The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-28
Our Albany Correspondence.
ALBANY, Feb. "a, 1854.
The Public Lands Of the Stats-7H Saeketfa Har-
Dor and Saratoga Railroad.


ALBANY, Feb. "a, 1854.
The Public Lands Of the Stats-7hs Saeketfa Har-
Dor and Saratoga Railroad.
In the Albany correspondence Of yesterdays HB.
RAID on the subject Of the public lands the writer is
though Internationally, in error in regard to the sp
ploation Of the directors Of the 6ackett's Harbor
and Saratoga Railroad, which Is calculated to do in
justice to great and noble enterprise. The case is
this The survey Of what is known as the south
ern route, had so far progressed that in July
last the plans and profile were submitted to board
Of engineers, composed of Daniel G. JENNIE, John T.
Clark, and John X. Mills, who, on full examine
ton, pronounced II to be impracticable The sur.
veys were still continued, until over thousand miles
Of route had been surveyed, ct cost OF sixty thou
sand dollars, in which every pass in the forest had
been Thoroughly examined. The result wasthe sdop-
tos Of route which, though eighteen miles longer,
yet saves two thousand feet Of grades, and makes
the equsted distance thirty miles nearer. Now, the
charter which granted 100000 acres Of the public
lands only provided that the road should be built
through the wilderness. It says -" From Carthage
by the most direct and eligible route to the Saratoga
and Schenectady Railroad" &c. The amendment
asked, is that In the articles Of association, which
NC Auuopcuu6ut VI WcIc usou Dy Tue
directors before the surveys or information Of the
country was had, Fulton county may be erased and
Warren and Essex counties inserted and this Is all
There ID no new grant asked for, nor new privileges
As regards the advantages to the State, they are
all In favor of the north route. The southern route
runs along the edge Of the Wilderness while the
northern route through the centre and is
about eighty miles through the forest, and over one
hundred miles between any settleme Is OF moment.
OF the 900 square miles OF forest 1000 miles lay ct
the north and east Of the north route, and of the
275, 900 acres Of lands yet remaining to the State,
600 acres lay ct the north of the north route
Nothing, In fact which the State wished 10 gain by
their donation In regard to the Development Of the
physical capabilities Of the country is done by the
southern route, and, in fact, the road ought to 60
still farter north to do this we'll.
As regards the purchases Of DIR. Brandreth and w.
G. A. Waddel it is but justice to them TO say that
Dr. B. has never BEEN nor is he now interested in the
road; and Mr.. Waddel made his purchases before he
became stakeholder rdirector and neither director,
contractor or engineer have made any purchases Of
land since they became interested in the road The
whsle tract for fifty years has been bye.word and
reproech to the State. To build railroad through
this forest has been regarded a. pretty hazardous
experiment and every assistance should be given to
prise. The propriet0rs Of the northern lands have
voluntarily granted the company $4,000 acres in
dependent OF the public lands, without even charging
the company the I've cents per acre they obliged
to give the State.
The difference between the FIVE cents then charged
and the twenty five cents now paid Ia twenty cents
which, for $50 900 acres is $50 900; not 80 much
even, as the simple surveys have cost. PUBLIC0.