Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-07-06

OF Clinton, and opening remarks by the chair,
speeches followed by Revs. L. CrOwell, w. F..
Mallaieu, A. McKeown and Wood of Worces-
ter, and others.
Worcester and Gardner Railroad.
FOURTH OF JULY EXCURSION.
The directors of the Worcester and Gardner
railroad, with a party of friends numbering
several hundred, from this city and the various
towns on the line, had very pleasant excur-
sion, on the fourth of July, over their road, the
rails of which have just been laid from BARRIERS
Crossing in this city to Gardner. They left
Foster street depot according to programme, at
half-past ten A. M, numbering about one hum
dred persons, on six platform cars, properly ar
ranged and decorated for the occasion with ever
greens and the American colors, the motive
power being the company's new engine, s"Gard-
ner." Some time was consumed at the cross
ing above Worthwhile in the switching from the
Nashua to the company'S track but the train
soon got under full Roadway, Notwithstanding
the steep up grade through the deep cut, and ar
rived at Chaffinville, in Holden, six miles out,
at halfpast eleven, in about twenty minutes
from BARRIERS Crossing, including an intermedi-
ate stop of five minutes to "wood up" The
approach to Holden Centre, in few minutes
more, was hailed with enthusiastic manifesto
tons of delight by the people, on foot and in
carriages, who seemed to have turned out en-
mdSse to welcome the new corners. Here, dur.
ing the stop of half an hour, which was spent
in friendly greetings and cordial welcomings by
the colder folk" and with the customary hill
arious fourth of July" demonstrations by "the
boys" of all sizes, an accession of some two
hundred or more, including prominent citizens
of the town, with their ladies, was made to the
excursion party, making the uniquely arranged
cars assume quite lively appearance as they
moved on toward their destination. The next
halt was at Drydcnville (now Jetfersonville),
near Eagleville, one mile or more further north,
where many more accessions were made from
residents Of these villages, in which are located
the manufacturing establishments of Howe &
jefferson, A. Morse & Son, and others. AT
Ruraville, three miles from Holden Centre,
near the Princeton line, where are
the mills of J. II. Wright and others,
numerous residents ofthat village and of Quine-
cessions were also made at the crossing near the
mills of Daniel Davis & Son, in Princeton, just
north of Quinepoxet pond, and also at the lum-
her mills of Goddard & Sawyer, on the Jonas
Brooks estate, now owned by the corporation.
Here all the ties and lumber for the depots and
other buildings for the road are furnished by
Messrs. G. s. S., whose facilities for saving tim
Zoo Al, Al,
hands they make on an average some 10000 feet
of square edge inch boards in one day of ten
hours.
Princeton depot, about two miles west from
the Centre village, was reached at about one
o'clock, here, as at other places, cordial greet
many of whom get on board. Moosehorn
pond was soon passed, a beautiful sheet of
clear spring water, of dimensions sufficient to
impart quite a breezy air to the passengers on a
hot day, the road running close to its easterly
edge for some distance.
Hubbardston depot was reached in fifteen
minutes from Princeton station, Hubbardston
centre lying just one mile and quarter to the
westward, and Barre center about six miles
further in the same direction. During the three
minutes stop at Hubbardston station the con-
gregated crowd fired cannon and exhibited
other satisfactory indications of their patriotism
and joy at this fourth fully advent ofthe "lron
horse" in their midst. After additional ac-
cessiOns, the train moved on TO Gardiner, reach
ing the site of the proposed depot, connecting
with the Vermont and Massachusetts, rail-
road at 40 P. NJ, in Just twenty-five minutes
from Hubbardston, and two and half hours
from BARRIERS crossing, including about one
hour consumed in all the stops. This makes
the actual running time taken from Worcester
TO Gardner about one hour and a half, which is
considered very good time under the circum-
stances of the necessarily imperfect condition of
the track, etc. The road bed was pronounced
unusually solid and well made, and the riding
over it much easier and freer from Earring etc.,
than is generally the case over newly laid rails.
At Gardner the eXcursionists, numbering
some five hundred from all the various points,
were received with enthusiastic shouts of well
come, as the train approached, and notwith-
standing no previous notification had been sent
of the proposed visit, the company were hospit-
ably received and entertained by the citizens,
carriages being in readiness to convey them to
the central village The landlord of the Gard
ner Central hotel exerted his utmost to accom-
modate the crowd Large numbers of the di
rectors and their friends were entertained with
dinner at the elegant mansion of Levi Hey
wood, ESQ.,, and Others found equal welcome at
the residences of Messrs. Seth Haywood, Henry
G. Hill, Thomas f. Glazier, and other prominent
citizens, whose carriages were likewise at the
service of the visitors on this occasion. The
attentions of Mr.. A. G. Bushnell, of the Gardner
News, in his efforts to render the visit an agree
able one, are also gratefully acknowledged
The eXcursionists left Gardner in return
at about half past four, and after ride
of two hours and half, including nearly an
hour spent in stOppages at the various points to
let off the passengers, reached BARRIERS cross
ing at about seven.
All the bridges crossed by this road are of
iron, the largest and finest being that over the
Nashua river in the north part OF Holden, which
has span of thirty feet.
The highest grade on the road is just after
leaving BARRIERS crossing, where it is go feet to
the mile; the next highest grade is on the OPP
poSite end, at Gardner where it is 40 feet to the
mile.
This road is still in the hands of the contract
ors, Messrs. R. p. Cooke & Co., who have exhib-
tied remarkable energy and dispatch in bring
ing it to its present condition toward compile
ton ahead of the time promised in the contract.
Several weeks more will be required in ballast
ing, widening the entertainments, and otherwise
finishing up the road bed The contractors
hope to get the road in full running condition by
August 1 soon as the passenger cars are COM
peted.
This road runs through fine section of coun-
try where are already many manufacturing vii
lagos to be accommodated, besides numerous
water privileges whose resources are as yet un-
developed to their full extent, but will soon be
brought out. This was particularly noticeable
on this trip The extension to Winchendon, a
fixed fact at the next session of the Legislature,
will add largely to the prospective business
profits of this road.
------.---------------
Trina Iottar ,,,ant;ons tIa arrival in tI,at