Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-07-19


lures, sufficient for the purposes of the Road
. and of convenient and permanent character, il
estimated at $4,000 which is exclusive o
wharf and warehouse accommodations at Bur.
lington. not ye estimated. The time has ar
rived when longer delay in providing these adj
d!tional structures can hardly be justified
Your newly-elected Board, it is presumed, will
move with promptitude in this matter, under
! such direction, il any, as you may think proper
TO give them.
The period is near at hand, Gentlemen, when
we shall be called upon 10 make new, and, we
have no doubt, profttble connections with other
Railroad corporations, entering upon our line
Since your last meeting, the construction of the
Road from Whitehall to Rutland has rapidly
progressed and is now nearly ready for the
superstrucurc. The Road from Rutland 10
Troy, by way of Salem, is under contract, the
grondng of eleven miles to CasIleton completed
and The work on the remainder steadily pro-
crossing. Road from Albany to Rutland, by
way OF bennington, is now receiving its final
location, under the charge of out former chief
engineer, Mr.. Gilbert, and men of wealth,
character and enterprise, engaged in the pro-
| ect, give assurances that it will be Immediately
built. These respective routes unite ith us at
Rutland. When completed, we shall have di-
rect connection with Lake Champain at the
head OF lis navigation-wth Saratoga and the
lines OF Railroads and Canals through Western
New York, reaching the great Lakcs-wth the
Hudson River and all the markets upon her bor-
ders-and with the City of New York, both by
Steam Boat and Railroad.
The Hudson River Railroad, now completed
and running between New York and Pough-
keepsie, is Immediately to be finished, termin.
ating at Albany. We have direct connection
with il over either and all of the three lines
named, after which, less than eleven hours run.
ming time between New York and Burlington
is amply sufficient TO make the trip. The char
acteristics Of the whole line afford the opportu-
nifty OF attaining high rate of speed. and in
distance it has manifesly decided advantage
over any other route. The entire travel north
and south, must be thrown upon this line. and
we of the Rutland and Burlington with our
Boston connection, cannot fail to be greatly be-
nefited by it.
From our eastern terminus at Bellows Falls.
Railroad ia constructing down the valley of
the Connecticut River to Bra,tleboro', where
we come in connection with the Vermont and
Massachusetts, leading TO Boston, and with the
Connecticut River Railroad, following the val
ley OF that river TO Hartford, thence so New
llaven and New York, or diverging and reach.
ing by Railroad all the principal cities and
Island.
These several Roads, when completed, would
seem to perfect the magnificent system of pub.
lc works in which we are interested, South and
East, and bring our own into line for the North.
ern and Southern as well as the Eastern and
Western travel of New England. We cannot
all to derive great acccssons to our business
from these new lines, and it does not seem DOS.
slble that rival or parallel routes can ever be |
constructed TO deprive us Of the expected bene- |
fits, or even to divide them with us.
The occasion of our last annual meeting was
improved 10 lay before you somewhat in detail,
the position in which we were then iced in |
reference 10 the Vermont and Canada Road. and
its connection with ours at the village of Bur.
lington. Controlled and directed rs this Cor
poraton is, by an influence adverse 10 our in.
iercsts, and apparently disposed to divert its bus
iness from us at any and every sacrifice, re-
gardless of the obligations imposed upon them
10 connect their Road with ours, it was deemed
expedicat to procure from the Vermont Legis-
laiure, an amendment of our charter, which was
obtained at their October session in 1919, and
which, if accepted, authorizes this Company to
construct Road from Burlington, to intcrscct
the Vermont and Canada at the village of st.
Adams. This act is favorable for the purposes
tor which 1t was des gned, and will be submit |
ed for your consideration, on the question of ae.
ccptancc. 1t is not deemed eXpcdient to discuss
in this Report the merits of this question:
This can be more fully and satisfactorily done
by you, Gentlemen, in open meeting, prepared
as we trust many Of you are, to throw upon it |
the light necessary TO lead us to Just and wise
conclusion. 1t would seem indispensable, how
ever, that the subject be now disposed of, as
the act expires by its own limitation in two
years from the date OF its passage.
Previous to the opening of the Road through |
its entire line, and up TO January 1st, 1850, the
income arising from the running of detached
and separate portions, and the expenses of the
same, have all been included in construction
account. This course was adopted from the
obvious necessity and propreiy of the case-
The furniture the Road, including every spare
engine, with the platform and gravel cars, were
necessarily used on construction. The eXpen-
scs, including wood, oil, wages, repairs, &c,
were not and could not be accurately separated
and kept distinct from similar expenses aiten
ding the legitimate business of running these
detached portions for freight and passengers
Since the first OF January, the Superintendent
has opened his books, in meihodcal and sys-
tematic form, and his report herewith will show
the extent of our operations both in the freight
and passenger service. 1t must be observed
lhat thc monthly income Is exclusive OF that
portion belonging to Roads below, or in other
words is the portion only which belongs to this
Road, chargcabe Of course with our own cur
rent expenses in operating the same. The
amount of these net earnings would be, and we
think should be increased, by charging construc-
ton with the actual expenses of our trains, and +
their wear and tear, engaged in the business
OF graveng, transporting materials and per-
forming other various kinds of service on cen
struction. This sum we estimate at $4,000.
II is possible that the income or earnings Of
the Road may fall below the expectations of
some. We would ask such to consider and re-
member that tho line was opened in the dead
of winter, season of the year when business in
the country, both in freight and travel, is pre-
verbally dull, soon followed by the spring,
which has been unusually cold, backward, and
wet The business of the country could not
be expected, upon the moment, to leave its old
and accustomed channels This new avenue
led TO comparatively new market, with which
many of our business men were to make them.
selves first acquainted and there is a natural
and well-dciined reluctance to venture npon
now md untrip1 GaId fnr traIo apJ n,