Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-04-22

WINGED Of the expediency of building the proposed
line, they should be allowed to do so.
But fthey came to me to ask advice as to the |
expediency of building that lline,. should |
most decidedly and earnestly advise against It. The
ten miles long, and in all probability will cost at
least $4,000 mile. 1t runs through section of |
country where there Is no village (after leaving
Gardner no water power, very little timber, moth
the sole object to be gained in building It is to save
q little distance in reaching Winchendon, and 10
have line entirely under their own control. These
reasons seem to me not to justify the great expense
they must encounter.
The Vermont and Massachusetts, railroad COM
pany are about TO make important improvements in
their line in this neighbornOOd, for the purpose of
shortening distance and obyiating the incon-
venences of reversing tine direction of the trains at
Ashburnham junction. have seen all, or nearly
ALL the plans and protles Of the surveys made for
this purpose, and have some knowledge of the
country None of the surveys east of Ashburham
junction show any Improvement over the present
line taking into consideration both grade and dis
lance. But from Ashburnham junction west the
line may be shortened three or four miles, without
increasing the grade or passing over higher sum-
NIT than the present one. This route will be
from the junction south of the reservoir to
baldwinsvlle or rorther west. This new
line will then become the main line
of the road, and have understood that the YER
mont and Massachusetts railroad company on its
completion, would sell or lease ON favorable terms
the old line to any other road that could proftaby
use 1t. The Boston, Barre and Gardner road could
thus acquire the use of all this old line having
large villages upon II, OF OF LDe part from SOuLD
Gardner to Ashburnham Junction, if they should
desire. If they preferred only to take the last
named section, they could probably obtain it at
very much smaller expense than they could build
their proposed line for, while it would afford them
more business from Ashburnham to Worcester,
where they propose to connect with the Monadnock
railroad. They could run over the Cheshire road,
and if there were any difference between the COM
panes as to terms the manner of settlement is pre-
scribed by law. The increased distance they would
have to run between Gardner and Winchendon
would be more than Offset by the expense saved in
building and the greater business the line. For
these should most decidedly advise against
building the line they propose.
Yours respectfully L. APPLETON.
| Senators Bird and Howe thought it very extra
ordinary thing that the letter had never been seen
by them, as both of them are members of the COM
mittee to whom it is addressed. They also thought
it very extraordinary that state railway commits
sioner should have placed himself in such relations
with partisan opposition to the prejudice of his
high Judicial position. 1t appeared in the discus
sion which ensued that this breeches pocket letter.
which has been privately circulating for the pur-
pose of influencing votes, has been through the
hands of Messrs inchester and Towne but although
written on the oath of March, had not yet reached
the railway committee. The senatorial reflections
on the course of the gentleman last named were
anything but complimentary to them. Mr.. Bird
said 1t was very important development, that de-
served investigation, and therefore he moved to
have the bill recommitted. Messrs. Thayer of
North Adams, Collins and Wilcomb tried in vain to
prevent such action, but Messrs Rhodes of Tam
ton, Munroe of Boston, and Goodman of LenOx,
sustained the motion of MIR. Bird and the report
was recommitted by the following vote:
:, YEA Atwood, bartholomew, Bird, Elliott,
Frost Goodman, Monroe, Packard, Pierce, Rhodes,
Stafford, Stickney, Thayer, of Worcester, Wakefield,
Whiting and Whitney.
nay oardman, Bradley, Cqswelg Clark, of
birmingham, Collins, Fox, Greeley, Long, Park,
Richardson, Tenney, Thayer.of NorthiAdams, and
Willcomb.
There is naturally enough much comment on the
macmillan tactics adOnTpd nv Of ha
tension to Winchendon Not a member of the
committee on railways ever saw the above letter ex-
cept Mr.. Towne. His explanation is understood to
be that he saw the letter in the hands of Mr. VIM
chester but that he did not notice that il was adj
dressed to the committee-c0utd not hare read the
first paragraph. 1t is said that Mr.. Winchester
says he handed the letter to Mr. Sanford and that
he iS.) handed it back to him. Mr.. Sanford utterly
denies this. He and all the other members Except
Mr.. Towne,) agree that they never had or saw the
letter, and 7eUer asked Mr.. AppletOn'S ddUice.
