with, but the clouds fast clearing awa'
with respect to the road between Grouts and win
mansel be considered il important part of the Tv,
road, and its interests in many respects dentic
with those of the W. and Mass road In his opinio
now was the time for the friends oithe Hampshire al
III Franklin road TO work. The enterprise cannot be a
compIshed by talk conventions. He believed Il
road would be built if those along the line determine
u should be- and at set about the work with e
efgy and due regard TO their own interests.
The resolutions were unanimously adopted.
On motion, a committee Of one from each town
presented was appointed TO act as chairman OF the