Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-02-18

three next mon'hs All doubts are now removed i indeed
any have entertained doubs that the road will be compt
cd to Bsleboro, and hu speedily I, believed by many
that the work may be done year the present
time and the longest estimate does exceed year aud
six months.
The following is the third annual report Of the Directors
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE DIRECTORS OF THE
VERMONT & MASS. RAILROAD COMPANY.
Il is now one year and FIVE months since the com
mencement Of work upon your road; and since that
period 1t has been pushed forward as fast crcum.
stances would permit. As the deepest cuttings Of
earth and rock occur upon The first six mics gu, Oi
Fitchbufg, and the last eight eastery OF Aihol the
line through Gardiner and Templeion, chartered by
The last legislature and adopted by you your spec.
ial meeting in July last though let subsequent To that
date, was sufficiently in time to give foil preparation
for the rail before the cuttings first mentioned could
be disposed of. Ofihrse the sections
and out Of FiichbuTg contracted tn MesSrs o.
Keeie, Heley, and Boyle, and Messrs Appleton and
Reeve and sections from IS TO %, inclusive through
South Royaston 10 AthO contracted To Nests Pratt
Hopkins & Co. With the first named firm, there has
been any cessation of labor effort from the
time they commenced, in October, lS45. Messrs APP
peton & Reeve now pushing their work with equal
diligence and reasonable doubt exists that both
will be prepared lor the rail in Ap and Mezsrs Pratt.
Hopkins & Co. will be prepared in Jnbe and by that
time tho directors believe the road be opened
Gardner and 10 Athol the July ensuing.
might have been able run far Gardner, in
January. Had the been ready, the superstruct-
uTe would have been necessarily laid ia mid-winler,
involving, (in our cimaic,) serious question wheti
er, in ordinary circums ances this is economy The
action &c the frost upon the track leaves il very
vrn and requires about a. much extra labor in future
repairs rs the original outlay OF laying IL, absorbing
the earnings Of the time saved, 10 say nothing Of the
risk Of working road laid under such disady ages.
II will he recoected, that, your last annual meet
ing, gave in report the estimated cost OF
siructng our road from Grours, in Montague, via
Greenfield aud via Mortified, TO Brsuleboro. The
question Of the adoption NJ either route, YOU then
frrre To your Board Of Directors Alter having care
fully examined this important question, the Board on
the 9th Of October last voted 10 adopt the Mortified
route, due notice whereof was gveD and sek wleslg
cd BY the proper authorities OF the county Of Franklin,
pursuant 10 the OF The 10th Of April 1876 In ac-
cordance with this vote, the line from Grout's to
Norih6ed has been carefully re-surveyed land for the
track bonded; and the whole way from Aihol To North
field, within IS miles oi Bratleboro, put under
tract 10 he finished in October cunning The last IS
miles 10 that point is being surveyed, with view
OF having The same ready for contract early in the
spring.
The amount received by the treasurer To
February I, lss7, is s60l,65275
Do. paid out, 5i,7I459
Balance OF cash on hand, S50,6ss O6
10 order that your Board may be enabled TO COM
pete the road BIatleboto soon as practicable il
will be necessary supply some additional requires
beyond the amount OF the capital stock subscr b.
ed. This subject, although Il has received the stien-
ton of the Board, has been sufficiently maiured By
them 10 present any plan for your adoption at this
meeting. II has been suggested that the Ffchburg
Railroad Company would be willing to purchase the
lower portion oi road from Fchburg TO the Ches-
hire junction. No negotiations have yet been had
because neither company has the power TO make the
purchase sale. II may be well for you TO author.
Directors d Deliflon N The All.
ture for power make such sale. With this power
granted it may be hereafter found advisable TO make
sale OF mat portion Of our road 10 the Fichburg Com
pany upon terms mutually advantageous. IN that
case should be in favorable condition to complete
our road with all proper dispatch.
A considerable portion Of the contracts which have
been lately made is "a be paid for 10 stock; and when
the road shall be completed 10 Orange or AthoI our
financial prospects will be as encouraging those OF
any company chartered by this State, whose ruad is
now in progress Of construction. With road COM
pleed, in continuous piece than hall Of the
whole line, and in successful operation we shall be able
10 demonstraie that our stock will prove safe and
profitable investment.
AMOUNT OF WORK DONE.
Annexed herewith are the quantities OF eanh-work,
masonry, and bridging, done upon the Vermont and
Massachusetts Railroad, per books Of Messrs Ed
wards & Johnson, up TO January LIST, ls47, viz:
Earth removed, i,7sa'oo cubic yards.
Masonry built, so, 1876 perches.
Truss bridging built, 1900 iineal feet.
IRON RAILS.
Our contract Tor this article is believed To have been
effected at lower rates than by any otter New Eng
land company during the past year. Quantity pur
chased, $3.50 tons. This is sufficient to lay track
far Us Orange, five miles above Athol The weight
Of The rail- (which is beautiful pattern) is Sc pounds
10 the yard. Five cargoes have arrived, and the
mander is to be shipped from Liverpool on or beiore
the coming April.
BRANCHES TO OUR ROAD.
Little has been done in the way Of branches; that
to Amherst, however, promises TO be bul and to jain
road at or near GIous lis understood that the
location has been filed, and BY those acquaiRed, Is
deemed of much importance 10 the Vermont and Mass
achusetis Railroad. The survey certainly in
dcaies il Of the cheapest 10 the country
and ts friends commend il To your favorable consider
alton.
An attempt als0 is again being made, similar 10 the
one OF the last session of the Leg stature 10 tap oar
road in obique direction from Gardner 20 the Wor-
cesier trunk II is believed that this Effort will share
the fate Of the former; and that there Is too deep
sense Of justice ia this Legislature in the last,
allow the tapping Of line OF travel not only before il
has fairly gone into operation, or It's results known,
but TO swell the profits Of corporation, heretofore d
ecily indirectly, favored by the State aid, OF which,
in our struggle ofiniancy, we are deprived.
LEASE OF THE ROAD.
A con,rac, has been effected with the Fitchbure
Railroad Company, by which they are 10 pay six per
cent the cost Of that portion east Ol Orange, dur
ing the construction OF the remaining part year
from date of opening 10 Aihol.
Il only remains for your Board 10 say, that they
have intended to give you The best road oil which the
country was capable. Although il has been few
weeks longer in the construction, Il will prove To be