Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-07-17
THE RAILROAD BANK.

In accordance with previous agreement
Mr.. Clark, the Connecticut River railroad
eompany's civil engineer, came up 10 Rrnttle-
boro Monday morning aud held q consulta-
ton with property holders and citizens about
the railroad bank question. The company
went down upon the track in the rear OF the
Harris Goodhue property and looked the
bank over from that point down. careful
survey had been completed and monuments
set TO mark the centre line of the main track
from which distances are measured. Al a
point near the switch and engine house, lust
above the stone bridge, the oompany's line
laps mp on the bank about 20 or % feet
From there 1t gradually runs of until, at the
narrow gauge blacksmith shop and engine
and car houses it Is found, as was supposed
that those buildings stand on Col. Hooker's
land. At s. N. Herriok's southwest corner
the line takes a sharp jump OF 33 feet up the
bank, and when the GOodhue and Harris lots
are reached 1t takes another bite OF 80 feet
or S2l feet in all. The reason for this irreR.
ularity OF outline is found in the fact that the
road bed from the bridge mp to the Clapp
and Herrick property was built on an en-
bankment or made land, no cut in the natur-
al bank being made up to that point. At or
near this point the cutting began, and deeds
were taken by the company covering the
varying width OF the slope"
MIR. Clark stated that the railroad company
we're unable TO see how a bank wall would
materially benefit them, or on what grounds
they were holden TO put one in. lie said
however, that the company were anxious for
the improvement Of the bank and would bear
their full share OF the work and expense in
volved. With regard TO the wall he further
said that proposition from the property
holders to give the company land enough for
another track inside the wall would be worth
considering and he would make the suPpes
ton to the management.
From figures since given us by Mr.. Clark
II appears that a wall 20 feet high IN AZ far
as the town hall $500 feet would cost Sl2, !.
900, or at the rate of $40 foot. A wall ten
feet high would cost little more than one.
third AZ much, or about 81, 800.
1t was evidently Mr. OlArk's opinion, how
ever, and through him that of the railroad
company, that tho thing to be done is to
clean of the bank bring it to a uniform grade
and curve, put 1t in condition for vegetation
to grow there, seed it down, and tIen Keen
10 clean. MIR. Clark says that under such
treatment the company believe the bank can
be made and kept neat and attractive, and we
think he and they are right about il.
The suggestion was made that the railroad
company might be employed to do the whole
work, the company and property holders pay.
lnB ior u pro rata. FROM Mr.. CLARK q BnQpes-
ton has since come 10 us that Il might be
more satisfactory for the property holders 10
employ competent man to oversee the work
the company furnishing tools aud sharing the
expense In any case he would himself run
the lines and lay out the work. Mr.. Highly
OF the board OF bailifs was named a commit
tee to see the property olders and try 10 ar.
range some mutual line Of work, and Mr.. CLARK
will be up for further consultation early NEXT
week
Whatever the final method of procedure
may be, II is evident that at last basis has
been reached for permanent improvement
to be made. The railroad company Is ready
to do its full share OF work and the property.
holders should not delay another day. Even
shonld wall be built in the near future,
which is not at all probable work ON II could
not be reached this season, and the offensive
stuff should not be allowed TO remain there
another day. Neither should tho owners be
satisfied with scratching over the surface a
little aud then leaving the rubbish TO acou.
mulate and this same agitation to be gone
over with again. Let US have thorough work
and have II at once.