Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-04-16

Black River Valley Railroad.

building the proposed railroad from Mont
pelier north, via Eagle Ledge.
| Now, as it has not been my fortune to be
an active worker in this important railroad
enterprise, feel that have the same right
to my opinion, and to express it, in regard
TO the feasibility and practicability of the
East Calais route, as the ''Citizen' above
referred to and as be has made some very
broad statements which are calculated to
mislead not only the people of Black River
Valley, but the people of Montpelier, feel
it to be my duty, and the duty of every we'll
disposed citizen, to give very different view
of the matter, for the purpose of correcting
the statements in the Watchman
The first statement made by 80 Citizen y
is, that there are between Eagle Ledge and
Montpelier, thirty thousand acres of well
timbered land, and between Eagle Ledge and
Wolcott, twenty thousand more-in all fifty
thousand acres. If any candid reader will
take the trouble to compute the amount Of
land in Worcester and Elmore, and call it all
timber land. he will not find enough in both
towns to make the required amount and prove
" Citizens" calculation correct. In dispos-
ing of the twenty thousand acres of timber
north of Eagle Ledge, it is fair to suppose,
also probable, that at least one-half of the
lumber will find an outlet ria the Portland
and Oglensburgh Railroad. even if this road
is built, and all, if it is not. 1t is well in
making calculations always, not to count toe
strong on certain sources of profit which We
are not sure of, as it appears in this case.
! | think the farmers of Worcester and Ell
more, perhaps, will be surprised to learn
that there is SO large a portion of their re-
spective towns bowling wilderness. After
going through with routine of computa-
winds up his lumber business, and of course
the road is no longer necessity, and he has
no more local business for it.
The next statement requiring correction
is the one in reg ard to the amount of lumber
on the East Calais route, and the statement
that I" the amount of merchantable lumber
along the line of the Calais route is very
small as far as Woodbury. summit, and to
that point new railroad would be in direct
competition with the Wells River road, - etc.
We believe any man of good Judgment can
see it has not the first element of truth in it :;
and every person in Montpelier who is doing
business, knows that SO far as the town of
Woodbury. is concerned, nearly the whole of
her railroad business is now and will hereafter
be done by thei Portland & Ogdensturgh Rail-
road, unless this proposed road is built In
regard to lumber in the town of Woodbury.,
there is not less than 1000 acres of print
tive forest which has no outlet thus far. 1t
would be quite an undertaking for any man
to convince the people of Woodbury. that it
would be for their interest to go to Plainfeld,
a distance of fourteen miles, to a railroad
when it can be reached at Hardwick, by 60
ing only seven.
Now it strikes me that - Citizen has not
even been willing to admit that road could
be built ria Woodbury. to the Lamoille river,
and Gf know him), think he is willing
to make very strong statements in regard to
the advantages O. of the Eagle Ledge route,
and is totally deaf to anything in favor OF
the East Calais route. The estimates by the
engineer are not only in favor of the East
O>I~:~ -..-+- hr+ Ill tho re~or,Dso1 altnrn
/ WOuIu reuuCe Tue expense anu also the dis
lance. By locating the road in the old high
way, which Is to be abandoned from Mont
pelier to the Coffee House, and with the
proposed alterations between East and North
Montpelier, saving of nearly mile in dis
lance can be made, and also the expense o.
construction be lessened, and the estimated ad
vantage to be gained by these two alterations
Gas stated to me not long since by one of the
engineers). would exceed $4,000, which
added to the difference of the first esti-
innate, would leave $50 ,222 in favor of East
Calais route; also the little item of 5000
charged to the Eagle Ledge route for Incl
dentals more than the other, would still add
to the side of the Calais route between Mont
pelier and the Lamoille Valley. On tn,
other band, the alteration proposed by the
der Eagle Ledge to reduce distance, and also
Summit, which can never be built for less
than Sl00, 900. Allowing this tunnel to re
duce the distance three miles, at an average
cost Of ten thousand dollars per mile, anC
we have another item left of SO, 900, which
is no small amount to add to the expense o
t hat route, to make it as feasible as the Calai
route, and still a summit of more than on
hu ndred and fifty feet to pass over highe
than the summit in Woodbury..
Another point to look at, is the error il
the statement of ''Citlzen in regard to the
grade from the summit in Woodbury., north
The engineer, in his proposed alteration, il
a private letter to Mr.. Dwinell, says of thi
grade: "Iu descending from the SUNNI
there are sufficient grounds to the east, SO tina
the dotted line on the Profile can be adopted
and reduce the grade to 1856 feet per mile
for distance of less than mile.
1t still appears that there was DISPOSE
ton to mislead in speaking particularly o
this point being so Objectionable, whel
every one that has examined the Profile
! knows perfectly well that there is an.averag
grade of 1896 feet per mile, for distanc
of three and two-thirds miles, to reach; Wheel
ers mill in Worcester and from that point
towardsEagle Ledge there are heavier grades,
: and even 1856 feet per mile are reached 70
short distance. Why should this partcula
point mentioned on the East Calais route be
E SO particularly Objectionable when equa
s and even heavier grades for longer distanc
= are pronounced by the correspondent of th
t Watchnaan as remarkably feasible. 1t nigh
n be we'll to remind q Citizen" of statement