The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-03-26
The Northern Vermont and Lake Cham.
plain Railroad.

Agreeably to invitation, a number of prom-
nent citizens of Burlington met the Directors
Of the Northern Vermont & Lake Champlain
Railroad at the Van Ness House on Wednesday
oftornoon. Judge Carolus Noyes said that since
49, oloction of the present directors new
oho had been secured The old charter was
for a road from Cambridge to Essex Junction,
the new for road from Cambridge 10 burling.
ton 1t was to be determined un m S Mon q.
| had reached clear conclusion on the sunJect,
which Mr. Fairbanks would state. he tJudge
Noves) thought it was greatly for the lnleress
of Burlington to secure pfomptly tl:T W1,o1
| connection by rail with the LaInoll.o 10y,
| Than which there was no more thrifty region
Hon Horace Fairbanks explained the state
&c nrooress of the Portland a. Ogdensburg
road, which has now nearly reacned the Notch
of the White Mountains from Portland, and is
urder contract to the Connecticut river On
this side of the Connecticut sixty miles are
| now running, and it is to be completed to Swan
| ton during this year. mat road desired this
| nronosed connection with Lake Champlain at
darlington, and the question was whether this
link should terminate at Essex Junction or
Burlington. The directors were unanimously
of opinion that it should reach Burlington by
an independent line of its own
Mr.. Fairbanks proceeded to show the adyan-
tages of the route at length, and especially it's
attraction Tor summer travel, referring partic-
ularly to the Canghnawaga canal, and the i'm
portance of this road in connection with that
enterprise. This road would enable the Cana
dian lumber coming upon Lake Champlain by
the canal, as also by the existing water route.
to reach tide water, at Portland, more cheapIy
than at any other point, or by any other route.
MI Brigham of Hydepark said the Lamoille
Valley road and the Portland and Ogdensburg
line had always considered this connection
with Burlington, as one of the limportant
branches of their enterprise The survey made
IN 1871, showed that the road from Cambridge
to Essex junction could be built and fenced for
$4,000 a mile. 1t would now cost something
more, because iron is higher, and if an indie
pendent line is to be built to Burlington, then
the cost of that is to be added The people of
the Lamoille Valley could not build this road.
They had taxed themselves very heavily to Sc
cure their own road. but they were satisfied
that they saved money in SO doing. One town,
Concord was bonded for twenty times its
grand list. St. Johnsbury and the other towns
were bonded for twelve times their list, and
they had had to secure heavy individual sub
scriptions besides. If Burlington would bond
in aid of this road for five or six times the
amount of its list he would guarantee that par
ties would be found to build the road into this
city, without dependence on any other road for
connections.
Mial Davis of Burlington, being called on,
said we must have an Independent line into
this city. He had found TO citizen of Burlino
ton unwilling to take hold of this, as city. 1t
would cost us more money not 10 do it. than to
do it, and if the gentlemen here today will
stand by he enterprise in city meeting the
thug can be done. 1t would give us new and
valuable avenue to tide water; by means of
which he hoped to see the export trade in lum-
Der to foreign countries, which has left us for
the St Lawrence, restored. These and other
advantages would be greatly enhanced when
the Caughnawaga canal is built
Lieutenant-Gov. Taft said there could be no
question of the advantages to this city of a
connection with the LamOille Valley and with
the seaboard by line of only 215 miles, 1t
was as proper to bond for railroad, as to tax
for highway, and there could be no doubt as
to the desire or action of this city.
Various gentlemen were called on in turn, all
expressing themselves in favor of bonding the
city in aid of the project, provided an indie
pendent line cond be secured to this city. The
opinion was unanimous that we should never
consent to subject any new avenue into Bnr-
lington to the annoyances of an Essex juno
ton connection, or to place the connection at
the mercy of any other railroad.
On motion of Capt. Start, it was voted that
committee of three be appointed to procure
reconnaissance of the route from Burlington to
a connection with the line already surveyed,
| the meeting then ad ourned to meet at the cali
| of the Mayor, at some carry day, in the City
| Hail.