Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1868-05-13

interests OF Boston and the railroads GEN. !
tering in Boston, it was successful. An
enabling act had already been passed by
the Vermont Legislature, c,--authorizing
towns along the line to subscribe to the
stock of the road. In Maine and New
Hampshire general laws conferred the
same authority. In July, 1867, the whole
route was chartered aud covered by enabl.
ing acts But at this point new diff.
Guilty arose. Boston, unable to prevent
the grant of charter in New Hampshire,
now interfered to prevent the Vermont
Central from fulfilling its pledges. The
road was then in the hands of three trus.
tees. Two of them were removed and
new men appointed in their places, who
declined to cooperate with the new line.
This compelled change of programme,
but change altogether inafa7o of Port
land. Our Vermont friends at once dc.
cded to build an independent line through
the Lamoile Valley. almost an air line to
Rouse's Point, bringing Portland 70, in
stead of 80 or 40 miles nearer Ogden.-
burg than Boston, opening new region
undeveloped by railroads, which by build
ing the road itself cJmes under bonds to
give it business and make it pay. En-
countering the came etrenuous opposition
they finally obtained from the Vermont
Legislature a charter and enabling act
for the Lamoile tow5aod Assurances of
aid we're also obtained from the officers of
the Oglensburg and Like Champlain, and
Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg rail-
roads, over which the business of the
proposed line must pass from Rouse's
Point to Ogdensburgh and 0swego. The
managers of those roads gave pledges not
only to make no discrimination against
/ the Portland road and to afford every
needed facility for the transaction of our
business, but to set aside for q term of
years for our benefit twenty five or thirty
per cent. of the gross receipts from our
business This assistance which they can
we'll afford to render in consideration of
the permanent advantages to their busi-
ness, will make good any possible loss
arising from the sale of bonds at less than
par. so that we shall be able to build the
road practically for cash. 1t will, there
fore, be paying road from the start
The average profit of railroads, after de-
ductiug the running expenses is about
thirty per cent, of the gross receipts. At
this rate every railroad would pay we'll if
it had been economically built. Most Of
our railroads have been built on credit at
ruinous rates. The Portland and Ogdens
burg road will be built for money. The
feasibility of the route has naturally been
questioned, but it has been established
beyond the possibility of reasonable
doubt. After careful survey the excel
lent engineer who was first sent through
the Notch reported that the route was en-
tirely feasible, aud that the heaviest Grade
to be encountered would be only sixty
feet to the mile, There are heavier grades
on the Grand Trunk, on the Vermont
Central, and on the Western railroad in
Massachusetts. On this shortest line from
the lakes to the sea the mountains arc
cleft ahandcr as il on purpose to make a
passage for the iron road. From this
gore the Ssco flows east and the Ammon-
oosuc westward, and down the valleys of
these streams slopes the pathway of the
locomotive Two accomplished engineers
from our own State. Messrs. Anderson
and Noyes, reviewed the work of the first
surveyor and verified his Conclusions =
The Vermont people, too. anxious to be
satisfied on so important point,scnt two
Of their best en- sineers, Messrs Hale aud
Bailey, to reconnoitre the pass and they
too pronounce the route entirely feasible,
not for moment 70 be compared for diff
Guilty with roads now in operation in PEN
sylvania, Virginia aud Ohio. r.t,.4
About a year ago party Of gentlemen
from this city passed through the Notch,
and their doubts too were removed.
There is surely no lack of evidence that
the route is feasible. The cost is next to
be considered. Offers have already been
received from responsible parties which
60 far to settle this question. An engin.
eer and builder, we'll acquainted with the
line offers TO contract for the line in
Maine at s2230o mile and in New
Hampshire at s344o0, or the whole
line from Portland to the Connecticut ct
$4,000 mile Ho is now building for
$4,000 a mile road nearly as difiicnlt
as this, and says freely that We can do
better than $4,000 for the whole route.
Another gentleman, capitalist near
B 'stop. offers to take the contract at $3l,
600 mile, and take half bis pay in
..n .rei