Connecticut western news., 1900-03-08
THE BRIDGE ROUTE.
(Poughkeepsie Eagle.)


 Improvements Completed or 10 be
 Made.-New Steel Bridges Already
 Built-Three More to be Erected
 This Year.-Heavier Rails and Bet
 ter Grades, so as to Handle Rig Freight Traffic.
 Not great deal has been heard with. in the past few months about the Gen. trsl New England Railway, but people have probably noticed that the business done has somewhat increased, and those who have had occasion to travel on its trains have observed that they run al. most always on time, and the efficiency of the management has been evident in the fact that there has not appeared to be anything to comment upon, and cer- tainly nothing to find fault with. In the meantime, the new management, since the reorganization of the compa- ny, has not been idle, but has been using the earnings of the road to i'm prove the property, and several very important changes have been made. A representative of the Eagle recently had an interview with MT Sherwood, the treasurer, and Mir Martin the su. perintendent, and from information given by them we learn that the entire line is being put into such condition that engines of the heaviest weight and greatest power can be used, and the road will be capable of handling all the business that can be given to it.
 The following extract from letter from Supt. Martin gives summary of the work that has been completed, or is under way.
 A new steel bridge of two spans has been erected at Cherry Brook, Conn. about two months ago. A new steel bridge erected at East Winsted about a month ago. A new steel bridge west of West Winsted. A new steel bridge over the Blackberry River at Canaan; new steel bridge near Ancram. These bridges all took the places of old wood en bridges, and have all been completed in the last two months.
 We are receiving bids for a new steel bridge of ten spans to take the place of the wooden trestle at New Hartford, also for new steel bridge over the Housatonic near Canaan to take place of the wooden structure, and a new steel bridge over the highway at Lakeville to replace wooden struct ure. These bridges we expect to be erected during the coming year at s cost of from S25, 900 to S30. 900. The new bridges are constructed to carry the heaviest modern engines with weight ol about 100000 pounds for engine and tender. The engineer corps is at worH to devise ways and means to eliminate grades in She vicinity of Boston Cor ners, N. r., between State Line, N. Y and Ore Hill, Conn.,, and near Canton Conn.,, to enable us to haul heavier | trains.
 The entire line in the state of Con necticut has been laid in the past two years with 80 pound steel rails, replac ing 60-pound steel. All the trestles or the maiE line and Hopewell brancf have been filed. It is proposed tt change the line at Ore Hill back to tn, old lay out of several years ago, there by straightening the line ard elimina ting grados. These improvements ar, being made with a view of putting il | service heavier locomotives A new "Y' is being constructed at Tariffvill' in connection with the Springfield branch. This work is now being dor, and we hope to build "Y" at Stat, Line to save time in connecting witl the Harlem at Millerton. Our coache and motive power are being put in frs class shape. A new creamery is now being built at Copake, which will be il operation in the course of 10 or 15 days