The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-04-18
RAILROAD PROGRESS.

medical men anu other citizens.
RAILROAD PROGRESS.
Mr.. EDITOR The opening of this
subject in your last paper, gives an OPP
portuniiy TO extend view in another
direction, where seems 10 lie still more
natural and reliable resource for the
Western Vermont Railroad. That road
follows a valley parallel with the Green
Mountains TO the neighborhooi of Ben
nington, where it inclincs more toward
the Hudson River, the original point OF
destination in view. Ii connects with the
Troy 6 Boston Railroad near IIoosic
Falls and terminates in that road at Eagle
Bridge. At lloosic Junction passengers
may wait for II train TO North Adams, the
present eastern terminus of the Troy &;
Boston. The Bennington Branch leaves
at North Bennington. The extension of
this TO North Adams would afford q
shorter, independent route, AMI there a
line Of connection is open to the Vermont
road, which might be exclusively its own,
and, with no further increased outlay,
would afford permanent and increasing
resources of business for its enterprise.
AT North Adams the valley road e
Pittsfeld is found, connecting at the latter
place with the Western Railroad of Mas
sachusetts. There begins the Housatonic
road, passing through Berkshire County
and Western Connecticut, and entering
the New York and New Haven Railroad
at Bridgeport. This is line of connec-
ton which was once contemplated by the
Western Vermont, and which naturally
and historically belongs with it TO one
system of railway construction.
The Pittsfeld and North Adams Rail
road is the natural head Of the Housato-
mic. The latter by this extension has a
beautiful interior route from near the
Vermont line TO tide-water, following the
marble geologic system through its whole
course. Paper and iron works. besides
wooden and cotton mills, supply the prin-
cipal manufactures of this route, not large
~ now attractive of trade, yet offering
something to the route. East and west
routes are open to passengers at Pittsfed
and Bridgeport at the latter, to New
\ ork, and to New Haven and the pro-
ductive places beyond. At the most
western point Of the lIousatonic, before
bearing east towards Bridgeport, an easy
route of fourteen miles, already surveyed.
may connect this line with the Harlem Mt
Dover Plain, making it eligible indeed as a
competing route for New York, when the
number of through travellers is considered,
and the degree OF attraction, there is in
varying the scene.
The enlargement of business is still
more obvious from the projected connec-
ton Of the Naugatuc with the Housatonic,
to be effected in Lee Or Sheffield, which
will open the route to the thriftest and
busiest region of industry in Connecticut,
where the progress Of population and
wealth is founded upon skilled labor,
and will command trade while il will con
tinue TO develope prosperity.
Vermont looks along this valley route
as into the ORG nal sources of her own
energy, and Of the spirit Of perseverance
which is placing seats Of Art upon the
site 0: the former wilderness. An init
mate connection should be again restored,
and may be, with lines of Business follow
ing the lines of travel, apd paying well
the willing and wise hard that shall fur
nish the facilities. afno direction is SO
extended and EXCLUSIVE conncc ton of.
fercd 50 cheapIy. h.