The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-09-13
REGISTER OF DEEDS.
The Sugar River Railroad

The formal opening of the Sugar River Rail
road to Claremont, N. H., on Tuesday is mat
ter OF considerable importance to Portland, for
it is another step towards the formation of a
short and direct route between Portland and
the west The history of this enterprise is
like that OF many similar ones; and it has ex-
perlenced quite as many vicissitudes as any
railroad project within our own State. 1t is
now twenty-five years since charter was OBJ
tanned for communication between Concord and
the Connecticut through Sullivan county but it
was number of years before a section of the
road was opened for business. Up to 1865 it
extended only to Bradford, at which time
change was made in the location, and the Sugar
River Railroad was chartered and begun. Tn
November of last year it was opened to New
port, thirty miles from Claremont. Now the
work is completed to the first objective point,
and on Monday next it will be opened for public
business. Some idea of the difficulties of con-
struction can be obtained from description of
the road at Newbury Summit, where there is
the most difficult stone excavation ever COM
pieted on any railroad in New England The
cut is about 400 feet long, while its highest ele-
Walton is fifty feet The granite was so hard
that the best blasting had no effect upon it, and
with the assistance of nitro-glyeerine and dua-
line, great skill was required to accomplish the
work. Beyond the ledge the road runs for
about two miles along the shore of Sunapee
Lake, where the scenery. is charming Then
further on, the sharp curves and high banks of
the Sugar river, which the line follows for
long distance, demonstrate the serious obstacles
that constantly beset the engineers who located
the survey. The general scenery of the entire
route is picturesque and often attractive. The
cost of the road from Bradford to Claremont
exclusive of the rolling Stock was $S75, 900.
The distance from Claremont to Gassett's
Station, on the Rutland & Burlington Railroad.
IS but sixteen miles, and surveys and estimates
were obtained several years ago. Indeed. the
building of this link is assured and when once
consummated the fertile and populous counties
OF Sullivan and Merrimac will be open to the
business OF the road, and Concord will have a
short line to Chicago via Rutland. The link
between Concord and Rochester is all that is
necessary to give these advantages to Portland
The distance is but thirty-five miles, and the
route lies through wealthy section where
road can be built with ease and cheapnes.
The business men of Concord, as our people
know, are alive to its Importance, and have al
ready secured large subscriptions for the con-
strustion. The filling in of the links at the
western end is increasing the inducements for
active efforts at the eastern end of the line.
For ourselves we have faith that the road will
be built within the next two years.
The opening of the road at Claremont was
attended by large number of distinguished
civil and railroad officers, including Gov Straw,
ex-Govs. Stearns and Smyth, Superintendent
Chamberlin of the Concord road, Superintend-
ent Todd of the Northern road, President Lyon
and Director Pitman of the Montreal line, Di-
rectors A. X. Shurtleff and HI. p. Deane of the
Portland & Rochester road, Hon. Jacob HI. Ella
of Rochester, Mayor Kimball and N. White of
Concord. These went up from, Concord and
were received with all honor. The people,of
the town made the occasion festal day. A
procession was formed and marched to the Fair
grounds, where a collation. was served After
The eating came the speaking. Addresses were
made by Gov. Straw and ex-Govs. Stearns and
Smyth of New Hampshire, H. p Deane of the
Portland & Rochester road, Congressman Par
ker of Claremont, Mr. Ella, Hon. L. d. Stevens
of Concord and Hon. Peter Sanborn