The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-06-14

st. Johnsbury and Newport are connected
by the Connecticut and Passumpsic Rivers
railway; and Montpelier is on the line of the
Vermont Central connecting at Essex juno
ton with the Vermont and Canada railroad
running north through Georgia, st. Adams
and Swanton to Rouse's Point, whence the
Ogdensburg and Lake Champlain road runs
westerly to the objective point of the railway
campaign which has just opened. .. ...
Into Lake Champlain, which stretches along
on the west of the points marked in the dia-
gram, flow two rivers-the Lamoile lust south
of Georgia. and the Missisquoi through Rich
ford and Swanton. A charter was granted
last year for road from st. Johnsbury to
Montpelier, which has hitherto been regarded
as the link most likely to be completed in the
northern route from Portland to the West
The people of the Lamoille valley, however.
are earnestly working to secure route north of
Montpelier to Georgia orSt. Albans, thus saving
detour of about % miles. Meanwhile notice
has been given by the people Of the Missisquoi
valley, that charter for railroad through
that section will be applied for at the next ses-
sion of the Vermont Legislature. In 1850 a
CAAI tcl iOl u loaU up thIS NdIlty WAS Obtained,
and survey was made, but the road was not
built and the charter has expired.
The fact that three lines are thus competing
for the advantage of a connection with Port
land and the Wert is an encouraging indica-
tion of the state Of feeling respecting the enter
prise in Vermont. The following discussion
of the relative advantages of the three routes
is taken from the Richford Sentinel of the
9th instant:
We will endeavor to show that a road from
Newp Jrt down the Missisquoi valley to Swan
ton or ST. Adams, if not the shortest would be
the most feasible route. ...T. .-. r.
The distance from st. Johnsbury to Swan
ton by the Montpelier route is III miles; and
by the Lamoiile valley route about 93 miles,
by the Connecticut and Passumpsic Rivers L.
Il. is, We believe about 40 miles, from Newport
to Kichford, following the hlissisquoi river,
about u miles, and from this place 10 Swan
ton about q miles, making bur "a miles from
St. Johnsbury to Swanton. This route is %
miles shorter to Ogdensburg than by way of
Montpelier, and 1t requires only miles more
of new road 1t Is only mile further than via
the Lamoille route; but the latter requires 20
miles more OF new road.
I The distance from kichford to Newport di-
rectiy across the mountains, is we think, less
tnan 20 miles, though the grade would be much
harder than to follow the river; but by going
across the mountains it will make this route a
few miles shorter than any other, and it would
also require tewer miles OF road. ammo.
The Distance from ST. Adams to Newport
is about the Same t54 miles), and the grade is
very good. We believe that railroad can be
built rom either st. Adams, or Swantol to
Newport much cheaper than by either of the
other proposed routes. Should the road go to
st. Albans IL miles OF the old plank could be
used, and the cost OF grading it would be COM
paraGively little.
The road would go through one of the finest
agricultural regions In the State. There is a
vast amount OF wood back on our hills and
mountains Pines, spruce, &C., are abundant.
1t is an excellent lumber region. The Missis-
quoi river affords many excellent water privi-
leges, and railroad would give an impetus to
the manufacturing interests. M