Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-12-06
FOR HE FREE PRESS.

my notice 1t is due TO him and the public to state
some of the reasons which might have operated up
on the Rutland and Burlington Road to prefer
charter extending through Milton to Swantsn, rath-
er than through Grand Isle County by way Of Col
chester Point -
l.--trom that point to South Hero, distance Of
three miles, the route is through the northeastern
angle OF tie broad lake. the bottom Of which has
never been examined with view to 4 railroad, and
the depth Of the water and direction Of the reef Is
not known, while Il is known that the channel near
south Hero is some twenty or twenty-five feet deep
The road would, laid upon an cmbonkmcnt, be ex-
posed to the beating 81 waves rs high any in
Lake Chnmplain, they would be raised by our
most frequent and violent winds-the southwest
coming nom the broad lake unobstructed in ther
course Tor more than twenty mies-rcquring tho
mot costly and hrmes kind otstructure to resist lhe,
action. As that part OF the lake remains open most
part OF the winter, the spray would be thrown upon
| the track, unless raised twenty thirty feet above
the water, SO that the road would become mass OF
| ice through the winter Piles could not be driven
for the bottom is rock. II piers should be sunk and
surmourted by bridge, the structure would be too
costly; and either probably could not be bulk for
less than three hundred thousand dollars The two
lake bridges on the Vermont and Canada read wero
about two hundred thousand dollars; and both to-
Gether are not two miles long. One other structure
through the Lake between Grand Isle and Nor.
Hero, and between North Hero and Alburgh, ore re.
CURED. Though less expensive than the first they
would cost heavy outlay of money. Besides,
draw would De necessary to each OF the three, which
would be great nuisance to the road and to nnv-
CATION.
The cost of grading would be grear,as much
compact earth, clay, hard pan, aad ledge near
the surface would be encountered, while no materi-
al suitable for graveng, ii is believed is to be found
in that county.
From my acquaintance with the surface of the
ground, am led to believe in the absence OF mems
urement that road cannot be located through the
county without encountering grades high
thirty feet the mile. Though thu general surface,
a careless observer appears 10 be pretty level, yet
in looking the country with caution, ii will be
found there many elevations, and much rolling
land, rising from twenty to one hundred feet above
the lake. To avoid these curves must be adopted,
t and deep and long cuts and fills encountered.
2 1.-THE local business Of Grand Isle county
which would take the railroad, must be furnished by
strip of land averaging about l-2 miles i'll width
on each side of it, and will necessarily be small.
They export few cattle and horses, and small guam
titles of grain Most OF their lands, though very val
liable, adapted to the raising OF sheep, with
which they literally overrun, driving away the
small farmers and throwing the greater par. OF the
q lands nto the hands Of a few men. The houses OF
those who sell and leave the county quickly fill
ed with French tenants who act as shepherds and
day laborers these ovcrgrown WOOL thus
] becomes their staple article of export but vau1
bic and light that four or five loads would
| b.ir heir
farms such that very little Ian is left Tor
cattle, horses or grain.
Though the county is q beautiful spot. the lands
valuable, the inha 'itants intelligent and thrifty, yet
from their occupations, and the rbbon-hkr shape OF
their tory, they would furnish but meager sup
ly to a railroad, which animal that requires food
more solid than the prospect of Patisbursh Bay .
Cumberland Head Mansfield Mountain or Cancels
Hump, with which, dear General, your exuberant i'm
aginntion proposes TO fee it. The only minera
L wealth yet kno,on on that route, is the black
be Of Isle La Mote, which could be well ac
= commodatcd by the Vermont and Canada road, and
c stll better by water. The uRGcrcloped minerals
n may yet be discovered Ivy your witch hale, when
they can be marketed by water if the lake remains
ILL., On the other hand, the route from Swan
ION burlington. is TO II miles shorter than tho
Island route 10 Eouses Point; and having been care
fully surveyed, it is known that grades ncccssI-
. RI going south Of more than thirty feet to the mile
much OF it from level to 20 feet; l3-lihs Of the whole
distance is strauht for twenty miles from Swan,on
the grade line nuns nearly even with the surface with
r two unimpornnt exceptions rising in that distance
only los feet above Swanton The route is accessible
at conv cnient stations by all the business from the
large and fertile counties of Franklin and Chendrn
, and intcrseeting the Vermont and Canada Railroad
nj SWautur, the most important point for inland
. railway in Northwestern, Vermont, and the focus to
i which all the agricultural, mechanical and mineral
wealth oi the rlches portion 0, Lower Canada, and
the whole fertile and extensive wiley Of the Misssco
river naturally tends Five years, in a' probability,
viii see tbe n. ssisco Railroad coma',.ed under the
r. c,ar,.r t,ained tbis f,n connecting Swauion with
h Pnssyniozc Railroad md oneninr 10 that va Hey
!. tb.or,h S,r,pton. p railway un.saa. TO New York
h md Boston Here. nlso. will terminate the Rail-
,l .l-.l.. - 90 ,,3. ,r,,,, lIr,.,rl by a., " of 81