The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-01-16

their farms on Milestone hill few years
since think that the next decade would see
such wonders wrought amid their green
fields But time has wrought great changes,
and we now behold the railway winding its
way up the steep sides Of that picturesque
mountain. The plan of building the Barre
railroad first found public expression in the
spring of 'SS, at which time meetings were
held TO promote the scheme. A rude sur
vey was made on snow-shoes by AFRO ID.
Morse and Charles l.. Currier, and PROPOSE
tions to build the road were received from ID.
Il. Sortwell of Cam bridge, Mass. to whom Is
largely due the success of the project Our
business men took hold of this enterprise
with will. and it was decided to build at
once. The location of the road was begun
by the engineers in April last and the con-
struction late in June. The line Of the
railroad, as surveyed, ran across Burnham's
meadow. The Central Vermont Railroad
Company, fearing serious reduction of
business, filed a location on the land owned
by the Barre Railroad Company, to prevent
their crossing said land, but the citizens of
Barre turned out en- masse one night in
May and laid sevaral tracks across the
meadow. The railroad is now nearly COM
pleted, and extends on both sides of the
mountain known as Milestone hill, distant
about four miles from Barre village. The
total length Of roadbed graded is seven and
seven-eighths miles, exclusive of sidings, of
winch Unere are ABOUT nVe miles, thus
bringing the total mileage up TO twelve
miles. The altitude from the village is S75
feet, the grade for about two miles of the
distance being 26i feet to the mile.
"Twenty-tive or more quarries will be ac-
commodated by this road in such manner
that the granite can be loaded on the cars
direct from the quarres. On account of
the difference in elevation switch-back
was constructed at a distance of about two
miles from the city. The work of grading
was done by Messrs. Ward Brothers, rail-
road contractors of Kennebunk, Maine, and
the rapid completion of the same is due
greatly to their push and energy. Chief
Engineer Ward Crosby, formerly division
engineer of the Boston & Lowell railroad
had the supervision of the work. The road
bed and equipments rank with the best
railroads in New England Steel rails
weighing sixty pounds to the yard were
used in the construction. and a Baldwin
switcher is to do the work at the quarries.
a siX-wheel mOgul engine which is in
process of construction which is guaran-
teed to push cars weighing 10 tons up the
steepest grade is TO do the heavy work.
The stock of the road is owned, one-half by
the business men of Barre and one-half bv
-. Il. Sortwell. The road is ofiicered as fol-
lows: President a. ID. Morse; vice-presi-
dent, r. l.. Smith; secretary and treasurer
G. l.. Currier. acting superintendent and
general freight and passenger agent, F. w.
Stanyan master mechanic and train mas
ter, James Boutwell,. Directors, A. D..
Morse, f. L. Smith, w. A. Stowell, John
Trow, G. l.. Currier. A connecting link is
being built by Mr.. Sortwell from the ter
minus of the Barre railroad to Barre juno
tion in the town of Montpelier, four miles
distant, at which place it forms junction
with the Montpelier & Wells River rail
road. On the completion of this road Barre
will be in direct connection with Boston
over the Boston & Lowell division of the
Boston & Maine railroad and with Montreal
and the West over the Canadian Pacific
and connections
We may add to the above that the enter
prise. energy and foresight displayed in
planning and building this road reflects the
highest credit on the people of Barre and
the ruling spirit in its construction, Mr.. d.
II. Sortwell The road fairly ranks among
the novelties of railway engineering.