The Newtown bee., 1889-06-28
A NEW ROAD FOR VIEWPOINT.

A'-s" AeS1A0 On NGW IOWN. l THE sHEPAUG IN NEW HANDs-AN Ex- TENSION TO WEsTPoRT WITH
 SPUR TO NEwTowN. l Since the bill allowing the Shepaug to consolidate with the proposed Saugatuck Valley road from Hawleyyille to Vest port has passed the Legislature, an ad- ded impetus has been given the project. It was previously known that George D. Chapman, a practical railroad builder, was aiding this road with money and in- fuence, but only recently was it an- ounced that the control of the Shepaug, Litchfeld and Northern road had been obtained by him, as agent of syndicate which remains unknown, but which is, undoubtedly, either the Consolidated road itself or men heavily interested in it. It is said that the stock was bought, somewhat below par, from the McNeils, in whose hands it was earning more money than for years before. Some months ago, when Chapman first appeared before the Westport Board of Trade, he declared that the road would be built, if Westport would obtain the right of way and subscribe $100,000, not dollar of which would be required un- til trains were running. A committee of solicitation, consisting of Horace Staples, Oscar I. Jones, T. R. Lees, T. E. King, M. W. Wilson, E. M. Lees, Richard Hoyt, H. B. Wheeler, D. A. Salmon, E. N. Sip perly, John D. Wood, Charles H. Taylor, was appointed. Horace Staples, Andrew l Nash and Edward Nash subscribed $10,- GOO each and smaller contributions, with l $10,000 from MT Chapman, swelled the sum to s44 900.
 l The matter has been in abeyance until Monday night, when the committee met at Oscar I. Jones's, added W. c. Staples, F. M. Raymond and w. G. Staples, and decided to agitate the question seriously Before long, probably, the entire sum will be raised.
 | A. F. Bowler of Elmira, chief of the party of engineers who have surveyed the route, was seen at his office, corner of Riverside avenue and State street Westport, by q BEE reporter. The field work has been completed and the office work, on which half dozen men are . now engaged, will be finished in about a week. Mir Bowler says that the road from Hawleyville to the Consolidated tracks at Westport, will be 9 miles long
 No sharp curves are required and ths | Iac hair f< the mile and few as high. On an aver. age, the grade is B or 40 feet. l 'sDo think the road will be built | Certainly, if the people want it. IknoW
 that Mir Chapman has control of the She
 paug, but I can't say as to the parties back of him.
 "How about the spur track to New I town?o
 I 1T think it will be built, that is, if tht Newtown people give sufficient encour Iagement. It has not yet been surveyed but Stephen Sanford and myself hay,
 driven over the route. The spur will bt
 nearly four miles long and will leave tn,
 main line at Dodgingtown, running up t. Newtown Street, just back of the hotel
 The route is feasible, but the grade,
 think, will be trifle heavier than else
 where. No, could give no idea, evel
 approximate, of the cost. In shor
 time, perhaps next week, shall surye. . for the spur.n
 ssCan the road be finished before Win
 ter sets in, as has been stated2'' E Possibly, if commenced at once.''
 Plans for bringing the new road t Newtown have been quietly discusse, for some time and it was at first though that the main line might run from West port to Newtown, thence to Hawleyyille , But, as that was not practical, spu | was decided upon. Leaving the mai track near Morgan's Four Corners, tn spur would run about northeast, pas : Mrs w. D. B. Ferris's, cross Sugar Stree } swamp, pass near Philo Clarke's and ru l up to the foot of the hill back of tn ' Grand Central, placing the depot direct | fly opposite the Redstone place. No al 5 engagements have yet been made with re l gard to subscriptions.
 Il The new road brings the trains almos : to our doors and give an added interes
 to Newtown as railroad terminus. An
 city boarders would have no reason t
 complain of inconvenience caused by dii
 tance from trains.
 Landlord M. J. Houlihan, who ha
 held frequent conversations with ChaI , :, man, thinks that there is no doubt of tn completion of the road, now that th T Legislature has passed the bill permi Iting consolidation.
 5 M. c. Hawley, who is full of enthus r asm on this subject, says that the loc,
 motive will be seen at the foot of Gran : Central hill within year, or two veal
 at the outside.