The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-01-25

miles, will, it is confidently believed be in readi
ness for the cars, by the first day of January, ls49
and the remainder at a somewhat later period du-
ring the same year.
It has thus far been the policy Of the Board, to
urge the work of grading only sections where
large amount of excavation or embankment was
to be encountered; sections less formidable, and
recurring less time to complete, have been gener-
] ally Notwithstanding thereby to perfect, as
near as possible at the same moment, long and
uninterrupted portions of the line, without unne-
cessary loss of interest These lighter sections
will be commenced as carly in the approaching
spring, as the weather and season will permit.
A proposition from a contractor of great expe-
| rience to construct the bridges on the Bellows
Falls, Mount Holley and Rutland divisions, has
been made and accepted. These structures indis
pensible to the-safe running Of the road, and ne
cessarily so expensive, have engaged the careful
attention of the board, and they have sought the
| best lights of experience and science to guido
! them to a correct result The "Hove plan" so
called has received their appreciation and been a.
dopted.
On the 14th of Jan, ls47, the Directors enter
| ed into a contract with an extensive iron mani
facturer of Boston for the rails sufficient for the
whole road-and on terms which at the time, were
regarded as highly favorable to the Corporation.
He has recently been compelled to yield to severe
pressure in the money market. Previous to which
|
was released from the delivery of the first two
thousand tons of these rails, and the same quality
| has been contracted for, of English manufacture
and at rates more favorable than had been stipu-
lated for in the original contract. Our interests
with regard to the balance of the contract are
moro especially con6ded to the Gentlemen Of our
Board residing at Boston, whose watchful care
will be always directed TO the subject, and through
whose agency and fundamentally we have reason
to hope for an early and satisfactory adjustment
of the subject.
| The board take much pleasure in being able to
state that for the sast iron work required in the
construction of the road and for its car furniture
we shall not be obliged to depart from its line -
The iron manufactured ut Brandon and Pittsford
from the brown hematite ore, has acquired, as it
deserves, high character for strength, tenacitv,
and solidity. By the manufacturers there, We are
to be supplied with our rail chairs and all other
necessary cast iron appendages. In this connec-
ton it is proper further to remark that enterprs
ing individuals have recently erected extensive
mandatory at Brandon for the construction of
rail road cars of all descriptions, with whom We
have contracted for 100 freight cars, 40 gravel
cars, and eighty baggage cars. We shall be ena
bled, We trust, to procure from them any further
quantity we may require, including perhaps pass
engcr cars, of material, workmanship, style and
finish equal to any now manufactured in the coun-
try.
The Directors have also contracted with the
Taunton Locomotive Manufacturing Compa-
nv, for eight engines of Is tons each for pas
senger service, and four Engines for freight
service of twenty tons each. This contract,
compared with present prices for such ma
chimes, is highly favorable for the Corporation,
and We have the fullest confidence in the abil-
ity and disposition of the contractors to give
them to us of the very best material and work.
manship, and embracing all the Improvements
of the present day.
Contracts for large portion Of the materi-
ais to be used in the superstructure of the road
such as subsls and ties, and for fencing lumber
to a considerable extent, have been entered
| into.
The Directors have concluded an arrange
ment with the Cheshire Rail Road Company,
by virtue of which the two corporations are to
use. in common, the Depot grounds and De
pot buildings at Bellows Falls, the common
termination of both roads at Connecticut nv
err. A large saving OF expense, is by this
measure secured to both corporations, and the
greatest facility afforded for the interchange
of business, on both lines Of road.
On the subject of land required for Depots,
and land for the road bed, the directors have
to communicate that at Burlington, Vergennes,
",
Falls, the land for depot use has been mostly
secured. The quantity taken varies at the
different localities, as in the judgment of the
board the future wants of the corporation may
require An opportunity was presented at
Burlington for the purchase of tract Of land
of about seventy acres, on terms considered so
! favorable, that it was embraced at once. Por-
tons of this tract Will not be required for I'M
mediate use, and should the Corporation so de-
ternine, might be sold either noc, or probably
at any future period, at aconsiderable advance
upon its cost. 1t is rapidly increasing III val
ne, and in connection with other lands owned
by the corporation, (giving us a Lake front Of
about 280O feet contiguous to the business sec
ton of the town and in Immediate connection
with our Depot buildings,) cannot fail to in
crease in value for many years to come These
grounds afford ample room for the accommo-
dation of all the roads which may ultimately
terminate at Burlington, and it cannot be
doubted that the wise and comprehensive pol
icy which originated these great enterprises,
will in the end connect them where the public
convenience unites with the interest Of each
corporation to bring them all to a common ter
mmation.
The Depot grounds at Rutland have been
laid out, and the grade and track adjusted with
reference to a connection with the Rutland &
Washington rail road,-a road recently char
tered, and one, it is confidently believed, soon
to be built. The last road connecting with the
Whitehall and Saratoga rail road, opens to us
the waters Of Lake Champlain, at the head Of
navigation, the markets of the Hudson river,
and the immense trade and travel Of the great
West.
So again at Bellows Falls,-our grounds
there will afford ample accommodation not on
ly for our own, and the Cheshire rail road,
but for the roads in the valley of the Connect
lieut., diverging therefrom both above and be-
low to all of which the access is easy, with
favorable grades and curves. From this point
railway communication is soon to be opened,
Northwardly, through the vallies of the Con-
necticut and Passumpsic to the north line Of
the State, and thence with Montreal; South
wardly, through the valley Of the Connecticut,
with Springfield, Hartford, New Haven and