The Newtown bee., 1889-05-10
Hawleyville Westport.

It has been truly said that "Connecti- cut is roofed with factories and gridiron- ed with railroads" but, like an omnibus, there's always room for one more. Last year, the Derby extension was built from Derby to Botsford; this year long and bitter fight is made in the Legislature to secure the privilege of building virtual parallel to the New York, New Haven and Hartford. There is much talk of other branch roads or extensions, but they are mostly paper projects.
 There is one, however, in which New town is especially interested, the pro posed road from Hawleyville to Vest port. Some six years ago, the Consoli- dated road had a survey made from Vest port toward Hawleyville, but it stopped when within few miles of the latter place and was never completed. A short time ago, the Shepaug road was pur- chased by a syndicate and plans made to build q road to tidewater at Westport:
 The matter was laid before the Vest port Board of Trade, which thought fa- vorably of it., George D. Chapman, an experienced railroad engineer, stated that the road, which would be 22 miles long and have a grade of 52 feet to the mile, would cost between $400,0O0 and $500, 900, of which Westport would be asked to contribute S100,000. "And I'll take S10,000 of that now" he concluded. Ha also said that he would put the road in running order six months after active work was begun.
 With an assistant or two, Mir Chapman at once started on his surveying tour. From Bradley's Corners, where the old survey ended, is but few miles to flaw leyville and that work is already finish ed, but it will be necessary to go over the entire route to obtain field notes. AS al- ready outlined in the BEE, the route will be southwest from Hawleyville, passing east by Bethel, then down the Aspetuck Valley. Bedding Ridge cannot be sur mounted and the road will run east of it. It Is said that Bedding people asked that the road pass between the Ridge and the Center and offered to subscribe for that purpose. Mir Chapman said, eff Bedding people will pay for one mile of the road it will be put there but that mile will cost S100,000."
 Through the valley, the builders will have comparatively easy work and 1t is not probable that sharp curves or heavy grades will be required. In all respects it Is much easier than the Derby exten. sion.
 It was expected that Mir Chapman would report progress, at least, at the meeting of the Westport Board of Trade Thursday night, 2d but he has not com pleted his work and the report was de. ferred. The next regular meeting will be held Thursday, May 16.
 Westport is pleased at the fatterine prospect of new railroad and there is little doubt that her leading citizens will enter the project with vim. It is said that the annual traffic of the Shepaug amounts to nearly 1000, nearly all oi which goes into the coffers of other roads. At present, the road begins and ends it's 30 miles at comparatively small inland towns but if an outlet to tide water was controlled by the road, it's re- ceipts for freight Git has few passengers) would remain at home. For the last few years, the road has done well financially and brighter prospects are before 1t. When the new road is completed, it will probably be consolidated with the hith- erto despised Shepaug, which may yet become q railroad power, unless swal- lowed up by one of the great systems, the New England or Consolidated, with which it connects.