Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-04-07
The Railroad Question.


will soon reveal the earth again to the sight Of our
eyes, making it possible to test the winter dream.
Of railways by the scrutiny Of scientific inspection
and measurements Il is fit time therefore to
review the various projects that are now enlisting
attention in Vermont, and out Of italso from those
who are interested in connecting roads
We have now in operation two through South
on routes from the Province Of Quebec 10 New
York city, one ON the Eastern and the other ON
the Western border Of the State. The Western
route has just been perfected by the completion
Of the Lebanon Springs road, so as 10 make q d.
rect line from Montreal to New York city and a
railroad ifem Quebec (ately called Canada) line
N0rthwhrd Is under contract so MS 10 make COM
plete and direct Eastern route from the city of
Quebec via the Valley of Connecticut River 20
New York city In connection with these South
ern lines, we now remind our readers that the
charter Of the Montpelier 81 st. Johnsbury road
is still ia being, and that stil another new road
has been projected, To wit, from Bethel 10 Rut-
land Thus by about forty miles Of track from
st. Johnsbury to Montpelier and thirty 1.-TWO miles
from Bethel 90 Rutland, third through Southern
route will be secured, interesting Central Yer
mont, and we think shortening the distance from
Quebec to New York city As the Bethel and
Rutland line is new project, we copy the fol-
lowing statement from the Rutland Horqd of
April
a NEw RAunoAn pnoIEr-Wc copy me nllowinr
paragraph from Che Rutland conri0 90 yesterday. We
ding We fel couadent bat tho people Of Rutland f
they are not blind Co their utergs vi somo day wako
up to = scn.c Of duty and bah milroad acr0a mc
mountains 10 connect with thc Vermont Central and
have more direct communication with thelr neighbour
on the En and Northeastern section OF che state After
lutnnd has Fat som few ycar aad seen ai to ui-
way communications going around, and from thlt met
points To- Vermont and Now Hampshire they will awake
bud look and build road out into the world ior te benz
building u the Woodstock railroad an the adyuntafcs
could be- secured Boo three years from hs date, popula
JON nrfeasoi property raised in value instead Of scc
bug what they will Soc sure as day follows day,
plans POI t1cir tlHness nna pf,perNh they allow thr
tho Gassctrs or klnst0u road built Tho CoHri0 says
people OF Bethel st0ckbrdgo and Pt.hold prepar
make the whole distance from Bethel 20 Rutland only
b. from Bethel to Ptt-acd village thcucc WcstNarty
the Northern side 10 the mountain that lies North Of
Grccnloaf place and Slab city, striking Emo route
of the Rutland ami Woodstock road little South Of the
Residence of Hiram Bard Eql ln chitieudcn The
noxt -c'sion of tho Legislature
~ KNOW speak TIE sentiment % IIH NuHInNHa
rOad connection defeated between Rutland and Wool
49, va e.iltenlon, tlen s'e %, conneel.on "lth
a country deprived Of milroad facilities and which
will open avenues 0f husucs Do th- place and give
NJ better hcintcs to reach Eastern Vermont and ths
Capital Of the staic'
We now turn TO the new projected lines for
Freight and travel between the Fast and the West
the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. There is now
on line Of this s1rt To Portland hJ the Atlantic
81. Lawrence railroad, and two t3 Boston by
DC Central and Rutland routes. There are in adj
diton ut this moment u1 uac r0pfcs projected
through Vermont ali through lines, that u.s.
b. through freight and tmyel The first is a
short line from Connecticut River through Spring
feld to the Rutland road at Gas-ett's station. It
y ia connection With the Concord a. Chum1nt
road in New Hampshire aud both, when con-
siructed, will give a new through line from the
Nosi to the existing railways from Concord to
Boston. The second projected line is from White
River junction 70 Rutland via Woodstock the
Woodstock part Of the line being now ia the proc
e. of construction and thi, will give new thro
line from the West % the railways from White
River junction to Boston The third is the pro-
jected line from Montpelier 70 Wells River via
Barre, Washington, Ornge, Topsham, Corinth,
Ncwbury and South Ryegte and the fourth is
the line between the same points via East Mont
pelier, Plainfeid, Alnrshhed Groton and South
Ryegute-either Of which, with only about forty
mile of track, will give new through route for
Western business 70 the roads running from Wells
River 70 Boston, Portsmouth and Portland. The
M projected line is from Portland via st. Johns
bury and the lamoillc Valley T. connect with the
VI. q Canada road in Franklin county, and this
will give a new through Western route 20 Port
land. The smith projected line is from Island
Pond down Clyde river % Newport, and from
thence via the Mi,.sc0 river 70 CONNECT with the
Vt. Il Canada road in Franklin County, which
will give still another through route from the
West to Portland.
We have still another project % facilitate
through business on the Vermont Centml road
and that is the line from Montpelier via Barre
Williamstown, East Brookheld and East Ran
dolpb to Royaton, being the old projected " Gulf
route" for the Central road 1t is chartered, and
we have groand for believing that the managers
Of the Central and Vermont and Canada roads
haSe that line in view, in connection with a
double track from Montpelier Westward
From this survey of the field the people Of
Montpelier and vicinity will see that they are par
ticulary and very deeply interested in several Of
the e projects and that it is time for them to be
careful and Jealous to do their own duty in the
mntter. They may be called upon to assist more
than one new road possibly, and if only one,
they must wisely choose. Those who are into
rested in the various projected routes in this see
tion Of the State will also the competition that
Is likely to exist, and should be stirred up to do
their best work The practbiity Of the different
routes in grades, distances and construction; the
rmount the people on the different routes are will
ling to give for the construction of the line they
prefer and the local business they can give to
the road when constructed all these are facts
which managers, capitalists, and connecting roads
must know before they will put their hands to
any Of the competing projects. In respect par
ticularly 10 the two projected lines between Mont
pelier and Wells River, we must say that the adj
santages of the two lines are apparently 50 nearly
balanced that thorough development Of reliable
facts Is neediul to settle the question between
them Both lines have been surveyed by railway
engineers, with the exception Of the territory be-
tween West Topsham and South Ryegate. The
advantage in grade, and possibly little in dis
tnhce, seems to be in favor Of the Marsh6eld
route. Still, as the survey of the Orange route
was made 10 connect with the old Central survey
for the Gulf route in the river valley at Barre, it
Is certain that the maximum grade Of "a feet to
the mile between Barre and Orange summit, may
be reduced by taking higher line from Montpel-
icr, the Average grade from Montpelier to Orange
I..f.. l..4E g.,k n. ~ IL q.
bic that the maximum grade (si feet) east Of
Orange may be reduced by the change of the line
from the valley Of Waits to Wells river. These
are facts TO be carefully ascertained, however
Oh the other hand, conceding the advantage in
respect to grade TO the Marsnfeld route. we are
still to consider that the friends Of the Orange
yonte claim largely superior advantages in the
mount of capital they will raise to build the road
On their line, and in the business they will con
tsbute for the profit of the road. In their cilcu