St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-07-27
The Completion of the P. & o. Rail
road.
From the Swanton Courier


in the eventful history of the Vermont
Division of the Portland & Ogdensburg
Railroad. The laying of the last rail
and the driving of the last spike an
event which has been labored for by
the management and lOnged for by the
people ali along the Valley of the La
noble and MissisquOi for many years.
After all these years of delays, owing to
the hard times and the failure of one
contractor after another to carry out
agreements, the day that witnessed the
meeting of the tardy iron could not but
prove one of rejoicing to the friends of
the enterprise.
From the Colebrook News.
| A great event of the current week
was the completion of the Vermont Di-
vision of the Portland & Ogdensburg
railway. The occasion of its formal
completion and opening to traffic was
made gala day by the authorities of
the road and the residents along the
line. The history of the P. & o. road
has been one of constant struggle against
opposing interests, notably the Yer
mont division. Through the energy
and perseverance of the Messrs. Fair
banks, of st. JOhnsbury, the work has
| Dtou lICu W SUI
cess. The completion of this road will
prove of great and lasting benefit to the
people of Vermont, and they are to be
congratulated on the auspiciOus result.
From the Boston Journal
The completion of the through line of
the Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad
by the construction of the connecting
link between johnson in Lamoille coun-
ty and SwantOn ON the shore of Lake
Champlain was celebrated to-day, the
last spike being driven in the town of
Fletcher. The event must be regarded
as one of great Importance to the local
interests of the State of Vermont, as
well as to the commercial interests of
the country. The history of the Port
land and Ogdensburg Railroad is well
known, and need not be repeated in the
present connection. The Vermont di
vision of the line, like other portions of
the road, has had much to contend
against, but thanks to the indOmitable
energy and perseverance of the Messrs.
Fairbanks, who have been the chief
promoters of the enterprise from the
first, the work has been carried through
triumphantly.
} From the Rutland Herald.
!, The gentlemen who have in these de-
pressed times so persistently chung to
this enterprise and finished this impor-
tant line of railroad, bringing Ogdens-
burg some seventy miles nearer tide
water than by any other route, and
opened an isolated section of Vermont
to the enjoyment of railroad facilities,
are entitled to great credit.
From the Nashua Gazette.
Considerable enthusiasm and interest
are taken in the completion of the line,
as it is an enterprise in which st. Johns
/, bury has taken an active part. In fact,
the project of constructing this railroad
, was conceived by Governor Fairbanks,
who has had faith in its success from
the first. Since the work of cOnstruc-
J ton began the financial condition of the
1 country has made the difficulties great
er than were anticipated. But they
D have in a measure been surmOunted and
, the management are looking to the flu
i ture hopefully. The cost of the road
q and equipments is four millions of dol
!. lars, and its bonded debt is about TWEEN
ty-three thousand dollars per mile
Though the road runs across the state
q famous for its ranges of mountains run
8 ming north and south, it goes along the
Y streams in such a manner as to avoid
i steep grades. The highest grade going
q east is IS feet, and west about rs feet
f 1t is claimed that the new route is 81
: miles shorter from the west to the sea.
q board than any other route, and con-
q sequently will compete for the through
$ freight. 1t also promises to have gOOC
local business, as it runs through an(
near some OF the best agricultural por
: tiOns of Vermont.
From the Boston Daily Advertiser.
IS This has been great day for st
# Johnsbury and the whole region trav
n ersed by the Vermont division of tn,
Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad.
signalized the completion of the lin,
from Swanton, on Lake Champlain t.
G the Connecticut river where the roao
IL connects with the Portland division
y also completed, with the exception of
q gap of eighteen miles between Dalton
e n. H., and Fabyan's, at the base of til,
White Mountains. The Vermont di
vision is 100 miles in length and tn
~ Portland division about 10, making tn
l. entire length of the line to Portland 23
l. miles. The supplying of the last linl
by the completion of the Vermont di
vision was the browning triumph o
eight years. constant struggle amid tn
i most discOuraging circumstances, ant
ID it was effected to-day at the little tow
he of Fletcher, VT, by the laying of tn
u last rail and the driving home of tn
"a last spike. The event was one of grea
ID Importance, and much interest was ex
at cited at either end of the line, and al
4 along the route.