Litchfield enquirer., 1870-10-13
The shepaug Valley R. R.

sy.
 The work was let on the 10th inst. with such restrictions. in point of time, for the completion of thelgraduation, masonry and bridging as will allow the road to be opened on or about the first day of Sept 1871. The subscriptions to the Capital Stock are of local character, and they have gen. erally been made with the Iaudable object of enriching the towns through which it will run by making available their great natural sources of wealth. While both the stockholders and the projectors of the en- terpriseS 6re governed, mainly, by this consideration, it may be of interest, at this time, when not a single installment has been called for, to enquire what is the prospective value of the road which they are about to build.
 The earnings of a road depend on it's cost per mile, the tonnage and passenger traffic which it commands without serious compe- ition, and it's unembarrassed connections in all directions.
 COST OF THE sHEPAUG RAILROAD.
 It now appears from estimates made, from it's final location, that it's cost, ready for superstructure, will not exceed $12, ,OOO per mile, which is less than the average cost of roads running from the interior of the state to the coast, and incomparably less than roads running westward, through the state, crossing it's rivers and high in. tervening ridges.
 PROSPECTIVE BUSINESS.
 The future earnings of tho road may be better inferred from a comparison of it's resources and connections with other roads in our neighborhood which yield good re- turns to their shareholders. The Nauga- tuck, the Norwalk and Danbury, and the Housatonic (under it's present manage. ment) are dividend paying roads. Of these the Naugatuck, alone, compares favorably with the Shepaug in it's resources and con- nections hence, comparison with that road will answer every just inquiry of the Shepaug stockholder.
 RELATIVE RESOURCES.
 The business of the Naugatuck, both passenger and freight, is furnished. almost wholly, by the great manufacturing estab. lishments which have sprung up along the Naugatuck river. most of which followed the opening of that road. The Shepaug is more fortunate in this particular, for the river, which it closely follows for it's entire length, with it's fall of 800 feet. it's greater volume of water. and with 2OOO acres of natural reservoirs-many times the capaci- ity of the artificial reservoirs built, at great cost, on the Naugatuck- to manufac. turers more than double the water power afforded by the Naugatuck.
 The Waramaug branch of the Shepaug, of three miles, will not only command the marble and limestone of New Preston, but will also control the most valuable water powers of the Aspetuck.
 Its passenger business will not depend wholly on the travel incident to business. Washington, Waramaug Lake, Bantam and Litchfeld are points of much interest and are literally patronized in tbe absence of railway facilities. When made accessible by railroad these towns and lakes will at- tract large numbers, during the summer months, which will add materially to the income of the company.
 The Iron mines of Roxbury, the Marble and Limestone of New Preston, together, must give the road large and profitable business, and are all sources of income un- known to the Naugatuck.
 CONNECTIONS
 The Naugatuck opened with but one connection with New York and with no connection whatever with its northern ter minus, and this is it's condition at this moment. The Shepaug will connect with at least three direct lines to New York, and with the B. H. & B. R. R., leading to the coal fields of Pennsylvania, and the West.
 The Conn. Western R. R., now approach ing completion, should invite, at an early day, the extension of the Shepaug to some point on that road, thereby perfecting it's connections with Hartford, Springfield, Boston and Albany.
 Whether, then, we consider the cost per mile of the Shepaug, its natural resources, or its connections, it must be conceded that it will be opened with even better guarantees of successful future than were those of the Naugatuck. Again. the road will be opened under auspices more favorable to rapid development of it's resources-at period when there exists in the country an abundance of capital available for business purposes and with tariff, favoring manufacturers, as enduring as the national debt which gave it exis. tence.
 If these views be correct they should suggest to every stockholder the propriety of holding firmly, as an investment. every share of stock which he has taken.