Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-02-08
TIE R1LLROAn
H There Business Enough 90 support

M. Editor Last week furnished you
carefully prepared approximate estiinate-
based upon such fact. a. ] then Lad-of the
probable cost Of operating and keeping in re-
pair q two-feet gauge railroad from Bnttle-
boro to South Londonderry--35 miles and
also Of its probable earnings. The only adj
verse criticism ] have heard concerning the
estimate was that too little provision was made
for keeping the track in repair and this criti-
csm. / think. was based upon the cost Of
similar work on roads Of the ordinary gauge
which is not fair criterion. But. as l do
not mean to make any figures that will not
stand the test Of actual experience, / propose
at once to correct this error. If 1t is an error
by adding $1,000 per day. or 5000 year, to
this item Of my former estimate. This would
make the cost Of running two trains per day
each way. between Bmttleb0ro and South
Londonderry including care Of road. amount
TO So. 500 per year. Of which = 400 or S2s
per day would be paid for care Of roadway.
With this explanation ] proceed to consider
the business 70 be done The passenger earn
ings Of the road which ] placed at 500 per
day, are necessarily largely "a matter Of opiu-
ion. there being no exact data upon which to
rely. But taking the experience OF other rail
roads, running through a similar country with
equal population. as "a guide. the figures can
not be far wrong: and in this case, where tn
estimate j, only for through passenger bee
tween each station and Brattleboro. with no
allowance for local passengers between the
different stations north of Brattleboro. nor
for the large extra business each way from
Ncwfane during the sessions Of the Courtsuo
Tor fairs, excursion trains dc. the estimate
for passenger traffic. j; mus, be apparent. j.
wen inside IN, safety line No estimate j.,
made. either Of receipts for carrying TIN.
mails. express business. and the Ike.
In the freizhtng department ! have now.
fortunately. reliable facts to go upon having
within a few days obtained carefully prepared
statements from each town upon the proposed
line of road, AS to the existing business. and
the cost Of doing it, The.- statements. il
every instance have been furnished by bust
hess men of high character and standing in
the respective towns, and are undoubtedly as
approximately accurate as it j. possible To-
make them They err. If at ali. ON the SAT.
side
In my estimate published last week West
Dummerston j. set down for 10 tou--oue or
binary car load-of freight per day one way
The granite guarries alone ought 10. and
probably will. furnish five times that amount.
Williamsyille Dover Fayetteville and Brood
line are estimated at 10 ton, per day, whil
the statements received show that their exist
ing business. excluding wood and hay. Is -
tons per day The present business Of Town
| shend West Townshend Narlsboro. por-
! ton of Stratton and Windham. set down in
my estimate at L. tons per day. ou the other
hand, is shown by the statements received
| from those towns, 10 be only 10 tons per day
/ Consequently tons per day must here be de-
/ Quoted. Jamaica and part Of Stratton, set
/ down at 10 tons per day have present bust
ness Of 10 tons per day. Goshen. Winhall
/ Londonderry. Peru and iAudgrove. estimated
at - tons per day, have an existing business
/ of over 30 tons per day. not including 1000 TO
5000 tons a year from Weston and vicinity.
/ sure to reach this road over a branch line
Leaving West Dummerstou as it stands
/ then. and emitting entirely the business of
| Weston. my freight estimate. corrected by
these carefully prepared statements from each
town would stand "a follows