New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-09-20

OTk, and the Connecticut River road lead
ing north to Vermont and New Hampshire,
and to the many lines that have been opened
IN those States. Further on. the Western
line JOINS the New-LOndon and Wilhmantic.
the Stockbridge, Berkshire, Housamnlc. and
Hudson and Berkshire lines. In all, this
single trunk and us proper branches contain
some SIX hundred miles of railway. bulls
al cost of above twenty SIX nil
lions. aot TO speak Of he connecting
lines III whose construction Massachusetts,
capital was also largely concerned. This
road Is the main channel on which for
the last nine wears, Boston has relied for
her share of the Western trade: by it she is
united with the Erie Canal. the lakes and
the entire system OF internal Improvements
connected herewith Hitherto this line
has been the most important and profitable
OF all to the public though not to It's stock
holders. many. If not all of whom subscribed
with the idea that the immediate returns
must be small, while the benefit to Boston
aud the State at large would be very great
The second road opened was that lead
ing 10 Providence. which was not long
behind the Boston and Worcester This
has six branches. including length of rail
within the State of 1897 miles, and Of Is
miles in Rhode Island. The Stonlngton
Road, 30 miles. must also be considered an
extension Of this The Providence line and
its branches cost above seven millions. aud
have generally been highly profitable.
They connect Boston with the Southeastern
part of the State. As well a. with Rhode
Island and the sea-board part of Connecti-
cut This was the first through route to
New. York
The line to Lowell was opened in 1885.
the next wear after the other two. This
was at the outset very expensive enter.
prize Git cost sO0.OOO) owing mainly to
the very substantial manner of its construc-
ton. The rails were laid on blocks of
granite. according to the mode then preva-
lent in England. instead OF on wooden
sleepers and ties as has since been found
preferable everywhere. Though scarcely
reaching thirty miles within the State, this
road. with It's extension. the Lowell and
Nashua. now connects with most important
ramihcatlons One of these reaches to
Concord. there branching into one line
10 Lebanon and another to Warren, both
on the way To intersect the great line
from Portland to Montreal another ramih-
cation leads up to Montpelier. and thence
on to Burlington, Vt. whence the line goes
on to Lake Champlaln and the famous cross
inc at Rouse's Point, where there is another
branching, extending in one direction to the
st. Lawrence and Montreal, and In the
other to Ogdensburg and Lake Ontario, thus
bringing Montreal within a days ride of
Boston, and opening new and advantageous
channels for intercourse with the Canadas
and the Great West Thus the Lowell road
is one Of the avenues on which the business
coming over near SIX hundred and fifty miles
of railway will enter Boston We have no
statement OF the capital invested in all these
connected roads; 1t cannot be short of thirty
millions. They NAV easily prove more
valuable to the State and TO Boston than
even the great Western trunk and It's con
nectlons.
Nearly related with the above, though
not the next In age, is the Fitchburg line,
opened, as we believe, In 1871. 1t extends
to the west of the Lowell line in North
westerly direction from Boston, and runs on
to Bellows Falls, in New Hampshire, where
it branches Off up the Connecticut, andacross
TO Windsor. and 50 on TO Burlington. This
route will divide with that of Lowell the
traffic of the West and of Canada With
all is branches In Massachusetts,, 1t consists
of l65. miles, with i2i miles out of the
State. under the management of one Com
pany the capital invested is above ten mil
lions.
Next III importance as connected with
the trade from without the State, are the
two lines leading from Boston 10 South
Berwick, Maine, where they join and go on
to Portland together, although the finishing
OF the York and Cumberland road will make
two lines all the way. These roads, the
Eastern opened in $50, and the Boston
and Maine road IN 1913, run at no great
distance apart The building OF two lines,
where one with proper branches might
have suffced, grew out OF an accidental
local rivalry We believe that neither pays
very tat dividends. though both do more