New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-09
CONNECTICUT AIRLINE RAILRO1D.

OPENING FROM NEw-HAvEN TO TIE CONNECT
CUT RIyER-EXCURsION OF THE STATE LEGIS-
LATURE AND CITIZENS TO MIDDLETOWN-
HISTORY, CONDITION, AND PROSPECTS OF THE
AIRLINE ROAD-A RAILROAD YIADUCT l4I
FEET HIGH.
NEw-HAyEN, July S.-Yesterday the AIRLINE
Road was far completed to allow the people of
Newayen make the excursion which they have been
waiting for and talking about for the last 25 years viz:
to the charming sequcscrcd village Of Middletown to
the Connecticut River, by airline railway New-Eaven
is immensely pleased with the Airline Road. she
has drawn largely upon her bank account to
help to build it, and expects to draw
still more. Meantime she anxious to have ride
it that she couldn't await suitable provisions for such
aneXcurson Thirty rckety old were borrowed and
four wheezy locomotives detailed to draw them in two
trains The Governor Legislature, and eyerybody-l,5OO
somebody's, I should say-wcre invited. The trains
were able accommodate 1900 persons, and out OF the
crowd assembled the depot the extra speed
lily filed After slow and careful run, Middetown was
reached at about o'clock. About 1900 people
sembled az the station there-rather where the station
going to be. The train aluted by the cannons the
musicians, the men, women, ana cLhdfeh' EVefyDOuy
procession was formed The officers Of the Airline
Road placed In the van the post OF honor Ihen
came the Lieutenant Governor and state Officers; aer
speaker the House, and the Mayor and Aldermen Of
Newaycn and OF Mddlict0wn, that quaint ancient VII
age great greet Is that with her railroad she has
not quite got her daily paper And then came those gen
temen of New-llaven and vicinity, a goody array
II the business OF the procession 10 get some
thing to eat. An abundant and inviting collation.
was found set forth under the trees. II was also
20 be expected that somebody would say some
thng-people always do upon such occasions
50 the speech of welcome, and very good one It was
MISUNDERSTANDING The President aud Chief Engineer
of tine Airline Road complied with attering demands
upon them. The speaker OF the House OF Representa-
tyes mounted the table, and spoke both well and huor-
ously; and others called up. After the speaking
went and looked at the bridge the broad
breast of the COuuectcuthat Is To say, each one gZed
upon the massive piers AID abutmcnt ana erected the
grand supersructurc in his Imagination mere ID NE
terraced and asccntury cemetery which rises from the
water edge, rest the remains OF Commodore Thomas
How manv people outside Of it, immediate vicinity
understand about this Air Line Railroad The following
details were gathered while with the excursion party:
The airline from New Haven to Willamette is the by
f"rmed by the existing railroad lines between New
Haven and Boston. For quarter of century the pro-
fhe lieut. River las been mt intervals
agtated The enterprise continually encountered bal
town now Consulting Engineer Of the Northern
Pacific Railroad surveyed the route and pointed out
seen 10 have been prophetic BY entanging and unor-
tunate alliances and from the hostility of other cOnpa
MOS the efforts who interested IN the con-
struction Of this road were neuralZed at successive IN
teryas down to the year 1903 Finally, after many con
tests i'm the State legislature tine Company obtained
liberal charter with the right to cross the CONNECTICUT
River upon suspension bridge ana TO bGi1 ia GIaM
Hne Poe I stewart As commission 10 locate the
poiut OF crossing the river, and to approve
The The plans for the bridge and draw Gen.
y w SerrcI of New-York, eminent engineer,
Who In 1854 had called renewed attention to the feast
bv of the airline project was made Chlel Engineer,
and charged with the construction of the road. The dis
rance from New-IIaven to Willamette Is 50 miles-to
G w iIes af the road beyond Middletown From
Sew.Eayen to Mddletown the track is completed and
regular trains will be about the close OF Ic present
tb This the western division OF the road, has been
htiit within the remarkably short period Of ID months,
the work being prosecuted at some points Doth nght ana
Firstclass skill and ndomitabe energy needed to
solve the problems and OF building an r0ad across
mountainous section. The Connecticut Airline Road
oewed 10 be thing Of the still distant future TIL Mr.
novd LYMAN of near Middet0wn. determined TO hayeit
built This was early in 1851 since then ODstaces OF
cvery sort have been swept aside by powerful hand
Rut he was not content with simply DudLg an average
Ia lie proposed To make IT, once faultless, secure,
aud enduring -to make il, in his own words, " so
well that a hundred Years hence tne pres,
called the connecting link OF the line which,
being twenty nine miles shorter than any other te
great through route OF the future between New YORK
and Boston between Boston and the West via roads now
building which are to cross the hudson Kver yU d
the Erie at Peeksk anu between New lonA IN, anu
Halfax by which last line the time to Liverpool WIN De
shortened two days. Having these hig o
Standard OF excellence for its construction Inc io0W
are some OF the sgeGTHl Sr ymons plan has
Tins far been carried out The whole line is grdIeu l9
irm rade is Al feet per mile-that for mile ana
ii III "niy There is one rock cut which contains
80 ,rrsruied serious difficulties, which were overcome
~, ilng tiers OF fascnes. The rails are connected by
nj
tbe rails meet between the ties Instead OF iestg uPo
h Perfect smoothness is insured by the rvetng oil
iit nlaies upon each rail BY device for which zen.
s@rrdli the inventor has applied for patent, tlsge
n5ndedr Joints have been greatly improved ny com
,tniniD i'm one the "hsh-p.ate," "botom-plte' ana
Lover fange Joint" T. track OF the western uNl'io
&, G' conssuue1ce, surprisingly smooth and hril uh.l
The train There are to be % iron bridge GL @cn Tey
az The western division are completed lnSyy
arc Generally OF granite substrueluIe NEous.I
ron of the very best guallliy v,,i5uct" are
TIs yman Niaduct" and the " Rpalio Nlhhuct io
49, the eastern division. These, after the great p iusS
over The Connecticut 10 be the special sSttrd
f,tures OF lie road they will figure III me
,Ucrs The former win he li7 rect long WIN
and lt7 feet higf the latter l,4l9 feet iohs VIZ.
he. and % feet high The only materials iIe
iron and granite. Tie plans Tor them nav rri,
auiuc and approved By the most noted eAsneo'' A''
are now building.