The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-05-03
NAUGATUCK RAILROAD. LINES ORIGINAL COST. Less Than the Contemplated
 Improvement in
 Waterbury.

Albert F. Sherwood, whose writings have frequently appeared in ''The Sem tirel," writes to the Waterbury Amer ican the following letter of interest to every citizen in this valley:
 We are requested to give notice that the books for obtaining subscriptions to the capital stock in this contem- plated railroad will be opened on Mon day. April 26. 1S47. at the office of Norton J. Buel, Esq, in waterbury and, on the same day at the village of Birmingham books will be opened for the same purpose
 So 1t appears that Waterbury has at length decided upon the route to influence of her business. Though it was thought by majority of our peo- pie, and even desired. that the route from this place would take another di- rection. we known our business men too we'll to doubt for a moment the re- suit of the enterprise so far as their cooperation is concerned We are creditably informed there is every pros- pect of the stock being taken up imme- diately, and that it is contemplated to have the road in operation from Bir- mingham to this place during the sum- mer of 1S48. We hope that this grand enterprise will be duly estimated by capitalists, and that the required modi- cum Comparatively spesking) will be raised without hesitation" ."-Waterbury American.
 TTl1A GT6 fIe, al hnVn In of the Derby Journal of April 20, 1S47, which paper copies, together with this extract. another from the New Haven Journal on the same subject, and fol- lows it with comments of it's own. There had been a good deal said in re- gard to a proposed road from Hartford, through Waterbury to Danbury, inter- secting the housatonic road, then a lus- ty child of some seven years, but when Alfred Bishop of Bridgeport and Philo Hurd, then demonstrated that the Nau- gatuck valley was a natural way for a railroad Waterbury dropped the Hart |. ford and Danbury scheme and espoused the new cause,
 At first it was proposed to make the new road only from Bridgeport to Wa terbury, with capital stock of $SQO,000. It was afterwards extended to Winsted, and the capital increased to $1,200,0 900. This was again increased to $1,500,00O to equip with rolling stock. The road was built and equipped and commenced operations within the last named amount.
 It has been stated that, although the business men in the different towns along the route wanted the road, yet they did not suppose that dividends would ever be realized; and to Alfred Bishops proposition that they sub scriebe for stock the answer was made that they preferred to make an out and-out donation, not expecting any returns except in the use of the road In this way $75,000 was raised in the several towns from Derby to Winsted and presentel to MT. Bishop.
 The subscribers in Waterbury were Aaron Benedict and his son, Charles; w. H. Scovlll, Green Kendrick, John P. Elton, William and Philo Brown, AImon Farrel, Scovill Buckingham, c. B. Merriman, Norton J. Buel and Is- rael Holmes. In all the sixty years since that time 10 per cent. annual div i, idends on this amount would have az Aggregated 8 tidy sum.
 In May, 1S49, the road was opened to Humphreysville now Seymour the first time table was issued. Its dats Is May IA, 1S49. In June the road was opened to Waterbury; in July to < Plymouth-now Thomaston-and on ! September A it was completed to Win { sted.
 It was graded at the least possible expense and followed the river bank in its windings; curves were cheaper than cut and fill.
 When we compare the simple pick shovel and barrow, hand drilling and black powder, for removing rock, with the steam shovel and gravel train, the steam drill and dynamite of the pres ent day, the wonder Is that so much could be accomplished in so short 8 time by those primitive methods.
 The locomotives were of some twenty tons in weight and burned wood. The writer we1 remembers seeing the ten uerS plleu HlSH Wllu tnree-lool Woou and when, with other boys, he placed gun-caps on the track for the fun of hearing them explode, has often had the pleasure of dodging 8 big stick ot wood thrown at him by the fireman The freight cars were of ten tons ca pacity.
 The original locomotives were named s'Winsted,' Waterbury" "W3lcott-