Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-02-27

excellent steamship line 10 Europe, which
now only communicated with Portland in
the winter, ~ make regular and frequent
trips the year round to Liverpool, which
could not fail % increase THE business ni
that port, but would be for the Interests
Of the several railway lines 10 make HAT
the objective point for transhipment OF
goods Of all kinds 70 Europe, lie had no
opposition 10 make To amy other con',n'
plated route, but deemed this great cen
trail route II vast Importance TO Central
Vermont. New Hampshire aId Maine,
and trusted that the people OF Portland
after an examination Of its merits, would
see ii for iaeir best interest - join bands
in its construction.
Gen. Peter 7, Washbum, President of
the Woodstock Railroad, was introduced,
who proceeded 10 present the subject I'M
der consideration in n eloquent and ci'
fcctiyc speech. IL remarked that he
came TO present the subject without rcic-'
encc 10 other projects, He resided AT
Woodstoc.,, the fourth or fifth town ia
population in Vermont, with desirable
facilities for all hrluchc, of business, but
the building of the several lines OF rail-
roads through the state had left it in
an isolated position between two great
thoroughiarcs, hence they fclT Thg HoCyg=
sity Of getting some communication reach
ing cut TO one Of these lines, They had
undertaken The enterprise for themselves,
and after long and persistent effort had
80 far succeeded that the moan, were
raised, The company was organized, the
contracts let, and thu work commenced
on road ii miles in length, running
from that village TO White River Junction,
where it would connect with the Vermont
Central 20 Ogdcnsburg and New York,
and with the Northern New Hampshire
road TO Boston, This road was assured
beyond peraiventurc, and they did not
ask money to aid them in building the
Woodstock Branch The completion Of
the rnad To Rutland. with the Northern
connection To Portland, would place ms
town upon an important main line Of rail-
way With the aSsurancethat Nhite River
Junction would be connected with Port.
land, the extension Of the road To Rut-
land, a distance g 33 miles, would be
guaranteed, to finish the link to perfect
the great chain Of railway communities
ton with the West He then proceeded
to point gu: the lines on which the pro-
posed new route could bc constructed, and
connecting with the two objective point.
| for water communication TO the West
Whitehall and Schenectady, y, \. H.
entertained no jealousies towards tbs
Portland and Ordensburg line ; he de
sired its completion, but it should be re
membcred that this line involves tn,
building of road either to Georgia OF
Swanton making some 200 miles il
length, at an expenditure Of some five o.
six millions Of dollars, while the Southern
or Central route was less expensive. Al
ready were links of connection built. or ar,
being built, and giving almost an air line t
Rutland. Whitehall and Schenectady, viii
a distance a. only $50 miles. to reach
water communication SO much desired il
the Western business. The question c
expense considered. the time consumed il
transportation, both of freight and pas
sengers, and the surety Of = through, un
INSTRUCTED communication by rail during
the entire year, uIJJf Il ef tie yea
with the choice OF transit by water, ant
/ its directness, it must stand uuquestione,
as the NEST feasible project. \ brief SUI.
yey will show this to be the fact. From
Portland to the New Hampshire line, it i
probable that the route might coincid
with the Portland and Cgdensburg road
leaving about 60 miles to bald across tn
State of New Hampshire to Canaan: an'
opening a direct route, almost an air lin
iaOlil VI lldlitl "a IAAiANlltl anu tlltAliN
Whitehall, at the head of Lake Cham
plain, to Saratoga, the terminus Of pro
posed road from OswcgO on Lake Ontario
and to SCHENECTADY on the New York Cen
tral Railroad and the Erie Canal.. inter
secting 50 many feeders Of Boston in New
Hampshire, the proposed road would draw
&c Portland large local business, whicl
in former times came here. The marbl
and slate products of Vermont would fine
an outlet here. The Passumpsie, with it
proposed extension, would give yon new
route to Montreal The Vermont Contra
connecting at White River Junction
would give a. route to 0gdcnsburg. Tn
New York Ccatral would furnish til
shortest and cheapest all rail route 70 Chi
cago, and if Portland merchants woult
provide for prompt and .cheap tranship
mcnt of grain, they might ship il iron
their wharves day and half ncare
Liverpool than New York A great pa
senger business might be expected Tn
New York Central road is compelled b
law to carry passengers for the two cent
per mile, while other roads charge fror
three to five, and thus the connectio,
would give the cheapest and most expedi
tious route 20 the West and would attrac
pmigrunts to Portland Such supplies a
Portland can furnish would be distributes
at once all along the road, and more a
fast as she is prepared to do more. Gen
Washburn's speech showed a familiarit.
with the details of the project, wlicI
Were presented i'll an earnest and conyine
ing manner, which could not have faile'
to make favorable Impression upon tn
assembly of practical and business men b