Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-10-29

"c' ""tioIity u So unnecessary anu Injurious Il
project
bridging the Navignbic Waters in Connect-
lieut..
Just at this period, when efforts are making
to induce our State Legislature to authorize the
construction of bridge across the navigablc
waters of Lake Champaign, we are glad in being
able to call the attention of our readers to the
following statement made by Committee to
the citizens of Hartford, Conn, respecting the
proposed bridging of Connecticut River. We
find the statement in the New York Express of
the 23d inst, where it appears over the sigma
lures of James Goodwin, Thomas S. Williams,
and 81 others.
The reader will perceive at once that there
ara several points Of remarkable similarity in
the grounds taken by those who oppose the
bridging project in Connecticut and Vermont.
The Pubiic Go0d does not demand the Bridge
in either instance and the PUBLIC Coop is the
only and paramount motive that can Justify the
exercise, by the Legislature, of its sovereign
authority to interfere injuriously with this
large amount and ancicm right of navigation"
The following is the statement
! New York AND BosroS RAILROAD BstGE At Mp
| bIErowN.-1'he friends ot the proposed NIddctown
Railroad, sometimes called the " Air Line" lave
lately put forth statements in or more OF the New
ork papers having extensive circulation IN Con-
ncccut. which iiuncon,radictcd and believed, would
have an injurious influence upon other rights and per
sons.
! While the people Of the Connecticut valley have q
deep interest to prevent the proposed bridging OF Con
ncctcut river at Md Ilctowr, they do and ought
not to oppose the railroad itself II MiddIctown can
without wrong TO Others, procure railroad to be bu
through that city, slt and others have Just right It
accomplish II, and ENJOY whatever benefit may re-
suit from their success Bat it shocks all common
sense affirm. is done in the statement referred to
tla the engineer has given g clear demonstration .
the harmIcssncsr OF the bridge proposed to the nav
CATION OF Connecticut river.
AT the late session OF the Connecticut Legislature
the slnie engineer had the ampcs opportunity to pre-
Sent his statements aud demonstration, before a com
mtee OF nine members. lie twice appeared before
them to testify on this subject. Three OF the commit
tee were, or had been, sea captains. Many comman
ders and pilots OF tcanbonls propelcrs schooners an,
sloops were examined before them. What the re
suit Why, eight OF the nine entirely conceded il
opinion and reported accordingly -. That a bridge
authorized by the 18th section Of the charter, r0uiC
rery materially and seriously njure aud obs'ruct tn,
navigation ot the river, the fee navigation OF which
of great importance to the public, and that neither The
advantages arising from such bridge, nor the public
demand tor the same, are, or rH be, sufficient TO Jus
lily the great sacrifice OF other Interests which wou,
be accustomed thereby and they therefore recomuiGn,
, a repeal of said l1lh section
| One OF many objections 10 the bridge may be thu
stated. The aggregate amount OF Tonnage wlllci
passes yearly up and down, by the proposed bridge
exceeds four hundred thousand tons. The number o
passages of sloops, schoJncrs. propccIs and steam
boats which make up the above tonnage, is between
two and three thousand annually -eqlal to an aver
age of ten or twelve day, during the season of nav!
| ontin tn thrpuuh n uuWiplIlv draw nj Tee
in width But the waiting Tor winds often brings to
gthcr two or three times hnt number 10 pass tn
draw on the same day Every vessel abou, TO pas
must lower sail shut oil stcain,ior II Is bound, b.
law to " stop and to " warp, or be drawn through
the draw without the aid OF sails machinery. The
are, further, all bound to wait aud let the draw b
closed often regular train oil cars is expected
pass on the Railroad.
With snch evidence before u.s. in respect to the eii'c
of bridge can it be surprising how the opposite
should have been able to make so strong and iorinda
bic head against 1t I!
On the other hand what is the urgent reason f.
interfering with this large amount and ancient rig
OF navigation
The railroad has at least alternative beside
the proposed bridge 1t may have Terry, as the West
ern Railroad has, at Albany. Fifteen minutes wa
proved before the committee, to be fair average n
lowancc ofcxra time Tor passing a train by II icrr
instead of a bridge.
CATION OF her largest river that passengers may say
fifteen minutes between New \ ork and Boston
1t is further stated by the friends of the propose
railroad that there is reason to fear that AN int
gent Legislature will ever cripple the charter OF ii
company by repeating the power to build the bridge
Let us see. In 1916, without any previous notice
and near the middle OF session OF five or six week
the present bridge PROJECT was announced. 1t was
complete surprise on cit 2 ms. But suitable IL
nsla,ve Committee had been previously appointed
the charter was plsled through the Legislature an
passed the popular branch by minority OF SO.
Alter the close of the session, meetings were he
and petition for the repeal OF the bridge charter WI
forthwith served the corporators oi the Iailroa
They had nine mgnhs notice To prepare, and al Il
following session. .lSi1, both parties were fully hear
The Commute, ,ish to one, reported for repeal
the bridge clause oi the churtr The House OF Rel
rcsentatvrs, i20 H. 80, voted Tor the rcpcal--maor
$ against the bridge 81. Making, in the pcpui
, branch, change OF siXv-scv votes against Il
bridge, in year, from 1916 to 1917 Only Il sing
vote in the Senate prevented the repeal
Even the PERMISSION 10 organize, with subscnptlc
oi halt million, was given only on the express col
dition that the company should not proceed ~ ere
I the bridge until two millions were subscribed
II may thus be seen how tar The pegple are gcttlI
satisfied with the proposed bridge
, A petition has been already served on the corpor
tors, which will bring the sanh question oi yepedl b
Y fore the next Legislature.
The statements proceed from no disposition to il
jure rctard the projected railrood. They are MAJ
To correct what considered very erroneous stat
ments, injurious Ia the rights OF the navigation, and,
unconlradiced. prcndicia to the petition and cai
/ for repeal of the bridge charter OF the Middleton
railroad, now pending and TO be heard before the /.
gisaturc ol this State.
e Hartford Oct lirh, 1911.
c Signed by Jaccs Goodwin and - Other
: Committee Of the City of Hartford.