The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1867-04-19
From the Portland Press of April Is.
Portland AID Ogdensburg RaU-
road.

This proposed road, to connect our city
with the great West by a new, independ
ent and shorter route,-one having thu
least rail and the most water carriage, an(
therefore the cheapest, we are constrain
ed to believe, Is OF more importance to thu
future growth and business prosperity o
Portland than any route hitherto brough
to the attention of our citizens.
After stating that his authority for thu
statement made in this article, are from
Mr.. Lindsey, chief engineer, Mr.. Horace
Fairbanks and Ex-Gov. Smith OF Vt, tn,
editor maps out the route from Portland
by way of the Saco valley, through thu
Crawford "Notcf'' to Dalton, and ther
says:
Crossing the Connecticut at Dalton i
would pass bv Miles Pond in Vermont, tC
the valley of Moose river, and follow thi:
river to st. JohnSburv, thence through
DanviiIe ana Cabot to Montpelier where 8
junction would be formed with the Yer.
mont Central road which goes to Burling
ton on Lake Champlain, and to Rouse's
Point at the North end of the Lake. con.
meeting at the latter point with the Ogg.
densburgh road
! BY this route it is from Portland tc
Montpelier 100 miles, while from the lat,
ter place to Boston by the present connec-
tons is 2lO miles, making 80 miles adj
vantage in favor of this city. From ST.
Johnsburv to Portland by the proposed
route i Is miles, while to Boston the
distance is 204 miles The road would
pass within twelve miles of Franconia, and
through the great uncut timber regions OF
the Granite State.
On the whole line the maximum grade
would not be over sixty feet to the mile,
possibly not over fifty, while on the Rut-
land road the maximum grade is sixty,
ard on the Western (MasS.) road it is
eighty-siX feet to the mile.
At st. .Johnsbury, which is eiehty-nine
miles nearer Portland than Boston, the
road would cross the Connecticut and Pas
sumpsic Rivers road which runs up to the
line through fertile country, forty-five
miles north of the place of intersection.
There is reason to believe that this whole
road can be built for an average of SO,
600 per mile. and that it can be leased to
the Vermont Central road for six per cent
on the entire cost, that road furnishing all
the equipments.
The section from Montpelier to the Con-
necticut River is now being pushed, and
its construction is assured. 1t is believed
that if Portland will provide for the
construction to the state line-a remarka-
bly, favorable route for road-that the
section in New Hampshire can be provid-
ed for through parties who will take the
stock as a safe and profitable investment.
Steamers now lay down freight on the
wharyes at Burlington, without breaking
bulk, which have been loaded at Chicago
and other lake ports True, these are the
small class OF vessels; but all freight adj
mlts OF speed water transportation from
the West to Burlington, and though to do
this transhipment may be required, the ex-
pense is very much less than by an all rail
route. At OgdenSburg direct connection
would hc had with the largest craft that
navigate the lakes.
To show what amount OF business comes
over the Vermont Central we need only
state that no other road leading to Boston
from the West, begins to transport 50
much western produce over it As this. 1t
stands number one, while the Rutland and
Fitchburg roads stand next, owing to their
having Il partial advantage of the cheap
water carriage which this road shares SO
largely. Tie Worcester and Western
roais-gigantic as they are-rank number
three in supplying Boston with the pro-
ducts Of the West
With Il saving of fifty miles from Mont
pelicr in reaching good shipping port,
and over road leased to the one having
so controlling an influence as the Vermont
Central, il is not difficult to see that Port
land would soon become the great port of
entry and shipment for the vast regions on
and beyond the great lakes.