The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-07-08

Rutldnd Roily0ad.
GENTLEMEN Having at your rno,,os,
made a preliminary examination of some
portions of the proposed line for the Mont
peier and Rutland railroad, herewith sub
nit the following report.
My Investigations were confined mainly
to such localities as were thought to be diff
fcult to overcome with practicable grades.
and q reasonable cost of construction. The
examination commenced at Warren village
in the Mad River Valley, and extended to
the summit or dividing ridge in Granville.
where the White and Mad Rivers find their
sources, and flow to the east and west.
Levels were taken along Mad River from
Warren village to Austin's saw mill, four
miles above, and the fall of the stream be-
tween these two points was found to be
365.22 feet or equal to 81. 30 feet per mile:
but as the line would run at an elevation of
about forty feet above the starting point at
the river in Warren. this grade could be
reduced to about eighty feet per mile.
average, for this section. The stream be-
tween the two points mentioned is said to
be the most rapid of any portion of it be-
tween the summit and its junction with the
Winooski. This section will, in my opin-
ion, be the most expensive to construct of
any one on the line of equal length between
Montpelier and the summit of the Green
Mountains
From Austn's Mill to the summit in
Granville, one mile, the grade will not.
! think, exceed seventy feet per mile, and
is easy of construction.
From tho summit to Granville Center,
four miles, the fall of the stream is 3S7, OS,
equal to 9G,77 feet per mile; but as an
earth cutting of fifteen feet Mt the. summit
would he practicable and the line at Gran
vile Centre would be raised at least ten
feet above the stream, the grade could be
reduced to about ninety feet per mile av-
erage.
From Granville to Rochester, seven
miles comparatively cheap and feasible
line could be located, with grade not ex-
ceeding fifty feet per mile.
From Rochester to the summit of the
Green Mountains, two routes were exam
ined. One om West Rochester and Chit
tenden, and the other gio Stockbridge and
Pittsfield. intersecting the survey of the
Rutland & Woodstock railroad in North
Shcrburno, and crossing the mountain in
Mendon 1t being the desire of the Com
missioners to find the shortest and most
direct line from Rochester to Rutland that
would be feasible as to grades and cost of
construction. a careful examination of the
country in the vicinity of West Roches-
ester and Chttcnden was made, with
a view to carry the line over the noun
tain, at some point in Chittenden that
would be the most direct to reach
its objective point in Rutland. This line
as proposed, would follow the river down
one-half mile below Rochester to the
junction of the West Rochester branch
with the river; thence turning to the south
and west, follow up the branch to point
one and one-half miles above West Roches-
ter thence DETECTING to the east, and cross
the mountain to Chttenden at point
which | shall designate here as the "Web-
Der Pass" thence turning to the west, and
following the mountain side around about
four miles, to what is known as the
"Whitmore" or Morrill, Gap in the main
range, which point 1 should Judge to be
somewhat lower than the Weber Pass,
though no measurements were made to as
certain the comparative elevations.
The Weber Pass is distant from Roch-
ester about eight miles, and its elevation
above Rochester is about / .545 feet divid-
ed as follows: The elevation of West
Rochester above Rochester is estimated al
1870 feet the elevation of Stanlcy's. above
West Rochester, is estimated at $50 feet
the elevation of the Weber Pass above
Stanley's, as measured. is 1,215.13 feet
Total elevation of the Webbcr Pass above
Rochester, 1,545.13 feet 1t would there
fore require length of line from Roches
ter to the Weber summit of eighteen mile.
to overcome the elevation, with an averag,
grade of eighty-fiye feet per mile But tn,
nature of the ground between these points
is very favorable for the prolongation Of
the line, and could be constructed at a cos
per mile not exceeding the average ex
pcnse for the other sections which | eX
amined.
The country between the Weber Pass
and the Wltmorc Gap presents no serious
obstacles, as it follows the mountain side
around to the Whitmore Notch though
for short distance north of the latter poin
the mountain presents ragged and precipi
tous face. where the construction of til,
line would be expensive and difficult. TIT
western or southern slope of the mountain
| did not examine, but understand from
persons familiar with that locality that
feasible route could he found from Their
to Rutland.
The route via Stockbridge and Pittsfield
would continue down the river from Re
; chester to Stockbridgc, with an averag
grade of about 40 feet per mile, for miles
thence turning to the south and west, j
follows up the Pittsteld branch of Whit
River, passing through Pttstield village
holding n southerly course, and intersect
the Woodstock survey in North Sherburno
about If miles from Stockbrdge, four ant
half miles east of the Summit, and at
point Is miles from Rutland. The eleva
ton of the Summit in Mcndon above Stock
bridge, is about l ,30S feet, divided rs fol
lows; Elevation of the bridge mt Pittsiiel'
above Stockbridgc, 200 feet (estimatedD
elevation of Summit above bridge at Pitts
field, 1885, 5 feet (measured) total eleva
ton 1908, 95 feet. Distance from Roches
ter to Summit in Mendon about 23a miles
This route is perfectly feasible one, am
could the line be made continuous iron
v Stockbridgc to the Summit, ms it would b
If continued to Rutland-with n uniforr
: guage, the Pass might he reached with
grade not exceeding eighty feet per mil
IS average.
In summing up we have comparative II
suits as follows;
Distance from Rochester to Rutland vi
West Rochester, allowing length of line I
make practical grades, about 32l miles
elevation to overcome 1 ,545 feet. Distanc
r from Rochester to Rutland by way {
Stockbridge and Pittsfield, about "a milo
elevation to be overcome about l,3C
feet.
Ipresume, however, that should IA SUI
vey be made, the distances given here Il
the two routes would vary considerably
and am of the opinion that actual measure
ment would demonstrate less difference !
o' the length of the two lines than give
above.
The line from the summit, in Mendon,t
n, Rutland, has been shown by the Woo
e stock survey made by Mr.. j. j. II. RAJ
to dali, of Rutland, IAN accomplished enginee
to be perfectly practicable, cannot tax
it upon myself to say that some more pra
= ticable route from Rochester to Rutlai
N may not be found than either of the lin
" already described, but am of the Opinion
IS from what saw of the general topograpl
of the mountain region, that the Pass
-- Mendon is the lowest depression of Il
Green Mountain range, within PRACTICAL
n reach of the Montpelier d Rutland railroa
AZ 1t is not my purpose, however, to EXPIRE
ar any Interference for one line or the other