Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-05-31


This is the distinguishing feature of my
plan--and il, is free from the objection of
absorbing the private resources of active
men; aud free from the risk of hating in
this great work, at every step, for want of
tangible means.
propose that, Immediately after the sur
veys are made, the company proceed to con-
struct this railroad on the whole route, 90
ing to work at once, on as many different
points as practicable aud building at diff
cult points, temporary railroads, TO be used
while the permanent railroad is construct
ing--and actually bringing into use the va
rious portions of the road as fast as COM
pleted
The company being thus in possession of
tangible means, and acting under sense Of
the imperative necessity of giving to the
public the facilities of railroad travelling as
fast as practicable, will very soon reduce to
moderate distance the inconvenience of
land journey to California, and will secure
the completion of the entire line in the
brietest period practicable. And in the in
term, the mail-stage and the traveller, by
the land route, by following as near as con-
venient, the track marked out for the rail-
road, will avail themselves more and more
every day, of the comfort and protection
naturally Incident to the incpient stages of
civilization, which accumulate on the line
of IA railroad, from the very moment it is
begun to the day of its completion.
propose that while the road is construct
lug, line of telegraph be constructed, as
far and as fast as practicable, to transmit in
tellgence for the purposes of the road, and
for the government, and for the public gen.
orally.
| propose that no stimulus stronger than
cold water be allowed to be used by the Of
ficers and men employed by the road or by
the contractors. This rule has been found
of inestmable value in building aud carry
ing on the New England railroads, in the
construction of the Boston water works,
and in the navigation of New England ves-
sells.
| propose that at points of any difficulty,
two separate sets of men (relieving each
other) be employed, to secure the continual
ton of the work, night and day, and that,
at the most difficult points, three separate
parties of men working each of them 8
hours day. be employed, to secure con-
/
meal-times or by night, employing in all
cases as many men as can work to advan-
tage, and having all sorts of work going on
at the same time, for the purposes of the
road, both OH the route of the road and
elsewhere; so that there may be no delay
which can be avoided. This course was
pursued in bringing the water of Cochitu-
ate lake into Boston, from distance of 20
miles, through two SUBMITS and great phys
ical obstacles and in the unprecedentedly
short space of two years and two months,
from the day the first spade struck the
ground to begin the work, the city and its
citizens found themselves in the full use of
tie water, flowing through work calcula-
ted to endure for ages,
The Importance in a pecuniary point OF
view of using the road at an early day, is
shown by appendix B, by which it will be
perceived that the extra expense of travel
ling is estimated at S6S, 750, 900 year over
and above what it will be after the railroad
is in use.
The arguments, in favor of the plan, are
fully elucidated in the appendix. By mov-
ing for this plan, the friends of the measure
will, by one sing lie effort, viz, " the passing
of the act" secure the completion of the
road in the shortest possible time; where
as, if they adopt any plan, which relies on
funds created by the sale of the land or
on large amount Of funds, from private in
dividuals; or on funds to be, from time to
time, appropriated by Congress, will
impose upon themselves the never ceasing
labor of Sisyphus, and by the delay waste
enormous sums for the nation.
To secure the loan of the United States
: Stock, made to the Company, and to secure
the carrying forward, in good faith, of the
/, contract made with the Company the Uni
ted States may, if they desire it, take a
mortgage of the road, and its appurtenan-
ces take one-third of the stock, and APP
point one third of the directors, following
the precedent SO successfully practised, by
the State of Massachusetts, in the case OF
the Boston and Albany road, Commonly
called the Western Ralroad,) in which
case, as in the contemplated charter, the
Railroad is Company to provide punctually
for the payment of the interest on the pub.
lie funds loaned to them, and also are tc
provide, and are providing, by sinking
fund, land occasionally by extinguishmen
" P"' SHuSS,I ioi t"S payment, at uutuiitI
Of the principal of the public loan.
r The sos, 000, 900 of the United States c
per cent. Stock, loaned to the Company, be-
in Coupon Stock, payable in London, will
las have the Massachusetts Sterling SIS, IN
the case of the Western Road } furnish, al
any time of need, Exchange on England, tc
be sent there, in lieu of our specie, and OPP
crate as an additional capital, to be used b,
the citizens of the United States.
The sos, 000, 600 of United States Stock
loaned to the Company, (being made paya.
BILE at the rate of S2,000,000 per annum
after so years. will be paid off, by the Com
pany, with perfect ease, either by actua
profits, or by the creation of new Stock, tC
represent the amount paid off
The other distinguishing feature of my
plan is the creation, by single act of Lee
gislation, of one hundred millions of dol
lars Of American labor, by ordering, in thu
very charter, that the materials used in the
construction of the road shall be exclusive
ly of domestic origin. These one hundred
millions Of tangible money will naturally
directly or indirectly, be distributed to pay
for the labor, the manufactures, and the ag
LIZ Al.