Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-03-16

/ From the Boston Advertiser
Northern vermont.

From the Boston Advertiser
Northern Vermont.
III.
THE LAMoILI.E VALLEY RAILROAD =
THE NORTHERN VERMONT AND LAKE
CHAMPAIGN RAII.RoAD-THE CHAM
pRAIN TRANSFORMATIONS COMPANY.
From a Special Correspondent
BURLINGTON, VT, March 2, 1871.
The Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad
is project which may not be- unfamiliar
to many of your readers. 1t is a product
of the energetic resolution with which
the Maine city took up, several years ago
the subject of western communication.
Looking over the field with a comprehen-
sive view, the leading men of that place
saw three natural routes to the West, one
of which, that through northern New
Hampshire and Canada, was already occu-
pied by the Grand Trunk Railway. The
remaining two were parallel lines across
New Hampshire, one southern and one
central. The former passes through Con-
cord, N. H., Rutland, VT, and on to o.
wego, in a nearly due east and west line.
This has been described in previous let
ter. The second line passed through
White Mountain Notch, crossed the Con.
necticut near st. Johnsbury, VT, and,
winding through the picturesque valley
of the Lamoille River, made connection
by way Of Ogdensburg, N. Y, with the
Great Lakes. The attempt to utilize this
natural thoroughfare is a project which
Portland is pushing with an earnestness
that is full Of significance for Boston. The
presence in this city Of some prominent
representatives of the project enables me
to give YOU authentic information. about
the work that has been done, and much
greater work that has not been done:
The Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad
was originally projected from Portland TO
Swanton, Vt, the latter place affording
connection with the Vermont Central to
Rouses Point, and thence west. The total
distance is about 200 miles. The city of
Portland promptly loaned it's credit to
the eastern division of this line, to the ex-
tent of $750.00D, and about forty miles in
the State of Maine have already been COM
pleted. In New Hampshire 1t does not
appear that, beyond the surveys, much
has been done. The division of the line
which lies in the Green Mountain State
is known as the Lamoille Valley Railroad.
1t was chartered in 1867, and on the or
ganization of the company, Waldo Brig
ham, Of Hydepark, was elected President,
and Horace Fairbanks of st. Johnsbury,
Secretary of the Executive Committee.
These gentlemen, with others. went zeal
ously to work in the matter. but have
been seriously embarrassed by want of
means. Under authority granted by the
Legislature, all the towns along the pro-
posed road have bonded themselves ia its
behalf to an amount equal generally to
twelve per cent. of the property valuation
The sum from this source, and that raised
by private subscriptions, amount to about
100000 It is estimated that this sum
is sufficient to build the road, with the
exception of the rails, from st. J0hnsbury
to Swanton, a distance of about eighty
miles. To insure the completion of the
entire line from Portland, an agreement
has been entered into between the several
sections, BY which the sum necessary to
finish any part shall be raised by mort
gage on the Whole. In Vermont the sur
veys and locations have been made, and q
few miles graded, but the progress is very
slow.
The chief obstacles to the completion OF
the Lamoille Valley Railroad are of a
political character. The Vermont Gen.
trail is its determined foe. The same con-
siderations that led the Rutland company
to oppose a line to Portland through
southern Vermont lead the Central people
to oppose Portland line across the State
at the north. The Portland and Ogdens-
Do:lnooJ oo os tho Portland
and Oswego, aims to divert freight from
Boston, and of course from lines which
lead to Boston. If a we'll built line from
Portland to Swanton had met the YER
mont Central, and, by an alliance with
the Osden-burs Railroad beyond. had OBJ
tanned a position of power. the Vermont
Central would have suffered serious in
iury. But the latter company check
mated that game last season by leasing
the Ogdensburgh road. If the Portland
people should now come to Swanton they
would be at the mercy of their powerful
rivals
But there are rumors of another COM
bination, which, if it be actual, seems
likely to PROSTATE the whole energies of
the L amoille Valley. Mr.. Horace Fair
banks of st. Johnsbury has been one of
and Ogdensburg road. AS head of the
great scales company he has had deep
personal interest in line from st Johns
bury to Lake Champlain, whereby his
his coal and iron might be more cheaply |
transported to his works. 1t Is now ru-
mored that he is to become President of
the Passumpsic River Railroad, running
south from his village to White River
Junction. The latter road works in en-
tire harmony with the Vermont Central,
and Mr.. Fairbanks assumption OF the
presidency would almost necessarily com
pel bis withdrawal from the councils of
the Portland people The rumor to that
effect causes a decided sensation among
railroad people in this State. 1t is re-
garded by many as foreshadowing the
death of the Portland and Ogdeusburg
through line to the West.
The lease of the Ogdensburg road, Mr.
Fairbanks threatened detection, and other
hostile developments, have led the La
noble Valley people to study the situa-
ton, with view to possible change of
plan. 1t is now held to be pretty certain
that their road, if built at all, will never
be extended to Swanton. There are those
who advocate the turning of the road
southwark to meet the Vermont Central
at some point below Essex Junction. This
would give the Lamoille Valley, which is
sadly in need of railroad facilities, connec.
ton with the south by way of Burlington.
But it would reduce the road to local
affair, without much power over through
business.
There ia scheme of recent birth which
gives Burlington keen interest in the
Lamoille Valley road. 1t is the Northern
Vermont and Lake Champlain Railroad
a short line from Burlington, or rather
from Essex Junction, six miles east of
here, to Cambridge, where it will tap the
former road The distance is twenty -one
miles, and the natural obstacles to be
overcome are very slight. The project is
not very far advanced, however. and its
realiz alton will of course depend on the
construction of the Lamoille Valley road,