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

chendon. The aggregate business Of these towns,
for ten miles, would be lost by taking the Winchen-
don route. And on the other hand, by going
through Wnchendon, you get the business of that
village and the business oil the Cheshire road six
seven miles further. We arc ready TO admit that
the amount of bushes from Winchendon and the
Cheshire road would be much greater than that of
the towns mentioned. But the business OF the
Baldwinvillc route would be our own aud all the
profits of it would inure TO our corporation. But
it is not so with the business coming from the
Cheshire road. The principle is well established,
and the main roads must do the business Tor the
branches at greatly reduced price. This expert
ence of all roads thus situated, shows that the BUSH
ness which properly belongs TO the road yields
good profit, while that which comes upon the road
from branch, must be done for mere remunera-
ting price. All that can be said in favor of this
Cheshire business, is this-lhat by locating the
road through Winchendon, YOU will transport their
passengers and freight some six or seven miles fur
Their which, when we consider the rates at which
it must be done, is matter of but little moment.
Another important view ofthis subject ought not to
be overlooked The Vermont and Massachusetts
road is chartered to Brateboro. At that point, it
will come in competition with the road up the val
ley Of the Connecticut There will be point, be-
low Greenfield, where the travel to and from Bos-
ton, will diyide-a part will 90 down the river to
Springfield, and so go to Boston over the Western
road-and part will ntersect with the Vermont
and Massachusetts road, and reach Boston by way
OF Fitchburg 1t may become mere question Of
distance aud time. In such competition, the two
miles saving or the Badwinyie lne may become
very important There is petition now before
the Legislature, and an order Of notice has already
been served upon our Corporation, for a Railroad
from Worcester to Greenfield and BraiIleboro-
The advocates for that route maintain that there is
lint nf,alA tn
Boston, through Worcester, or through Fhchburg
The increase Of our line two miles, through Win
chendon, might in such case turn the tables
against us, aud prove serious detriment TO our
road. 1t seems to be extremely unwise TO increase
the length of our road two miles, for the purpose Of
transporting the Cheshire freight aud passengers
SIX or seven mes-when, by so doing, we might
lose an amount equally great from the Conneetl-
cut valley, which would pass over the whole road.
But this is not all. The business of the Chesh-
ire road is in all probability greatly oyeHated.
1t is admitted all hands, believe, that the Cen
trail road in Vermont, find their way to Boston
much easier over the Concord, then over the
Cheshire road-the distance and grades being de-
cidedly in favor of the former This of course,
will reduce materially the amount oil business which
will come upon our road from the Cheshire road
and hence lessen the inducemeni to 90 out Of our
way to receive it. Another view of this question
must force itself upon the minds of all who reflect
upon the subject road will as matter of course.
be constructed in few years, up the river, from
Bratleborough to Bellows Falis-and whenever
that is done, there will be a brisk competition be-
tween our road and the Cheshire for the heavy
freight 1t is well known that the grades from
Bellows Falls TO Boston, over the Cheshire road,
are from 60 to 20 f. per me-while the maximum
grade by way Of Brattleborough will be only about
As or 46 feet 1t is a well established principle,
fhafaV la Al.
require additional engine, when you have
maximum load and, as the difference between the
Cheshire road and is at least 30 fee, in grade.
we should be able to compete successful with them
Tor the heavy freight which should arrive at Bellows
Falls. The extra distance would be more than
compensated for by our lower grades. 1t would,
then in my estimation, be species Of madness in
to englhen our road two miles, fortthe sake of
playing into the hands of our rival by giving them
two miles advantage in distance.
The Vermont and Massachusetts road is not
destined 10 stop at Bratieboro; it will ultimately
go farther, in some direction other, and the saw
ing oftwo miles in distance may become an impor-
tant consideration in deciding the final destination
Of long line of travel With these facts and con-
sideratons before us, am unable to see how
true friend of the Vermont and Massachusetts, road
can advocate the frightening of our road two miles
unnecessarily, when this increase Of distance may
individual whose heart and soul is in the Cheshire
road and who has pecuniary interest in that cor
poraion, should be DESTROYS of having ;he Vermont
and Massachusetts corporation build some six or
seven miles Of their road, and save them the ex-
penditure of from Sl50,00 TO 5000, 0O0 when
this six or seven miles runs through country,
where the local business would not pay one per
cent on the cost Of that portion ofthe road can,
also, perceive that the friends of the Cheshire road
may desire 10 increase the length Of our road two
miles, to prevent its coming in competition with
their own, Tor the business of Vermont
An effort has been made TO alarm the stock hold
ers, by holding up the idea, that ifthe Badwinye
route is adopted, cross road will be constructed
from Badwinyille to Worcester, by which the Bos-
ion travel will be diverted from our road Ia rela-
non 10 this, will simply say, that as the distance
to Boston from Baldwinville, by way of Worcester,
would be from eight TO ten miles further than by
fllchburg, there is no probability that it would If
constructed injure the Vermont and Massachusetts
road But If such a road is regarded as an evil by
the stockholders OF our road, they can in no way
hasten that evil more eifecually than by locating
our road through Winchendon. road from
worcester to Baldwinve, would intersect the Yer
mont and Massachusetts by extending il about three
miles, TO Gibsons over a country exceedingly IA
vorable and II the towns Of Gardner, Templeton,
and Hubbardston, are disconnected by the location
Of our road their zeal and interest would be found
more than sufficient to build the three additional
miles; and road so built, with ours through Win
chendon' would do us much greater harm than
though we should adopt the chartered route.
The Commissioners having decided against the
change, an appeal is to be made to the Legis-
lalure to so alter the charter TO allow the corpo-
ration to construct the road through Winchendon.
But 1t is manifest, that we shall go before the Leg
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