Year: 1870




now under consideration. Without any
of the facts in regard to elevations and
many other things which ordinary Rngin-
eers deem so essential, in their possession,
they have come to full understanding of
the whole case and given us the benefit of
their opinions.


If all this has failed to move the minds
Of the Directors and change the location,
it is presumable that there is something
to be said upon the other side of the
question.


1t is granted at the outset that the line,
as located. is some six miles longer, more
OR less, than line possible to be obtained.
Why shall not the shorter be accepted?


First. Because it must cost, probably
as much (perhaps more) to grade it, as
the longer.


Second. 1t a0iA require grades at
least l30 feet to the mile-douMe those
upon the Longer hme-g they can be dis-
tributed uniformly for sac and one-half
miles. But it quite certain this can not
be done, and that, for some part of this
distance, sleeper incline than even this
must be adopted. What such grade as
this involves, in time or cost of running,
or even in maintaining the permanent way
it is not my purpose to discuss, the mere
statement of the fact is sufficient.


Third. Such a location would have
lost us a subscription of one hundred and
thirty thousand dollars $3.50, ,000), and
in addition to this the trade and business
of an important section Of country. This
closes the case for the defense.


Estimates of the cost Of constructing
your road have been given, as the surveys
of the different Divisions were from time
to time completed, and need not at this
time gain occupy time and space with
the details. They have exceeded the ex-
pectations--perhaps | ought rather to say
the hopes-of some, in that the work in
the Lamoille Valley proper has come up
so nearly to the average of that from the
valley to Walden summit" An anal
ysis of these estimates however explains
this at once. 1t reveals the fact that the
bridges (masonry and superstructure) con-
stitute more than one-quarter of the whole
cost Of grading your road. Besides this,
the great freshet Of Oct last, compelled
us to adopt higher grade line over the
intervales of the Lamoille, than had beer
drawn in the first preliminary survey ;
and in some places to leave the intervale
altogether for the neighboriDg side hill.
The effect Of this has been apparent notonly
in increasing quantities in embankmeut,
but also in culvert masonry. A line
might often be run for miles over an in
tervale with hardly a culvert, but when
once the intervale is left every stream
which comes down the hills must have a
passage for itself left. s.r ~


And now word or two generally in
regard to the location. Vermont does
not enjoy the reputation of being coun-
try through whose length or breadth a
line of railroad can be cheaply built. To
my knowledge no such road has been
built. Your neighbors ridicule the idea
of your ability to build a road Of any
kind and point to other instances Of fail
ure as warnings to you. Doubtless their
wishes somewhat warp their judgment but
we must suppose that most Of them are
honest in their opinions, and believe that
you will only fail if you make the attempt.
You on the contrary are proving your
faith by your works. Taking the estimates
of your Engineers as reliable and believ-
ing that you have money enough already
subscribed to 60 far towards grading the
road, You have put your hand to the
plough and do not mean to look back. |
believe that you will hare your ioad-a
cheaper road too, in and Notwithstanding
these times of high prices, than was ever
built in Vermont before. l believe it,
because 1t was so located as to be built I!
And all roads hereafter, in New England
and especially in Vermont must be so To-
Gated, if we would have them at all.
The day has gone by when we. here, can
can talk about fifty. forty, or even twen-
ty-fve thousand dollars per mile for a
road. The coat must be cat according TO
the CLOTH If it is not SO pretty to look
at. it may answer its purpose as q coat
Just as well as if cut in tie old and more
fashionable style. e


Do not let me be misunderstood. We
have made the surface Of the ground
conform to our grade line, SO far as 1t
was practicable by grades and curves to
do so. But tho grades are neither steep
err or more undulating than may be found
upon other--perhaps | may say all---frs'
class roads in Vermont. Nor pre the
curves sharper than are frequently found