Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-04-13
DANIEL. w. ROBINSON,
ELIAS LYMAN,
IL = IN, L. ~
ngton. VI. April 18th, :.eos.

Burlington, Vt. April 18th, :'"s
At the conclusion of the report the
chairman Of the committee said that TINS
was entirely different from what they cX-
pected to report a few days ago. put upon
thorough investigation they were salts
fed that unless aid was extended the
road would go around the city.
Chief Engineer j. w. Burke Of the Rut-
|land-Canadan road was first called upon
to speak and he gave a resume or the es-
timated cost of the two routes under dis
cusson. He said that the extra expense
incurred on the route through Burlington
was on account of the overhead bridges
at King and College streets, the neces-
sity of retaining walls along the bank and
the increased expense Of building bridge
across the Winooski river near the mouth
where the width is about $50 feet. inc
! soil where the abutments would nave 10
| be placed is sandy and very SOFT to a
depth of 40 feet. These difficulties would
entail an extra expense of $4,000 or 40
0o0 i'm the cost Of construction, not includ-
ing the Increased expense or right or
way.
In reply to inquiries by Judge Carolus
Moves Engineer Burke said that the route
east of the city would branch OIL from
the Rutland road near Queen city Park
and follow the valley OF Potash brook
nearly to Spear street, passing thence east
of the farm house on the Shedd farm and
crossing the Wtlliston road a short as
lance beyond the Baxter place. From tnaI
point the route would pass under the nil
around Green Mount cemetery and cross
over the junction of Colchester avenue ard
the Lower road to Winooski to bridge
over the river and bear westerly to the
Central Vermont bridge across the WI
uooskf river, under which structure II
would pass. The track would follow the
course of the river for short distance
and then take almost direct line TO Cor
chester Point.
Replying 20 other interrogations Mr..
Burke said the road already had an en-
trance to the city, being in effect an eN-
tension of the Rutland road, The VAN
derhilt interests had come into the ROAD
for the purpose of making it an important
through route which would be little ci-
fected by Burlington. The eastern route
is much more direct than IL generally sup
posed, the grade being less than that nee
essary to get out of Burlington over the
Central Vermont tracks No through pas
senger trains would back into Burlington
AS had been suggested, but a local train
would proba bly, carry passengers to tbs
junction at Queen city Park.
After various questions had been asked
as to points touched on different routes
W. g. McKilip suggested that valuable
time was being wasted. The question was
whether the city was to give the sun
asked for.
r. j. Booth said that # the road was
built under tho hill on the line now iatt
out it would cause considerable damag,
to J. r. Booths lumber business as il
would run through one end of the mil
and necessitate the removal OF store
house. He also referred 10 the danger o
such close proximity of an engine 10 {
mill of this kind and said they were burn
ed once by n spark from an engine tina
was at a much greater distance from TN
, mill than the engines on this road WoulC
be. He also said that If this road wa!
built where II is proposed 1t might Gauss
the removal of this industry from Bur
lington.
MIR. Burke said that he would take 1
upon himself as an engineer TO say tina
the surveys could be changed so as 10
to interfere with the Booth mtll proper
but it would he necessary TO move th'
| small storehouse in question. The rout
, has already been changed for the Shepa RI
& Morse company and elsewhere.
Hon. w. ]. Van Patten said that IS az
. individual he would wish to appropriat
the $50 0O0 as the road would bring sum
mer visitors 10y the hundreds from New
York and Boston, who would have plent!
of money to spend He said that the re
tail merchants OF burlington were the one
who would receive the benefit He ais
spoke of the improved facilities and bette
, rates for freight transportation that woul
, result from the competition between III
: roads and said that If the road wen
r through Burlington there would be, with
out doubt, a union station erected.
Hon w. l.. Burnap argued against I'll
proposition and said that the city had one
. given $3.50 90 to a railroad corporation il
order to secure competition and in les
, than year IL had slid into the lap OF it.
rival and Burlington was no better OF
, than before. lie feared that the sam
/, thing would happen again and though
that the city had had enough OF that kin
of business.
! Rev Edward Hungerford said h
thought before he came into the meetin
: that the road would not go around Bur
lington under any consideration. II
. thought that there was enough bushes