Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-10-06

Our Great Western Railroad.
RUTLAND AND WOODSTOCK A LINK.

We find in the Portland Press the fol-
/, lowing article, giving an encouraging
view of the trans-continental railway.
We are pleased once more to learn of the
prospects of this line, as it materially
affects Rutland. We are among those
who believe that it is necessary for Rut-
land to have more railroads, and that her
people will awake to the fact at an early
day. Should the project alluded to be
carried forward, Rutland will be compel
led, from her situation, to aid it in its
construction, for she cannot lie like dog
in the manger longer in obstructing the
progress of a great national line of com
munication. We have not only to keep a
look out for this new line, but we have q
duty in another direction which must re-
oeive our attention and substantial aid.
1t is the building of the Addison County
Railroad. We trust our citizens will turn
their attention to this line coming from
the North, and consider its value and i'm
portanee to Rutland. This project is too
kAh JOItdhb " bC OHCilOphCNs w Siia4i
give some reasons at an early day why
Rutland should aid in the building of the
Addison County Railroad. Both the lines
we have alluded to must be built for the
interests and progress of our town. The
building Of the one will aid the building
of the other, in fact, ensure it, thus max
ing but little difference which is built
frat, and we must seize the frat opportu-
nifty.
The Portland Prss8 says, under the
head of "Our Great Western Railway"
alt is known to some readers that at a
| Convention of the friends of the Portland.
Rutland, Oswego and Chicago Railroad.
ON the Both of March last, it was agreed
that the work of the line III question
should be undertaken in three or four sec
lions. The first to extend from Portland
| to Oswego, n distance of 400 miles, across
| Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and
| Northern New York, by wayof the Sacon-
| daga Valley, Boonville and Richland, OF
this line of 400 miles, 1903 miles ara al
| ready provided, by making use of exist
ing roads, % miles from Oswego to Rich
land, 81 miles from Fort Ann to Rutland,
and Al miles from White River Junction
to Bristol. There are IA miles of line
graded from Woodstock to White River
Junction, leaving but 2S3 miles to butld,
to connect Portland by rail with the Great
Lake Basin at the important city of Os-
| wego, the principal shipping port of Lake
Ontario. If the Portland and Rochester
| is made use of as far as Buxton Centre, 10
miles, it will leave but 26S miles to be
provided, to complete the line through.
| The entire line had then been surveyed
with the exception of the portion across
| New York, and this was undertaken in two
sections, one from Fort Ann to Piseco
Lake, under charge of VIM. McEchron,
| ESQ, of Glen's Falls, one of the Commit
tee of New England & Oswego Railroad
| Company, and the other in charge of r
T. Hough, Esq, of West Leyden, n. Y,
with G. H. Cross, Esq, of Pulaski, n. Y.
| Piseco Lake, at the head of Sacondoga
river, is 1913 feet above tide water, and
the summit between Piseco and Moore
| housewife on the other side, at the head
Of West Canada Greek, is rs feet higher,
or 1922 feet above tide water. This sum
NIT is approached by a gradual ascent
each way, the lire east having been sur
yeyed some time since, and having been
found to be very favorable. There are no
heavy grades from west to east in the di-
rection of traffic, and none going west
exceeding 60 feet to the mile. From Pr
seco Lake esst, the country has been fire.
quently surveyed, aiming tor Sacketts
Harbor. Between Piseco Lake and o.
wego, the survey has just been completed
with the following result, rs shown by "A
letter which we are permitted to copy
WEST LEYDEN, Lewis County, N. "
| Sep. p, 1870.
| With Mr. Tanner of our G. mmittee with men
| aud instruments, [ have been over the entire
route to where Mr.. McEchron Left his line iSeco
| Lake, employing men from pace to place, who
| are best acquainted with the country. We find
the route very much better than we expected !;
the average is not more than ten feet per mile,
and there is no grade between these points either
way of more than 40 feet per mile no short curves
| and no rock cuts We have been the line four
times and satisfied that it not only feasible
but very favorable
This information establishes the long
disputed question, of a favorable route
through thu Adirondack woods from o.
wego due east, to the Hudson river, and
places beyond d doubt the early construc-
ton OF the Transcontinental railway.
All previous attempts to reach Lake
Ontario, and which have failed, were
aimed further North, for Sackett's Har-
Dor, Cape Vincent or Ogdensburg, seeking
to pass the highest range of the Adiron-
dack mountains. There has been no diff
ficulty heretofore in going to Plseco Lake,
but from thence Northeast and North to-
wards Sackett's Harbor and the st. Law
renee, lay the great forest and mountain
district of Northern New York, difficult
of access If not impossible. From Piseco.
West, striking the waters of West Canada
Creek, there is an elevation of rs feet,
which is easily passed, from the waters of
i which creek there is a favorable line to
i the waters of Black River, aud to Boone
vile, 1889 feet above tide water, from
which point to Richland station, there is
an average descent of about Is feet to the
mile by favorable route Richland
station is $40 feet above tide water, or
2S6 feet above Lake Ontario, which is 234
feet above tide water.
/ The different companies and parties in
terested, between Oswego and Portland,
have agreed to form a single company,
under the charter for this purpose grant
ed by the Legislature of Maine at its last
session. There are abundant resources in
the way of business to support such a line
OF railway when built, and the local sup
port in each State is equal to the cost of
grading the road, every section of which
Will be OF value as soon as opened for
business. The plan has been to commence
work at Portland or at the Saco River, at
Meredith, working each way at Bristol,
Woodstock, Rutland, Glen's Falls. Luz
zerne, Boonville and Richland, each point
named being reached by railway, SO that
| none of the sections are difficult of an
proach. The details of the plan have been
arranged, and it only reqires the organi-
cation OF the company, and necessary OBJ
legations and mortgages to hold each Sec
ton in place, to ensure the commence.