The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-04-07
THE BENNINGTON ROAD.

The friends of the Western Vermoo,
Railroad held meeting at Pittsfed, ,
few days since, to hear the report Of the
Engineer, MIR. Hanback,: who, with the
aid Of Mr.. w. B. Gilbert and MEL
Winslow, had surveyed the road from
Bennington to Rutland. From Benninu-
ton, the line follows branch of the Hon.
sic, which flows southwesterly from the
summit in SALISBURY, until it arrives at
the head waters of the Batten Kill-about
half mile east of Judge Bottoms. 1t
then follows the south branch of this
stream up to its junction with the main
stream at Arlington. 1t then follows the
Batten Kill to its summit in Dorset. then
down Otter Creek TO Rutland, termina-
ting half mile from the court house.
The maximum grade is 45 feet per mile.
33 miles have grades from level up to
20 SO are strait and 20 curved. The
total cost is estimated at 81 ,294, 900, or
little less than S23, 900 per mile, inclu
ding cars. fixtures and motive power &c.
The estimated cost from Rutland to Bur
lington is sl,5OO,OOO, and the whole
from Pittsfeld to Burlington, about I5s
miles, i. 5000, 900, or s2l 900 per mile,
for road Of the very best character
The meeting was addressed by A. P. LYMAN
Esq. Of East Bennington, G. w. Strong Esq. of
Rutland, Hon. George Bliss, of Springfield, Mr..
Simmons of Bridgeport CT. and D. K Minor ESQ
OF New York
Mr.. Strong read letters from persons interested
in the construction ofthe road, furnishing much
valuable information in regard 10 the presea,
business of the country. In speaking of the busi-
ness the last season upon Lake Champlain, Mr.
S. mentioned that the No. of passengers cor
veyed by the Lake Champl>in Transportation
Company (aS near as could be ascertained the
Company making no public expose of their aft
airs) was from So, 600 10 100000 The No eon-
vcyed over the railroad from ST. Johns TO the ST.
lawrence was 35,000-three fourthS of which
was pleasure travel. MI Bliss, of Springfield,
addressed the meeting al some length. He dis
cuSsed very fully the importance OF this road to
the stockholders in the Western Rail Road Cor
poration, and remarke upon the probable assis-
lance that would be rendered by the Corporation
in its cOnStrucliOn.-The estimates of the Erei-
neerS in regard 10 the cost of the road he believed
were made with great fidelity, and would lie
found to be over the actual expenditure.
Mr.. SimonS, IF BlidgroTt, ,horgh not IN au-
thorized agent Of the Housatoric Railroad Com
pany, expressed the lelief that the Company AID
its friends would render every assistance in their
power to forward this enterprise
Nh. Minor, of New York, favored the meeting
with some interesting renal KS in relation to II {
prospects OF Railroads in this country and Eng
land.
On motion of Hon. George Bliss, it was
VoTEp, That Geo. ". Snong Esq, A. P. Ly-
man Esq, Leonard Sergeant Esq. and C. W
Fenion Esq. be Prudential Committee, with
instructions 10 have The Engineers Report pTin-
ted, together with such other information as they
may see fit 10 add, and as soon as they may think
admiSsal le 10 t3ke he PGoTer measures to have
The books ol'oned for subscriptions.
1t is certainly highly gratifying tc western
Vermont to witness the promising prospects
of this noble enterprise. Ii is by 10 means
certain that if the Fitohburg and Cheshire
people still insist upon their absurd project
Of going up 10 Cheshire bridge, and there
forming most unnatural connection with
the Central road to tn t prejudice Of the Rut
land, the friends oft the latter road will not
look 10 some other quarter for the benefits
which they are determined 10 derive from a
Railroad through this rich ard beautiful por-
lion of the county.