Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1896-07-15
Springfield Booming.

Springfield Booming.
The enterprising neighbours to the north,
Springfield is enjoying veritable western
boom since the building Of the electric
railway to Charlestown has become an as
sured fact. We met contractor from
Barre on the train Saturday and he in
formed us that he had been invited to bid
on several large buildings soon to be
put up; among them large addition to a
manufacturing plant; the car shops; one
or two dwellings, and that much building
was in prospect.
Work will begin today on the electric
road, and F. w. Stiles informs us that
there will be grand celebration, and that
work will be pushed as rapidly as possible
The Hon. John H. Albin, president Of
the Sullivan County railroad was in town
last week. Hon. Adna Brown, Col. W..
H. H. Slack, James Hartness and Civil
Engineer v. X. Nash went to Boston and
met the officials Of the Boston & Maine
road. The conference was very satisfac-
tory and resulted in making an arrangement
whereby the electric road will make ajunc-
ton with the Boston & Maine about half
way between the old Springfield station
and Charlestown for freight purposes,
while the passenger traffic will 60 down
the main highway to Charlestown village.
As yet it cannot be said whether the pas
senger service will 60 through the Main
street in Charlestown or 60 down beside
the Boston & Maine track from the
crossing near the steam mill. This point
will be left largely for Charlestown people
to say which way they will have it. Il
would seem that Charlestown people would
feel interested in the electric road and ge
it to 90 down Main street if possible, OF
account Of the ease and convenience o
taking car when they wish to ride. 1t i
handler to take car at ones door thar
several blocks away while the crossing o
steam railroad tracks will be avoided
With the road into Charlestown, peopl'
can have their homes there and work il
Springfield.
Among the successful bidders for con
tracts are the Berlin Bridge company TO
constructing the iron work OF Cheshlr
bridge, maintaining travel and removln
old bridge 1924, $4,000. Vermont Cor
struction company Of St. Adams, building
of Seaver bridge and strengthening Q
Gould's mill bridge and Jones & Lamso
bridge. w. H. Loveland of Springfield
masonry work, Fred Ley & Co.,
Springfield, Mass, ballasting and laying Q
track, and constructing overhead wori
wiring, etc.
The job of grading the railroad has bee
granted to w. H. Loveland and he wi
4 open an office at Lawrence q Wheeler
where all information can be obtained
regard to employing help. He will gi,
local laborers and teams chance SO far
e possible. One hundred men will be en-
+ ployed.
# F. w. Stiles says that $1.50 per ds
n for good men, and $3.50 to $3.50 per d,
n for teams will be paid; that while ga,
:. Of Italians will be employed there W
n be work for all local help who desire
,, and the preference will be given local me
y The men who are behind the elect
al road are successful business men who "
n see to it that the road is thoroughly bui
Ill at the minimum cost, and operated SO as
I'd be benefit to the enterprising town ;
will connect with the outside world. VIII
lie we are firmly of the opinion that the ro'
ID should have come here, we can mt
e. heartily congratulate the people of Sprir
II field that they are to have road. 1t v
In be only short time, we predict beft
en- there will be electric connection betwe
Sc Brattleboro, Bellows Falls and Springfe
IS, The rapid growth of electric railroads
ms New England, and the uniform succ
no that has almost invariably attended th
We building and operation, we believe fu
,er warrants this. Meantime may all succ
he attend the Springfield electric railro'
we and may Springfield grow as she deserv
ew and become the metropolis OF Winds
county.