Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-06-26
THE EXCURSION FROM BUR-
llNGTON.

TOT some months Jne SUBJECT Oh ulrect
railroad connection between st. JOhnsbury
and Burlington by building branch from
the Queen City to Cambridge on the line of
tho p. 4. o. Raiload has been discussed by
the leading business. men Of both places and
of places along the limo. The question only
took definite shape when Horace Fair
banks, Esq, president of the p Il. O rail-
road, about two months ago, invited tho
people of Burlington to send delegation
over the proposed. line to our place.
A committee Of one hundred and twenty
was selected to make the examining tour,
and of this number party of eighty set out
from Burlington last Monday by teams to
pass over the proposed route. Accessions
were made along the line so that when the
party reached Hydcpark on Tuesday the
number was about one hundred. At Hyde
park the company was met by about twenty
of the business men Of st. Johnsbury who
had been kindly invited by Mr.. Fairbanks
to very pleasant trip by special train over
the 2 Il o. to meet the Burlington delega-
ton. At about six o'clock on Tuesday the
company arrived at st. Johnsbury and were
mostly quartered at the st. Johnsbury House.
In the evening meeting was held at the
town hall which was we'll filed. Horace
Fairbanks, Esq, was chosen president Of the
meeting and @. NJ. Stone, editor Of the CAL
DOMAIN, secretary. The excursionists were
handsomely welcomed to St. Johusbury by
Mr. Fairbanks and by Judge Ross, and a
very interesting address was made by Hon.
l.. H. Chittenden, Of New York. Mr.. Chit
tenden is "A native Of Vermont, q grandson,
we believe, of Gov. Chittenden, was register
Of the treasury under Lincoln, and is now n
prominent LAWYER in New York City. He
showed some Of the advantages to be gained
by the building of the pOpOsed road, aud be-
lieved that upon the completion of the
Caughnawaga Canal, which was sure to be
built, Burlington would become the Chicago
of New England. Other gentlemen follow
ed Mr.. Chittendeu, all strongly in favor Of
the proposed road, and it was argued that
the same could as safely be built under the
general act as by special act OF the legisla.
ture. A committee of fifteen was appointed
to represent the different interests aud to re-
port to the same body on Wednesday even
ing.
During Wednesday the party was con
Quoted about our village and through thu
scale works, with the appearance Of which
we heard expressions of great pleasure, AMI
Of surprise too in regard to the Fairbanks
shops and handsome residences and grounds
which greatly exceeded their expectations
In the afternoon special train took the ex'
cursionists with many Of the citizens Of st
Johnsbury to West Concord, giving them {
view of the country SO far as the road hai
been completed.
On Wednesday evening the company re
sumed business at the town hall when tn
committee Of thirteen reported lavOrably Il
the immediate construction of the road. Th
following gentlemen recommended BY tn
committee were chosen as directors and au
thorized to take the matter in hand and oh
tain subscriptions; Lawrence Barnes, LiOs
ley, Parker, Noyes, WoOdhouse, and John
son, of Burlington, Drury, of Essex, Field
of Jericho, Terrill, of Underhill, and 4
Fairbanks, G. w. Hendee. Waldo Brigham
and w. b. Hatch of the p. Il o. road.
A special train for Hyde Park at 5 o'clOC
Thursday morning took the excursiouist
homeward.