Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1869-09-15
The Waits River Railroad Route.

At the railroad meeting in this town last
week, though called perhaps for another pur-
pose, the advantages and prospects of a road
through Barre. Washington, Orange, Tops
ham and Corinth to Wells River were pre-
sented with much plausibility at least.
Since then we have been favored by gentle
men interested in the project with their rea-
sons for preferring this route. They insist
that, looking to the chances of immediate
aid from localities and persons interested,
and to the amount Of local business which may
reasonably be expected, this way offers many
material advantages over any other that
can he selected. Starting from Montpelier
the first place reached is Barre, a compact.
wealthy town, containing in its principal
village one of the most fourishing schools in
the State, and having another nearly ready
TO ommenc operations under the most ia
vorable auspices. There is also an ample
water power, some of it for many years in
active and profitable use, and capable of much
greater development. Its granite is about
the best in the world, inexhaustible in sup
ply, and waits only for facilities of transpor-
tation to become an important and permanent
source of wealth to the town. Thence
through Washington and Orange, both good
farming towns, and in the latter passing at
the base of another granite mountain, and
then down the valley of Waits River, through
Topsham and Corinth. The last named town
is well known for its copper mining interests,
the productions Of which are now fifteen
hundred tons of ores per month, and have
reached as high as twenty-eight hundred
tons. The proposed route will pass between
the two mines, within a half mile of one and
a mile and a half Of the other. The ores are
taken to New York to be smelted, and there
is no limit to their productions save difficult
transportation. Now it costs about $3.50
per ton to haul them ten miles to the Pas
sumpsic road with a railroad they could be
Carried to Lake ~Champlain with but little
more expense than they are now set down in
Bradford. With all these disadvantages the
mines are profitable, and it does not seem
visionary that the companies should not only
help build the road, but also be large and
constant contributors to its business. The
line turns to the left some two miles below
Waits River village and thence has the choice
of two routes the northern through South
Ryegate, and the southern, and nearer, direct
to Wells River.
The idea of this road is by no means a new
one. 1t was surveyed in lS48 or lo49, with
the expectation of meeting the Vermont Cen
trail at Barre. When it was decided not to
buiId that road through the Gulf the project
.Irmbere6. and after various attempts at re-
viyal. is now waiting the active cooperation
of Montpelier to become realized. Its friends
claim that, with every advantage the northern
route possesses, it combines these we have
mentioned and many more. The undevelop
ed lumber regions in the southern part o
Caledonia county will be assisted nearly as
much as by their own scheme The grades
are not heavier than the average of Vermont
railroads. Finally, in ability to aid in con
~struction, the friends of the Waits Rive
rou,e claim a vast superiority. Considering
,bot those interested in a through trunk lin
ill do as much for one as the other, tn
facts seem to make good their assertions. Tn
towns through which it passes are more pop
,,lons and far more wealthy than those by tn
o,ber. There are important local interest
which cry with unusual energy for an outlet
The united grand lists of tie towns on tn
-o-,bern route amount to only Sl3,3ll, ant
Loving out East Montpelier to only $7,796
Ill those through which the southern
route actually passes are s22,31o, or aoou
. .bree times as great, and this single fac
. sneaks volumes. We are informed too tina
these towns are not, like some Others luxe