New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-24


in such direction to cut of every natural o"noss
avenue INTO New ork and Western States Some years
ago. by means Of some hard work ana great "oi VI
money, o railroad put over this mountain AZ Pop
where the hight was less than ordinarily ambitious anu
connection was established at Albany with tne w. l.
Central Railroad and through Ito the avenues VI o
great West. This road is now one OF the oeS' III ,"o
country aud has done for Boston quite as mueh as Dos
ton has done for &C. The export trade oil bostoh-Snan
comparatiyely though it be-s what 1t is to-day NANNY
through this road, which pours into its traue yearly
1soo barrels OF -four, and vast quantities OF gram IN
bulk This great line naturally excited desire tor COM
petitlon Boston felt need OF another direct route
10 the West TO keep down freghs and thus enable 1t to
vie with NowYork in the grain trade 1t had succeeded
in building a road this mountain, ana soon devei-
oped an ambition 20 put one under IT, The state TOOK
up the matter and determined 10 bore the tunnel ITSELF
IL has been many years doing It, and has spent nearly
a dozen millions in the work, which has dragged and
Jagged But they nearly pierced the wall and
tho probabilities that, in year from this time the
Hoosao Tuanel will be open through its whole length of
four and three-Quarters miles.
THE NECESSITY OF SHORT ROUTE TO THE WEST.
Besides the Boston and Albany Railroad already men
toned, Boston has had several ways of finding the
Western praires they of them her proper
children. The trade she gets by way OF the Pennsy
vana Central aud tho Baltimore and hiO road Is the
siftngs Of NewYOrk and she is unwilling TO nave her
trade with the West come through rival metropolis
legs and tho has little JOY in its existence
The northern line through NewHampshire and Vermont
20 Ogdensburg from which much was hoped has Deen
baked by the Vermont Central troubles ana especially
by Now-Hampshire refusing TO weld its interests with
Massachusetts TO furnish highway for Boston trade
When set out 10 make this tunnel there seemed
only great obstacle in the way and that was
the mountain But now that the work Is almost done,
the tunnel itself has become elephant on her hands
great question with the state is who shall be its
keepcr that the great question with the railroad
men, quadrangular ght had been kept up before the
Legislative Committee on Railroads for the last two
nOnths The newspapers have freely mingled in IT, and
every has had something to say about it,
contentious OF railroad interests in Massachusetts,
striving for the possession this tunnel Of less i'm
porance outside world than the relation that this
tunnel is bear to the commerce Of Boston and the
commerce OF the world The railroad contentious will
be settled In few weeks aud somebody VIII surely pc
lions nj tbe Uoosac Tunnel 10 commerce and the deve
Of the trade OF Boston, and the depletion OF the
trade OF NewlOrk. 1t will take some time longer TO de-
termine but Is probable thIt here also somebody VIII
be disappointed
PROPOSITIONS FOR CONTROL OF THE HoosAC TUNNEL.
The position Of theraroad contention in Massachusetts,
with reference the tunnel be briefly stated There
four distinct propositions The first OF these Is the
consolidation of the Ftchburg Vermont and Massachu
setts and Troy and Greenfield roads These roads form
State aud connecting with tine Troy ana Boston road OF
NewYork, which IN the event of ccnsolidati0n VIII De
the NeWYOrk terminus OF the line The Ftchburg road
80 miles, from Boston to Ftchburg The Vermont
ana t fes G n Ths oy and reSn
held. road Owhed by the state runs from Greenfield TO
North Adams. miles. whore It connects with the Troy
aud BSstoO which runs portion OF the Troy ana Green
and cutting of one Of corners succeeds in lengthen
distance to Troy TO a. miles The Vermont and
massachHSet ROAD anu conaoon "o of the foE NJ
roads OF the four the Fitchburg Is altogether
unite its weaker noighoor but has gwen its sup
port TO proposition OF the Lowell road which, II
the richest corporations in the State The second plan
is that the Lowell and Feh0urg roads unite ana either
buy up the remaining portions OF the route ana
exercise control the tunnel One who studies the
man of Mas achusetts may be at little loss of
what se the consolidation Of the Lowell and Fitchburg
Railroads is to be in getting access 10 the tunnel Inc
Fitchburg road is on the direct line to the tunnel
Lowell road starts from Boston and runs 25 miles
20 connect with New Hampshire roads what then has
Tor oonso iaton based entirely the possession OF
extensive and excellent terminal facilities In 1869, the
Legislature OF Massachusetts chartered the Great North
Railroad Company which act contemplated the con
Ogsdenburg and the control Of certain steam nayiga
ton upon the Western lakes to secure for Boston
communication with West. Hoping to do great
business by tins route the Boston and Lowell road
secured terminal facilities IN the vicinity OF Boston,
western srmin1s Bnt the trouble was that between
Boston and Ogdensburg. the main line. there
some SIX OF seven independent corporations, with
branches and side lines under different organizations
making a dozen short roads There were
too parties 10 the scheme and the LEGISLATURE Of
HewHampshire refused to charter the enterprise The
Lowell road, however, formed a contract with the
was done over TINS me- But win the COM
petOn OF the tunnel Ogdensburg business Will be con
sderably depleted The Lowell road foreseeiDg this,
wishes great terminal facilities in Boston to
the tunnel line aud unite with the Fltehburg road IN
managing II the statements of its advocates can be
believed bonds the Lowell road sell in the market
without advertisement at seven cents above par Its
capital is caimed 70 be 100000 capital OF
Fitchburg road SiOOOOOO. If these merged uniting
the tune the skill and ability which has con-
Quoted built these roads, there is DO doubt that
powerful through line woRd be formed to the West
On the other hand, tue consolidation Is Effected IL Will
deprive trade of the benefit of CONNECTION which would
ensue between the tunnel line and the northern ROAD 10
OgdensDurg.
STATE CONTROL OVER THE TUNNEL ROAD.
The third plan, as advocated by the railroad commits
oners State should take the control of the
tunnel and the railroad leading to under its reserved
rghts They propose make it welldirected and we'll
.oupped road It would be necessary for the State to
buy M the Vermont and Massachusetts, and the Fitch
burg roads Under the reserved rights or the state
sn take these roads by buving and paying the market
dividends for The time they have been IN operation
aedgGn3g te & NV MT Mt Fdward Crane.that
IN State shall take the line and put 10 into the
hands OF what ne calls trust COMPANY OF 80
The Massachusetts Central is road now building to 90
into Boston the Lowell road and to run through the
center Of the state finding the tunnel at the other
It's managers oppose surrender Of the tunnel on the
Of the State. Each OF these propositions mas been
discussed at length before the Railroad Com
mittee. The evidence and arguments would make a
library itself Some Of the most eminent lawyers IN
Massachusetts have been engaged as counsel; JUDGE
Oar with half dozen associates has appeared for the
Lowell and Fchburg roads; Judge Thomas Tor the
Vermont and Massachusetts, and Charles r. Adams jrp
has argued the case OF the Railroad Commissioners
The business Of Boston are divided Neither in the
Board OF Trade the Commercial Exchange can any-
thing like unanimy be found IL is uncertain how they
will 60 The latest rumOr Is OF proposition 10 put the
funnel bands Of cOrporators representing the
state TO ascertain what price Ftcburg aud the
Vermont and Massachusetts, roads be bought, Inc
I'osnD and Albany road which viii form a rival line 20
fhe tunnel has taken no part the consolidation
do and expect 10 do For some years, at least they
nov no % nj