Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-05-19
Vermont Central Railroad.

We have repeatedly said, this road secur-
ed life and limb to the passenger better than
any other road. We have also said, that
the delays at Essex Junction the last winter
and present Spring-abaut which there has
been so much complaint-were not charge
able TO this road but in almost every case
10 the Northern N. II. road. We now say.
that no Rail Road in The country has made
better time through The pirier and Spring
pasi and passing than The Vermont Central
But we took up our pen to say that our visit
to Mortified last week convinced us that no
Rail Road in the country is doing more to
meet the panis Of The public than the VT
Central For the first time we took occas-
ion to examine the Blacksmith. Engine and
other making, repairing AZ finishing Shops
belonging to this X. X. Click, clack, whick,
whack, slam, bang, ding, dong-but we
give il up. Who can describe the sound Of
those Trip-hammers, or that shrill tenor
music produced by bending cold steel with
a hammer on the anvil. We have not room
for details. Suffice it to say that, through
the kindness of Messrs. Graves, Morrill, and
Proctor, lforemen of the Shops,) we enjoyed
the best opportunities of seeing the tools,
workmen, operations and manufactures of
every department-wood and iron work-of
one of the best shops to be found in Ainer-
CA shop, too, filled with reading, ntell.
gent and temperate men. All is under
/ good rules and well superintendent. To
/ give an inventory Of the fires, tools and other
apparatus to take the simple bars and
sheets of STEEL iron, etc, and follow them
/ through all the processes to the perfect ma
chine is what we have not time to do. Nor
is it necessary. With highy-approving
verdict upon the whole we mention few
particulars only for the present. Connected
with the great general Blacksmith Shop,
Mr.. Proctor showed us a shop entirely de-
voted to the repair of rails. Here the rail
is heated the layer which is worn off at the
ends or otherwise, is cut in twain, and new
iron welded on, so as TO restore all to its or
4 igina size and soundness "a fine piece of
economy. Mr.. Morrill,, Of the Engine Shop,
gave us a fine chance to see the Engines IN
various stages of repair aud manufacture
lie took particular pains TO display hs draft
of the plan Of " Old Jack, "or "Geneul Tay-
lor" which is TO be strong powerful En-
CINE now pretty well under way He caf-
led our attention to the number o. Engines,
ll3l in readiness for the servce of the
Road--and especially "THs SrRANsER,"
River last wintcr,) now being repaired with
one Of the most tasteful Cabs TO be found
anywhere. Two thirds of trese Engines
are used daily when nothing occurs 10 call
for an extra. We ought 20 mention Mr..
Gurley, who is vanishing etc.-and who
makes ieetle better polish than ever was
made. We step into the wood shop mo-
ment and see many of the incest things out.
1t gives Us particular comfort to see the
planning and saving oil done by our good
friend Mr. STEAM We have never before
seen anything quite up to that machine for
Strengthening and planIng hardwood plank.
Take the thickest, toughest crookedest oak
plank in the world ana in some ten minutes
1t would be smooth and IN the shape you
choose TO have It, Twenty men with the
ordinary tools coulGnt put it in shape in a
whole hour. We should like to stay long
or, but VIC must &c oyer the way and see
them get out "I'IEs." Here the logs come
rough from the forest are sawn into shape
by steam, placed on a car and rolled into a
Boiler some sixty feet long which is closed
and exhausted of air, and then they pump in
a solution of Chloride of Zinc and Vtrol
from the great vat below. This solution
saturates the TIMBER SO that it is proof
against rottlng for many years. This surely
Is the grandesl piece of economy we have
found yet 1t is called BUHsti-ing the
{ ties,'-from some man, we believe, who
either invented applied or improved the pro-
, ess.-S. .Hbdns Tribune.