Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-02-18
Vermont aud Massachusetts, Rail-
road Compauy,

Pursuant TO notice, this Company hcld us an
nnal meeting at Boston, on Wednesday of last
week. The following gentlemen were chosen
Directors for the year ensuing;
Alvah Croker, fhos. G. Cary, Joshua Crane,
wm.F. Weld, Samuel Raymond, G. Washington
Warren, Otis Everett, J. ID. Bradley, Calvin
Townsley, Gardiner G. Hall, Andrew I. Hall.
We give below the Report of the Directors
for the past year, in full;
1t will be remembered that we stated, in our
last Report, that the most severe excavations
between Fitchburg and Athol were the first
eight miles east from the latter point, and the
first six miles west Of the former. BY the fail
ure Of Messrs. Appleton and Reeves 10 do their
work on the 4th Section, LIST Division, las they
had stipulated to do,) before the month of April,
the Company sustained great loss and inconven-
fence, and the Board Of Directors were compell-
ed to take measures to complete the work. This
delayed our opening the road. And although
the track was laid aud used in July and August,
for distributing material and drawing iron for
the Cheshire Road, yet the road was still unfin-
ishcd in that section, and we did not open TO
Baldwinvile until the first week in September,
And in consequence of the difficult lcdge-cutting
upon Aiessrs Pratt, Hopkins & Co.'S sections,
the road was not fully opened TO Athol, until the
first Of January, ls4S, a distance Of thirty-threc
miles from Fiichburg. To the latter date, the
Fitchburg Company worked the road, allowing
to the Vermont and Massachusetts Company
the receipts over and above the running eSpens-
es, from which date they commenced working
the road under the lease spoken Of in our last
Report.
Graduation Of The Road 10 AMoi.
Great pains and expense have been incurred
in removing all earth likely to be affected by
frost to the depth Of two feet below grade, and
supplying its place with sand or free gravel
The hard primitive soil upon much of this por-
ton of the road has required the hauling Of such
material for miles by engine power. The new
line through the town Of Gardner is particularly
deficient in sand or gravel, and great labor has
been required TO provide the material necessary
to obyiate this difficulty. Notwithstanding
which, the track is now pronounced to be one
of the smoothest, for n new one, in New Eng
land. The superStrueturc is the T rail, weigh
ing Sc lbs. to the yard, secured by spikes TO
chestnut sleepcrs, six inches face, with a heavy
chair of about rs lbs. weight, a part Of the way
laid upon subsills 5 by 8, and a part without
such sils.
Masonry and Bridging.
Besides road bridges, there are 10 river bridg-
6, over the Nashua, Otter and Miller's rivers,
between Fitchburg and Athol, exclusive Of two
beautiful stone arch bridges near Fiichbug-
There are also ~ more river bridges, including
the one across the Connecticut river, between
Athol and Brattleboro. Of these, one is finish
ed, and several others ARE in a state Of forward
ness II the amount which has been spent for
ornament in this part OF construction is small,
the work is believed to be as substantial rs any
to be found in the country.
Depot Buildings and Grounds.
$780, E.s.ll-- - ALL IL H..
buildings upon the road have been completed.
In one or two cases, temporary buildings have
been made. Where bricks could be obtained,
they have been preferred. Much pains has
been taken Mt Templeton and Athol, in con
structing the Freight Depo,s, upon the hes,
plan for convenience and despatch. These
buildings are both made of brick and slated with
the Brattleboro or Guilford slate, for which q
contract has been effected for all the depots be.
tween Athol and Braitleboro, (whcre the Board
shall require Stating at reasonable rates. Large
and ample depot grounds have been purchased
at all the principal points east of, and including
Athol, where the company own about twenty
acres.
Land Damages.
Though some two hundred cases have beer
settled, and bonded, still much remains to b.
done. 1t requires a vast amount Of time and
labor to purchase Gs miles of line of road. 1t Il
hoped, that during the present year we shall bs
able to adjust a large portion of the cases nov
remaining unsettled. No resort has yet beer
had TO juries.
Road Furniture.
The Board have purchased the Barnstabl,
Engine Of the Western Railroad Co, also Ii,
Troy Engine Of the Troy and Greenbush Co.
for the purpose Of grayelling the track. The,
have also contracted with Messrs Davenport
Bridges & Co.. of Fitchburg, for
10 First Class Passenger Cars
A Second q. " "
80 Eight Wheel Box Freight Cars
rs 4" Platform "
20 Four Z" Box Freight "
Amount Of cork done on said Road to Jan. /. 4s
Earth removed, S,56S,252 Yards.
Rock 100000 Z"
Masonry built, 7O,55s Perches.
Truss bridging do. 500 Lineal Feet
Financial.
Total amount TO credit Of capital stock. for full maid
shares, fold stockJ s975.Ol6 0e
for full paid shares, lnew stock,) $685. oC
Received on assessments on new stock, lll,46s Sc
on sundry shares old stock, nor fully pd, 50 1862 OF
Total amount received for bonds issued,
payable in 5 years, 2i2,sOo oC
Total amount received for stock and
bonds, I4al so7 A,
Total amount received as above, to-
gether with amount still due for old
stock, (besides a considerable amount
yet TO be taken by contractors.) l,o43,2 49 81
Total amount OF new stock taken,-
$3.50 shares, at SIS per sharc,- Gil $50 OF
l,654.4s9 81
BONDS as above, 2l2,6O0 OK
oe5 ono N,