Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-12-13
For the Free Press.
Our pet-projCCt----thc Grand Isle Railroad.


Mr.. EDITOR Notwithstanding the strong state
mcnt and vigorous reasoning OF your " lean aud
Iank friend Cassus, am not yet disposed to change
my name, and hope the Legislature will not med |
die with it, BY reference to my former articles, your
readers will perceive, that in suggesting, to the par
ties most interested in the Rutland Railroad, the
continuance Of their road through Grand Isle Coun
ty, did not plead the interests of our County at all
In fact, remarked, that it would be "boheration'
to u.s. We are a quiet independent sort OF people,
and dor't like the idea OF the saucy independent fire
horse poking his nose into our premises. We sup
pose also, that Railroad Corporations generally have
more regard to their own interests, than the parcu
lar accommodation OF n few farmers settled along
their route have contended that the route through
this County would be desirable one than that
which uncle " Casslus" says will probably be " com
pcted during the coming year" He has the advan-
| tage OF your humble friend, P b. l., for he has the
Figures upon his side OF the question aud can guess
better than in reference to mine, since he evidently
| is more familiar with such matters. An actual sur
vcy, however, | am confident, would not only prove
his guesses to be rather wild but would give some
pretty fair figuring The fact that the bottom OF the
Lake, between South Hero and Coches er Point has
not been examined with view to railroad" is our
misfortune, in this discussion. Such an examination,
am confident if" the oldest inhabitants" don't lie
would prove that the said " bottom is pretty well
/ adapted to the driving Of pi Instead Of being
rock Cassus says, 1t very mach rese mblts the
| bottom upon which the Sand Bar Bridge is construc
ted, and that every body knows, will receive piles
readily enough The water is very shallow most of
the distance, and the channel which your cores
pendent refers, would " grow beautifully less by
measurement. The water D1uLd be likely to polish
the rails with ice, little while in winter, and am
inclined to think that there will be trouble
that score Mssisquo Bay, aud at Rouse's Point
| The lake usually remains open, between South He
70 and Colchester Point, about t,r0 Ueeks longer
than at the other points named. So much for the
| remark of Cassus, that the " Like remains open
most of the winter" The rocks and waves by which
Cassius is terrified being thus disposed of. let's 90
| ahead. The draws Of which he speaks would need
little more expense OF attendance than the same
amount OF Road at many other points. For, not
outstanding the immense amount OF shipping neces-
sary do the business for the thriving City OF Check
erbury, the waters of this part OF Lake are but
seldom disturbed by boats of any size. Indeed, in
low water, respectable scow would have to be p-
oted by sober men, get through it all and
sit has been known to get sorey aground. 1t is to
be presumed, that the business OF West Milton, will
be principally diverted from the Lake, when the
Railroad istarly in operation, and could, by prov-
dent charterinl OF teams be transported two miles
the Vt. and Canada road; while all West OF
Chrckcrhury might easily be transacted through
our road as ours could through his 1t is no further
th'ugh have not measured, yet should hazard
the opinion that it is urther from tie west part OF
Milton to South Hero, than it is from South Hero to
the west part of Milton Cassius thinks that our
productions take themselves to the Lake. Very
true but OF what advantage would that be to the
Railrodd!
The cost of grading, he estimates high. BY dig
ging twenty feet, enough OF hard pan would be found
as have recently found to my sorrow, while digging
a well 40 feet IN depth, and if the Railroad would in
such level country as This, be constructed through
a subterrancan passage, his objection would be Il
valid one. have not calculated from this point OF
view" venture the opinlol although am ready
to own to considerable greenness upon this subject
that the route through this County would not be diff
cut to grade. Cassius thinks there is no Gravel in
THIS County suitable for Railroad Pray tell me
Mr. Editor, what kind of gravel is needed We GER
tainy have thousands Of gravel here of various
Our soil is to a considerable extent gravel and
there s much ct the pure article, but whether l.
suitable tor a RAILROAD your deponent saith not ion
the very good reason that he don't know. AS It
the thirty feet grades, and long cuts &c, "iu
tie abscucr Of measurement will not say any thing
, am inclined 10 think that it would appear some
, what like the mpossibiiIty of driving piles between
South Hero and Colchester, and about near being
Formidable the lake is, 81 being open all winter
As to the local business to be furnished 10y Crane
Isle County, some idea Of ii may be obtained by
glance the astics OF the South Island pub shet
, III the Free Press two three years ago. Can you
refer 10 them, General a thousand sheep passed
over the Sand Bar Bridge yesterday, and this is
trivial item. We can't compare with Milton in the
article of pine stumps, pumpkins, though in tho
latter article might do somcthing. 1t is true tina
the railroad would not have to drop out any tlou
barrels here in Wilton, except perhaps cnupiy one
= to be filled with Wheat, but can load up a-gooJ
number OF Cars, with our til 'usands OF bushels o
surplus wheat, not to speak of other grains. Why
General, we can raise more grain in our County thai
in twice the territory in any other part OF Vermont
l. and keep ocks aud herds besides. All the town,
IS in the County, except South Hero and Grand Isle
= are preeminenly gram and cattle growing towns an
:, we at the South end can turn our hand to amos
any kind OF productions We have not yet begun /
;. do what capable OF doing. The farms il
> this County are not mOnsrous large, Cassu
would have you believe. There are lar 5e ones i. i
y true. So there every where. There are large
ones in Milton than can he found here. They wuul
10 not probably average here, more than $50 acres
they would that. They are Just OF the right re tu
Thrift, and there being fewer to devour the produc
It tous ot the soil, there would he more to report
am stupid that | cannot what our ribbo
shape" has to do with the support we could furnis
" or Railroad, Why could it not be as favorable a
re The ragged dish CLOTH more pOeticdiiy eongac
Vi obSier-ke shape OF the territory squeezed into tn
: narrow sewage between the VI and Canada Roa
and the Lake take it that the latter Road wouI
lie not be confined 10 the territory East "by jug full
10 Al least. | do not know much of the whole rout
~ hut that there is a strip from Georgia to Mact
i Bay not much narrower than ribbon that is
~ ingv interesting and paricgdted, my eyes do nsi
very trnaciousy y. Take out your corn aud rye an
= We will fill more Cars with apples and Cider, lha
he mere local business between ST, Adams and Bu
ington will furnish the Rutland Road. OF course
xcude in this estimate what the VI and Cnnnd