Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-05-24
Erie's outlet nj Boston.

4 NEW RAILROAD ROuTE-BY WAY OF BING-
u.AroN, SCHENECTADY, RUTLAND, AND
lnK mOosAC TUNNEL.
Special despatch to the New York Times.
Troy, May l7.-Las. September rumors
h5cIinr plentiful in this vicinity relative To
u PROPOSED nrw IiI.r0ad which was TO
stretch an arm westward, and touch the
Erie road at Bnahamton, then extend east
ward, via the llOustc Tunnel, TO Boston and
tho New England States. As the new scheme
| developed it was found to be supported by
the Erie and Delaware and Hudson compa-
MES, and cOmbated by the Troy and Boston
and New York Central corporations. The
Delaware and Hudson openly aided the
project, which Mr.. Vanderbilt. enceayOred to
chcckmsto by threatening to construct an
independent track from Troy to Saratoga,
and thus divert all the Summer travel to his
own line, which now falls to the Delaware
and Hudson over their leased Rensselaer, and
Saratoga route. The game OF bluff was car
| ried 50 Tar that surveyors were sent out to
locate a new line to SaratOgG, and some be-
iieyed that the new line would be running
before Midsummer The gathering storm
cloud did not burst, however, and the man
ayers OF the new outlet for the Erie kept
busy with their plans. and commenced prac-
teal work as soon as possible, which has
been vigorously pushed over since. until it
now seems as If the Erie would be able to
send its freight and passengers through to
Boston by way OF Binghamion and Science
tady inside of 30 days. The new organza-
tion which was to accomplish this with
divers aid was engineered by ten. William
L. Burt, of Boston. lie surveyed route
which would appropriate to its use an old
road bed constructed for a corporation
known as the ALBANY and Northern Rail
way, now defunct The Troy and Boston
Railroad, with Daniel RobiGs IN, of Troy,
at the head. realized that any attempts OF
an opposition line to approach the HoOsac
Tunnel would endanger the prospects of
that company, and at once claimed that the
abandoned road had been leased to the Troy
and Boston Company in perpetuity in con-
slderatiOn of $200. 900. Then the fight be-
came vigorous, and the name of Mr.. Van
derbilt appeared as leading element OF
Mr. Robinson's road. The courts were
called into requisition to stay Gen. Burt's
progress, and lnJunctiOns, cOunter-lnjunc-
tionS, and litigation in varied forms follow
ed thick and fast
Tho Troy and Boston Company had in
tended ere long to obtain, II possible, entire
control of the Hoosac Tunnel by means of II
perpetual lease, but suddenly discovered
that their opponents were attempting a
flank movement for the same purpose. They
then hurried bill through the Massachu-
sets Legislature making the tunnel State
property for all time. and also tried to fasten
clause on the end OF the bill giving the Troy
and Boston sole lease OF the western ap-
preach to the tunnel. The latter mancuyre
was detected and defeated by Gen. Burt
and his coadjuturs, who secured the tunnel
free to all competing lines. The Massachu
sets public had by this time become in
teTo-ted in the conflict, and desired TO get
back the millions which the Commonwealth
had invested III tho great lloosac bore, 50
the Legislature was closely watched while
dealing with the subject On Thursday
that body engrOsSed the bill, virtually
giving Cen Buri's railroad clear APP
prOsch to the tunnel. and strongly indicates
an intention to confirm the BILL having 80
far expressed an almost unanimous favor
at lie vote.
The conflict also figured largely in the
New York Legislature during last Winter,
and the people Of Washington Schenectady,
Rensselaer, and Saratoga counties have ex-
bIblttd great interest in the matter, claim
ing that tho rates OF fare on the Troy and
Boston road had prevented them from oh
tanning proper outlet to the cities. THIS
feeling was similar In southern Vermont,
and where the road touched Massachusetts,.
On Wednesday the Legislature WAS expect
cd to pass relief bull Tor the Troy and
Boston road, which would have given Mr.
RoblnsOl an appreciahle amount of aid,
hut the bill dad not receive the req uisito at
tentlOh before adjournment; hence, Gsn.
Burt scored two victories in ono week, and
there the matter rests for the present
la tho meantime Ten Burt has not been
idle. A large force of men were kept at
work all Writer, and, despite numerous
draw backs, inside of 20 days he will have an
uninterrupted outlet to the east for Erie At
Mechanic>yIle, on the line OF the Delaware
and Hudson, route west to the Hudson has
also been constructed The river will 10
-panned by All iron viaduct and bridge
l0IS teet long. costing $3.50 900. This will
he finished IN II lew weeks. IL is placed on
eight large stone piers, which cost So 900
each has nine spans. and ~ to feet above
the river. Alter making n iOur-milo curve,
the route strikes Eagle Bridge, and from
there tho cars will be carried to Rutland,
VT. over the Rutland and Washington
road, now leased to the Delaware and Ilud-
son. This will bo operated exclusively by
the new concern, for their freight and pas
senger business. From Rutland there are
various routes by which tho tunnel can be
reached.
This programme Ill DO followed till par
allel track with the Troy and Boston can he
LAID. which is expected to be done in four
months, to North Adams, Mass Gen. Burt
also states tha: he has organized the Schen-
ectady and MechanlcsyIlle railroad company,
which proposes to huild road to Science
tady. there STRIKE the Albany and Susque-
hanna route to nghamton. and 20 have a
straight track to the Erie, over which it ~
proposed To run through trains between the
Fast and West in a tow weeks. Gen, Burt
has already expended over $500, 900 in tins
vicinity, and states that large amount OF
rolling stock is building for the company no
represents. The funds are Supplied by few
Boston capitalists. who. it is SAID, will bear
all the expense and not issue any stock
The company has up to the present paid
cash for everything. The Delaware and |
Hudson will find this valuable route for /,
them to send coal and oil Eayt.