Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-03-21
The Northern Vermont and Lake ChsEPiain
Railroad.


-------
The Northern Vermont and Lake ChsEPialn
Railroad.
Agreeably to invitation, number OF
prominent citizens of Burlington, met the
Directors of the Northern Vt. Lake
Champlain Railroad at the Van Ness House,
on Wednesday afternoon. Judge n. Parker
called the meeting to order, and it organic
ed with Mayor Dodge as Chairman and u.
G. Benedict as Secretary. Judge Carolus
Moves was called on to address the meeting
and did SO briefly, saying that since the
election of the present directors, new
charter had been secured. The old charter
was for n road from Cambridge to Essex
Junction, the new for road from Gam
bridge to Burlington. 1t was to be deter
mined under which Of these acts they
should proceed. The directors had reached
clear conclusion on the subject, which
Mr. Fairbanks would state. He (Judge
Noyes) thought it was greatly for the inter-
est of Burlington to sseures promptly the
proposed connection by rail with the La
noble Valley, than which there was no
more thrifty region in Vermont.
Hon. Horace Fairbanks explained the
state of progress of the Portland and Og-
densburg road, which has now nearly
reached the Notch of the White Mountains
from Portland, and is under contract to the
Connecticut river. On this side OF the Con-
necticut sixty miles arenow running, and 1t
is to be completed to Swanton during this
year. That road desired this proposed con-
nection with Lake Champlain at Burling-
ton. and the question was Swhether this
link should terminate at Essex junction or
Burlington. The directors were unani-
mously of opinion that it should reach Bur
lIngton by an independent line of its own,
and had adopted the following resolution
Resofred, By the Directors Of the Northern VI.
and Lake Champlain Railroad, that IN their opln-
ION II Il expedient and desirable for the interests
| concerned to bring the Cambridge line to the
waters OF Lake Champlain at Burlington
Mr.. Fairbanks proceeded to show the ad-
vantares of the route and especially its at
fractions for summer travel. from New York
through Lakes George and Champlain to
Burlington, Mount Mansfield, the White
Mountains, Portland, Casco Bay, and 50
round via Newport to New York again.
Hon. George W. Hendec was next called
on and spoke effectively, recalling the old
times when the highways from Burlington
to Lamoille County were lined with teams
loaded with merchandise. The people of
that county desire to renew those business
connections with Burlington. This road
will give to them, to Orleans county and to
parts of Caledonia and Essex counties their
best connection with New York, and would
make Burlington an important centre for
fourth part of the State of Vermont, from
which now Burlington receives little bust
ness. If the Caughnawaga canal is built,
this connection will be still more necessary
and important He hoped when the Yer
mont Division of the Portland and Ogdens-
burg reached Cambridge, thisl coming
summer, it would meet this road there. In
order to do that prompt and decisive action
would be needed.
Mr.. Brigham of Hydepark, said the La
noble Valley road and the Portland and
Ogdensburg line had always considered this
connection with Burlington, as one Of the
important branches Of their enterprise.
Whether it should be built depends mainly
on the city Of Burlington The survey made
in 1871 showed that the road from Cambridge
to Essex Junction could be built and fenced
for 500. 900 mile. 1t would now cost
something more, because iron is higher, and
if an Independent line Is to be built to Bur
lington. then the cost Of that is to be added.
The people Of the Lamoille Valley could net
build this road. They had taxed themselves
very heavily TO secure their own road, but
they were satisfied that they saved money in
so doing. One town, Concord, was bonded
for 20 times its grand list St. Johnsbury
and the other towns were bonded for -
times their list, and they had had to secure
heavy individual subscriptions besides. If
Burlington would bond in aid of this road
for FIVE or six times the amount of its list,
he would guarantee that parties would be
found to build the road into this city, with
out dependence on any other road for con-
nections. Mr.. L. B. Howe Of Jericho, con-
Cured in the remarks made. L. F. Wilbur
ESQ, of Jericho, pledged that town to bond
again if 1t became necessary to organize
under the new act, which would involve
the throwing up or doing over Of what had
been done by Jericho and Underhill.
Mial Davis Of Burlington, being called |
on, said unless perfectly reliable arrange
ment can be made with the Vermont Central, |
We must have an Independent line into this |
city lie had found no citizen of Burling- |
ton unwilling to take holdlof this, as a city.
1t would cost Us more money not to do 1t, |
than to do it, and if the gentlemen here to-
day will stand by the enterprise in city
meeting the thing can be done. 1t would
give US a new and valuable avenue to tide
water by means Of which he hoped to see
the export trade in lumber to foreign
countries, which has left US for the St. Law
renee, restored. These and other adyan-
tages would be greatly enhanced when the
canal is built.
Lieutenant-Gov. Taft said Burlington
was situated somewhat differently from the
towns in the Lamoille Valley, which had
no railroad at all. We have roads now,
but we want this also. There could be no
question of the advantages to this city of a
with the Lamoille Valley and
with the seaboard by & line Of only 2l5
miles. 1t was as proper to bond for rail-
road, as to tax for highway, and there
could be no doubt as to the desire or action
Of this city.
Messrs. Henry LOOMS, Dr. B. j. Heine-
berg, Elmore johnson, Z. NJ. Sutton,
Henry Ballard, L. L. Lawrence, p. D.
Ballou, R. II. Start, NJ. R. Tyler, Geo. II.
Bigelow, A. G. Whittemore and G. L.
Linsley, were called on in turn, all expressing
in favor of bonding the city in
I'D of the project, provided an Independent
Inc could be secured to this city. The
opinion was unanimous that we should
never consent to subject any new avenue
nto Burlington to the annoyances of an
Essex Junction connection, or to place the
connection at the mercy of any other rail-
DAD
On motion of Capt. Start, it was voted
hat a committee of three be appointed to
rocure a reconnaissance of the route from
Burlington to a connection with the line !
lready surveyed, to determine its feast 3
ility. Messrs. c. Nsyes, II. Loomis and
V. II. Crombie, were appointed such com
littee. f
On motion Of Mr.. Taft the meeting ad-
burned, to meet at the call of the Mayor, :
t some early day, in the City Hall. t