The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1871-04-06
Ia CnossE, Wis, March, ~ is1l.

'''.'F t''a't' - ~ 80 -
+ NJ. Efi,t0r.
I The first steamboat Of the season ar
rived Yesterday. Eleven years ago tn,
arrival Of the first steamer was the grea
/ event ct the year. Ten years last October
the first railroad reached US. Prior t.
that time it was not unusual for us 60 bC
! without mails for weeks, during the win
ter storms. A visit TO the outside world
could only be made at The risk Of frosted
limbs, and with much personal discom.
/ fort; and stranger was seldom seen here
during the reign of the Ice King. The
/ yielding winter, and advancing spring
heralding navigation, were therefore
doubly welcome; and the sonorous
whistle OF the first steamer was to us
cheering music, and the signal for our
whole population to assemble on the river
bank to greet her arrival with demonstra-
tions Of Joy.
Now such an arrival merely furnishes
local item in the daily papers. And yet
few Of us known as old residents gen
orally manage to meet the steamer at the
landing, drawn thither by the force ofold
associations.
The temporary railroad bridge across
the river is now removed, and the Atissis-
sippi flows unyexed past the city.
In the summer cars are transferred at
this point on barges, fitted up with tracks.
A steam ferry takes the barges in tow,
and in this way from eight TO twelve cars
are transferred at once. In the winter the
railroad companies on each side of the
river jointly construct temporary
bridge.
These winter railroad bridges, are a re-
cent invention, and are quickly made.
Piles are driven for these bridges just
before the river freezes, and an i, made
ready for the rails, leaving open enough
of the channel for the passage Of boats.
As soon As the river freezes, the pile, are
driven 10 close the gap, the rails are laid
and the trains cross. In two or three
day. after the ferry stops running the
train, are passing over the bridge. In the
spring the bridge j., used until the ferry
is running.
The bridges can be removed from the
channel III day. II i, done by backing
train. from either side Of the river 10 a
point near the centre. The rails, ties aud
timber are first removed from q small
portion Of the bridge aud loaded upon the
ears. Gables attached to The cars are fast
ened 10 the piles, the engine moves, and
the piles are either pulled oul or broken
oil. Another portion OF the track, ties
and timber Is taken up, the same process
Of removing the piles follows, and soon
the channel Is clear, and the trains move
to their respective shores, jointly freight /.
ed with bridge. The winter bridge iu
connection with tie Summer transfer
boats are pretty good substitute for
permanent bridge. II j. estimated that a
permanent bridge here would cost about
: ,naUqu.
The winter Just gone wa, the mildcsi / .
have SEEN Business men say it was the .
iuilcst OF the last ten With the spring .
however comes evidences 0flhe usual ac-
tiyity ia all branehe, 81 industry.
we have had iusi the weather for max
ing maple sugar, here for Tie m.t two
weeks. and fhe ony reason, 50 tai as .
know, wl1 lhAB bn-iuc.s i- not successful
here {, We have no -ngsr maple lf,oo
are having weather like ours, Vermont
should haye a surplus ot sweet 4 de.
licious sweet ID j - produced by lhe .kin
Of Nermouiers aad generous friends
have noj permitted me 10 be- without il
these many ears until ao'r. s..