Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-04-02
Montn,Ilcr & pIaek River Railroad.


II this road is built via. the Eagle ledg,
there IL tributary to it, between the Eagle
Ledge and Montpelier, at least 10000
cores Of well timborel land between Eagl,
Lodge Summit and the Jackson Brdg,
10000 acres. These figures are taker
from the most reliable estimates we hay,
been able to procure. This timberod land
will yield not far from 1,2j0,0O0 600 feel
Of lumber, or, expressed more understand.
ingly, .jG2 500 tons, representing $50,
600 carloads Of freight Of 5000 feet each
Now the average rate per ton for carry
ing freight throughout New England i,
about . $40 cents per mile, aud the aver.
age distance from the Jackson Bridge tc
Montpelier, for the lumber traffic, would be
about fifteen miles. This alone would fur.
uish a gross annual revenue to the road OIL
about S30,O62 for fifteen years, at the end
Of which time the country would probably
he nearly denuled Of timber The earn.
ing' Of the road from the same trait, be-
tween jackson Bridge aud North Troy
would be- by this estimate, aud calling the
average distance to Montpelier fifty miles
s333383 90.
The total annual expense Of railroads il
The United States ranges from As to 10
per cent. Of their receipts, the mean being
about 81 pei cent. But taking into &c.
count the difference Of the expense in build.
ing and in the running expenses between
narrow aud broad guage railroads, we think
we may safely put the proportion Of ex-
penscs to receipts at 80 per cent aud es.
pccially shall We be warranted in reducing
this estimate when We take into considcra-
ton the fact that Of all the railroads in the
United States, eleven per cent. Of their dis
bursemcnis are for fuel, which can certainly
be furnished along the line Of this route at
a much less expense than would be express.
ed by this percentage, These figures give
the road a net annual income from the
Of lumber alone, of SlS6,.
1877. The average earnings of the railroads
in the country from freight is two and one.
half times that derived from passengers.
Giving our road this proportion Of passen-
ger. earnings, and We have S74,479 net from
this source Of revenue.
TO these estimates should Of course be
added the receipts from the transportation
Of farm produce and manufactured articles
southwark, aud that Of merchandise tc a
market along the line Of the ROAD con-
siderable sum, which we will call ten per
cent. Of the earnings Of the road These
figures give US total income to the road
Of s49l SCI, and net income Of S245.-
$50, or twenty per cent. upon the entire
cost Of the road, calling the cost 81 ,2O0,-
600.
The difference in the estimates Of the
two routes between Montpelier and the
junction Of the Portland and Ogdensburgh
in the Lamoille Valley is s6,222,
ADD this amount is in favor of the East
Calais route. The total difference between
the two routes from Montpelier to the point
of intersection near Albany is estimated at
$50, goo, showing that the main difference
exists beyond the Lamoille river. Hence
we can but conclude that the route ria the
Alder Brook from the Lamoile Valley to
tho Valley Of the Black River, is more
feasible as to grades and less expensive
to construct than that by way of Wild
Branch.
The route ria Woodbury. has very little
lumber, and is, besides, for portion of the
way accommodated by the Montpelier and
Wells River road. Its resources for bust,
ness are not 50 good as that ria Eagle
Ledge. The amount of merchantable lum.
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