The bill concerning the taxation of incomes was
discussed in the house, and occupied the attention
OF the members during the greater part OF the
sion. Mr.. Cogswell, of Salem, spoke in favor of a
bill offered by him a substitute providing that
no tax shall hereafter be assessed in this common
wealth on an income derived from q profession
trade or employment; also that money at interest
secured by mortgage hereafter executed upon real
estate, shall be exempted from taxation but such
exemption shall not exceed in amount the taxable
value OF real estate so mortgaged. MIR. McKim, of
West RoX6ury, explained the bill presented by him,
the main bill before the house providing that the an.
nual income subject to taxation snail be only so
much as exceeds $1,000. Messrs Brown of Adams,
Bailey Of Charlestown, aud Novel; of Boston, spoke
against the bill, and Mr.. Beard of Brookine In its
favor. The previous question was ordered all the
amendments were proposed and rejected, and the
original bill was also rejected by vote Of % to IT,
Inc petition OF special committee of the school
committee of Boston was presented in the house.
this afternoon, asking for an amendment of the CITY
charter, that said school committee shall be the
original Judge of the expediency and ecessity of
having additional or improved accommodations for
any public school within the limits of said city and
no school-house shall be located, erected or mate
rally altered, until they shall have approved the
proposed location and plans of the same. The COM
miltee on constitutional amendments reported, in |
the senate ineXpedient, severally on the order |
relative to holding constitutional convention; on
much of the governors address as refers to bien
NAL sessions of the legislature; the order rela
for longer tenure OF Office for members of the legis-
lature also on the order relative to amendment of
the constitution in the matter of tenure of office of
treasurer and receiver general, Other committees
reported as follows Leave to withdraw on the pc
tition of the selectmen of Holyoke for pay |
ment for liquor seizures; inexpedient on an |
order for further legislation for the pro-
lection and security of property in the
vicinity of military encampments. No legislation
inland fisheries. bill to incorporate the Union
aqueduct company in Lancaster, with capital of
SlO,OCO. Reference to the committee on labor of
the resolve requesting the bureau of statistics of
labor to present plan to the next legislature for
the establishment of system of half-time graded
mssiouers of Bristol county to remodel or rebuild
the jail at Taunton. Reference to the committee ON
public charitable institutions on the petition of
Rufus E. Ellis and Others for the establishment of
reformatory institution for girls. In the
house the following reports were made:
Leave to withdraw on the petitions of the |
president of the WashingtOnan inebriate reform |
for state aid; OF David Pulser for
pensation for services of Josiah M. Shaw and |
Others for change in the laws relating to state
aid; of the Dudley Indians for relief; of Wells g. |
Perry, d. j. Cameron Co., for the payment of the
balance of their claims against the Troy and Green
field railroad and Hoosac Tunnel. Inexpedient to
legisate on the order relative to furnishing each
city and town in the commonwealth with a copy of
the state maps recently published under the super
of Henry F. Walling A resolve to paw
out Of the income Of the school fund an additional
sum of $50 to the town of Gay Head for the sup
port of the schools of that town, and bill chang
ing the tenure OF office for members of the state
board of education, providing that members shall
hereafter be appointed for four years.
The committee on education to whom was recon-
mitted the matter of the normal school at Worces-
ter and also the petitions Of citizens of the towns
OF Lancaster, Fitchburg, Ashburnham and other
places, for normal school in the county of Wor-
cester reported that the bill as originally presented
by them, and amendedby the committee on finance
ought to pass.
In the orders Of the day in the house. the bills to
incorporate the Worcester real estate and building
association, and to authorize the Worcester and
Nashua railroad company to lease the road of the
Nashua and Rochester railroad compauy were or
dered to third reading The bills to provide for
the regulation and inspection of buildings the more
eectua prevention of fire and the better preserva-
to establish inebriate asyums and board of com
missioners thereof were postponed till tomorrow.
Mr.. Tarbox, Of Lawrence, gave notice of intention
to propose bill as substitute instructing the com
prisons to inquire into the expedency
Of providing houses of reformation for sem
fenced by courts and report to the next legislature
The resolve in favor of the museum of zoology was
specially assigned for consideration Tuesday next
at halfpast two O'Clock and the bill to regulate the
hours Of labor in manufacturing establishments
was assigned to Wednesday next at half-past two
O'Clock.
Tha bills comforting school boards the power to
establish the Office of superIn tendent of schools in
cities to appoint superintendents of public schools
aug IN relation to division fences, were rejected
A., an ofder was adopted in the senate instructing
tne committee on the judiciary to consider the exc
Peuency Of authorizing the governor to agree with
the proprletors of land and flats neor Tho stata
Pso9 IN inc selection Of commissioners to deter
and other individuals. In the house an order vss
passed referring 10 the committee on claims 90
much of the auditors report as related In sfat a.
with instructions to consider whether any iersIa,
ton is necessary thereon. The bill relating r. ia
sruction in vocal music was taken from the tab t
and rejected -e S'oie
F.II. LII