The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-02-03

Company, noade TO The StOcEhOtaerS 0t Wed
Annual Meeting held at Rutland, Jan. II,
1913.
The act incorporating the Champlain and
Connecticut river Railroad Company makes
no provision for a detailed report, to the
stockholders, or even to the Legislature, OF
the proceedings of the corporation, their re-
ceipts and expenditures, except through a
committee of the Legislature, specially APP
pointed for that purpose. 1t is believed, new
ertheess, that the present occas on may be
fairly improved, to present to this large as
Semblagc of Stockholders a summary, at least,
of the proceedings of their Directors during
the past year, with a statement from the
Treasurer of the corporation, showing its past
receipts and disbursements, and our present
fiscal condition.
The enterprise in which we are engaged,
gentlemen, is one Of great interest and lmpor-
lance, not only to US, its stockholders and the
immediate region Of country through which
the road passes, but to the whole state OF YER
mont, to Boston, to New England, and to
New York. A country fertile in the produt+
tons of agriculture, and rich in minerals to
an unparalleled extent, is penetrated by this
road, and rendered accessible at all seasons OF
the year. BY it the markets Of the Atlantic
are brought to our doors, and over 1t, the
trade and travel of the mighty West and Cam
ada will find their outlet to all our great cities
and towns
1t is not the purpose of the Directors to re-
capitulate the embarrasSments and difficulties
which beset this enterprise in its early stages
To some extent they might perhaps have been
nationally anticipated, as incident to all rail-
road undertakings. But you cannot fail to
remember how often and how seriously the
existence of this project was threatened and
perilled To its great merits alone are we IN
debted for the cheering prospects now before
US. Those prospects justify the anticipation
of an early completion of our great work,
completion, too, according to our original de-
sign, connecting the river and the lake, and
within the estimates furnished by our Chief
Engineer upon his preliminary survey.
1t will be recollected that in January, 1S47,
the Directors accepted the proposals OF par
ty, for the grading, masonry, bridging, super
structure and laying the iron rails, on the
Burlington division of the road, extending
from Burlington to Brandon, distance of
about 81 l-3 miles. The party alluded to
failed to enter into written contract though
called upon for that purpose, or to commence
the work as agreed-whereuro the Dlrec-
tors, regarding the matter as an abandonment,
on or about the first of May, 1947, proceeded
to relet that Division of the road, which they
we're enabled to do to a company of contrac-
tors on equally favorable terms The work
was thereafter Immediately commenced, and
has been prosecuted since, with as much en-
ergy as seemed to be required to secure its
co npletion within the season of 1S4S.
The grading and masonry on that part OF
the line extending from Bellows Falls up to-
and including, the summit at Mount Holly
was also put under contract in January, 81 Z
On this division of the road portion of the
work has been interrupted, and in one in
stance suspended for few weeks, by the fail
) ure or abandonment of the contractors. This
portion has been reIet and the whole is now
, in the hands of parties on whom the Dlrec
: tors confidently rely for as early completion
of the work as the nature of the country anC
the obstacles to be overcome, will justify OF
permit
= In June, 1917, the directors put under con
e tract the balance Of the whole line, being thu
e Rutland division, extending from the western
g slope of the summit at Mount Holly, to thu
=. village of Brandon. Some of the contractor
. on this division also, have abandoned thei
= work, and the same has been relet to others
y with the exception of some few light sections
h which do not require immediate attention, am
,r which can be safely postponed to the openin
,r of another spring.
From the foregoing statement you will pei
- ceive that the whole line of road has bee
> placed, during the year of 1847, and n0a0 Z
Is with very slight and unimportant exception
in under contract-the rates at which this wor
ie has been undertaken are generally very fl
!, vorable, and the contractors are men of e!
= perience and ability.-That portion of tt
= road between Burlington and Rutland, an
IN between Bellows Falls and Ludlow, in a
n over 80 miles, will, it is confidently believe
of be in readiness for the cars, by the first de
Sc of January, 1949, and the remainder at
an somewhat later period during the same yea
1t has thus far been the policy of Il
~ Board, to urge the work of grading only {
lu sections where large amount of excavatiC
IN or embankment was to be encountered; Sc
in tons less formidable, and requiring less tin
at to complete, have been generally postpone
ad intending thereby to perfect, as near as pc
If sible at the same moment, long and uninte
~, rupted portions of the line, without unnect
III. sary loss of interest. These lighter sectio
ad will be commenced as early in the approac
the ing spring, as the weather and season W
permit.
A proposition from contractor of gre
experience, to construct the bridges on t
Bellows Falls, Mount Holly and Rutland
visions, has been made and accepted. The
structures, so indispensable to the safe III
:, ming Of the road and necessarily so expense
~" have engaged the careful attention of
w board, and they have sought the best lights
n% inc, experience and science to guide them tt,c
~" g correct result. The Howe plan" so callt
in has received their appreciation, and be
md adopted.
'h ha On the 18th of JAN, 1S47 the Direct
H." entered ihto contract WIFI an =
bly, mahu'acIurGr III EPSON d 1ol ~" tor,S ' hioh
md lor 'ne "hole io ,a,JnJ - Ill, fo,ona