The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-07-11

tou- face where the construction Of The
line woul he expensive and difficult The
western or southern slope Of the mountain
dii not examine, but ! understand from
persons familiar with that locality that
feasible route could he found from there
to Rutland
The route Via StJckbrlgp and pittsheld,
would continue down the river from Re-
chester to Storkbridge, with an average
grade of about 40 feet per mile for miles.
thence turning to the south and west, it
follows up the Pttsficld branch of White
River, passing through Pittsfeld village,
holding a southerly course. and intersects
the Woodstock survey in North Sherhurne,
about Ii miles from Stockbridge, four and
a half miles east of the Summit, and at a
point II miles from Rutland. The cleva-
ton of the Summit in Mendon above Stock
bridge Is about 1908 feet. divided as fol-
lows Elevation of the bridge at Pittsficld
above Stockbridgc, POO feet Estimated
elevation of Summit above bridge at Pitts
field, 1l0S.0j feet (measurcd) total cleyG-
ton, 1908, 90 feet. Distance from Roches-
ter to Summit in Mendon about 23i miles
This route is perfectly feasible one and
could the line he made continuous from
Stockbridgc to the Summit, as it would he
if continued to Rutland-with a uniform
guage, the Pass might be reached with q
grade not exceeding eighty feet per mile
average
In summing up We have comparative re-
| suits as follows:
Distance from Rochester to Rutland via
| West Rochester, allowing length of line To
make practical grades, about 32| miles
elevation to overcome l ,545 feet. Distance
from Rochester to Rutland by way of
Stockbridge and Pittsfield, about "a miles
elevation to be overcome about 1908
feet
| Ipresume, however, that should a sur
vey be made, the distances given here for
the two routes would vary considerably,
and am of the opinion that actual measure
ment would demonstrate less difference in
the length of the two lines than given
above.
The line from the summit, in Mendon,to
Rutland has been shown by the Wood
stock survey (made by Mr. j. J. II. Ran
dali, of Rutland,an accomplished engineer
to be perfectly practicable cannot take
it upon myself to say that some more prac-
ticable route from Rochester to Rutland
may not be found than either of the lines
already described, but am of the opinion,
from what | saw of the general topography
of the mountain region, that the Pass in
Mendon is the lowest depression of the
Green Mountain range, within practicable
reach of the Montpelier & Rutland railroad
1t is not my purpose, however, to express
any preference for one line or the other
except what the known facts themselves
express; yet feel constrained to call your
attention to the difference of elevation of
the two passes above described-thinking
this point worthy your careful considera-
tomas a difference of total elevation to
be overcome of 237 feet is matter of Sc
rious moment, taking into consideration
the probable traffic of this road for all time.
The total distance from Montpelier to
Rutland is seyenty-five miles.
This examination, although somewhat
hurriedly made, has, think, demonstrated
sufficiently the feasibility of the route from
Montpelier to Rutland, and enough has
been done to warrant preliminary survey
of the line, which would, think, compare
favorably as to cost and grades with any
line of equal length in the state. That the
road is much needed, to develop the i'm
mense lumber resources of the section of
the state through which it passes, there
can be no question and | trust the time
will soon come when this important link
in the railroad system of our state will be-
come an established fact. All of which is
respectfully submitted.
Very respectfully yours,
c. T. SABIN.