Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-04-09
From the Waterman.
Montpelier & Black River Railroad

montpelier & black River hailrOa0.
At an informal meeting of the citizens of
Montpelier, held yesterday. concerning rail-
road matters, decided preference was ex-
pressed in favor of the Eaglo Ledge route so
called, and among the reasons urged in favor
of this route were the following:
If this road is built Uia the Eagle Ledge
there is tributary to it, between the Eagle
Ledge and Montpelier, at least 80 900 acres
of we'll timbered land; between Eagle Ledge
Summit and the jackson Bridge 20, 600 acres.
These figures are taken from the most relia-
BILE estimates we have been able to procure.
This timbered land will yield not far from
,250, 1000, 900 feet of lumber, or, expressed
more understandingly, l,562, 500 tons, rep
resenting ESQ., 900 carloads of freight of 5000
feet each.
Now he average rate per ton for carrying
freight throughout New Engand is about
2 $40 cents per mile, and the average dis
lance from the jackson Bridge to Montpe-
lier. for the lumber traffic, would be about
fifteen miles. This alone would furnish a
gross annual revenue to the road of about
S39.O62 for fifteen years, at the end of
which time the country would probably be
nearly denuded of timber. The earnings OF
the road from the same traffic between Jack
son Bridge and North Troy would be, by this
estimate. and calling the average distance to
Montpelier fifty miles, 1888 1888 90.
The total annual expense of railroads in
the United States ranges from As to 20 per
cent. of their receipts, tie mean being about
81 l-2 per cent. But taking into account
the difference of the expense in Building and
in the running expenses between narrow and
broad guage railroads, we think we may safe
lx, h., 81
at so per cent; and especially shall we be
warranted in reducing this estimate when we
take into consideration the fact that of all the
railroads in the United States, eleven per
cent. of their disbursements are for fuel
which can certainly be furnished along the
line Of this route at much less expense than
would be expressed by this percentage. These
figures give the road net annual incom e
from TIE transportation of lumber alone, of
Slo6, l97. The average earnings of the
railroads in the country from freight is two
and One-half times that derived from passen-
gers. Giving our road this proportion of
passenger earnings, and we have S74, 479
net from this source of revenue.
| To these estimates should of course be add
ed the recei pts from the transportation OF
| farm produce and manufactured articles
southwark, and that o. merchandise to a mar
ket along the line of the 70 ada considera-
bic sum, which we will call ten per cent. oil
the earnings of the road. These figures give
US total income to the road OF S491 ,56I,
and a net income of S245 $50, or twenty per
cent. upon the entire cost OF the road, calling
the cost S 100000.
The difference in the estimates of the routes
between Montpelier and the junction of the
Portland and Ogdensburgh railroad in the
Lamoille Valley is sc, 222, and this amount
is in favor of the East Calais route. The TO-
tai difference between the two routes from
Montpelier to the point of intersection neal
Albany is estimated at $50, 900, showing that
the main difference exists beyond the La
mobile river. Hence we can but conclude
that the route ria. the Alder Brook from the
Lamoille Valley to the Valley of The Black
River, is more feasible as to the grades anC
Hess expensive to construct than that by way
of Wild Branch.
The route via Woodbury. has very little
lumber, AMI is, besides, for a portion of thu
way Accommodated by the Montpelier and
Wells River road. Its resources for bushes;
are not so good as that ria Eagle Ledge. The
amount of understandable lumber along the
line of the East Calais route is very small as
far as Woodbury. summit, and to that poln
a new railroad would be in direct cOmpetl-
ton with the Wells River road, in which the
people of Montpelier are interested to the
extent of $3.50, 600.
Again, the approach to Woodbury. SUNNI
is mainly by easy grades, but In descending
the mountain to the Lamollle Valley 1t 1t
found necessary to adopt grade OF ll3.-
feet per mile, and the nature OF the grounC
is such that this grade cannot be relieved
This grade is particularly Objectionable, oc
curing as it does at point where large
majority of the entire freight of the roae
would be compelled to 80 over it.
The route approved by our citiz7ns run'
along the valley of Worcester BIanch t.
Worcester Corner, thence turning to the cas-
it passes through portion of the town o
F Elmore to the Eagle Ledge summit; thence
to Wolcott, where 1t runs along the line o
the Portland and Ogdersburg road about ont
and one halt miles, where it takes turn Il
the north aud enters the Valley of the Wil(
Branch, and passes into the Black River Val
ley in Crdttsbury.
This line has two very important features
1t forms junction with the Portland & o.
? densburg road nearly seven miles turtle
t west than by the other route; and 1t pene
trates one of the very best lumber districts IL
Northern Vermont, lsasmuch as the casters
portions of the towns OF Lo ell and Edel
slope toward this valley, and their product
:, would be easily transported TO this road.
The preliminary survey, however, has con
7 WINGED the engineers that a very iavorabl
route IS offered by making a short tunnel a
Eagle Ledge, reducing the elevation abou
S 10 ieet, and from the tunnel passing dow
I the valley about three and One-haf miles
thence bearing to the east, and intersectln
] with the Portland and Ogdensburgh roa
about two and One-half miles below the j ok
t son Bridge; thence up the line of this roa
: 20 the Jackson Bridge and Alder Brook. Ihl
$ road would fairly accommodate Wolcott, an
S come within one mile OF ilardwI * village
= This, If We may credit the statements {
q tIardwck men, will be satisfactory to TIA
e town, and also to the people OF Crattsbur
and the Black River Valley.
The engineers are decidedly OF the opino
that the Construction OF the road Uid the Ei
gle Ledge can be done as cheaply as by I'll
!. other route, and be shorter by one and three
efghths miles; and they approve the TUNE
ing of Eagle Ledge, as beng cheaper in tt
end, and giving better location, a shortt
route and easier grades than by attemptln
to construct road over it. CITIZEN.
$ ATKINS RoosTERs.-A good friend l
W Barre writes long communication, mo
r affectionately inquiring after the health
" the Argus ROSTERS since the editorial igh