Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume], February 21, 1837, Image 2

About Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883

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F,S1)A, 1 EH. '21,
n
UAILWAY
FROM BOSTON TO OODENSttCUOH.
Tho following ntlicle, prcparod in nnawcr
to n lutler oflnqutry frotn gontlenicn In Og
rleiitbnrgh to Joits McDurrcr., lioq. of Brad
ford, has hccn dopositcd with Ihe fiocretary of
tlio Slatn lntcrnnl Iniprovcmrnt Society. Wo
puhlieh it for genoral informatio.i. Mr. Mcl).
Uys nn clnim to tha cliaractor of a lilcrary
man : "ah," raiil ho to up, "wu had nn gram
mar in rny school-days o'.d Dilworth tnuglit
all." Novorthclosp, Mr. MeD. is an cxporion.
od cnginccr, anil liif intiniatc knowledgc of
tlio topography of ihis accllon, hasonahlcdhitn
to givo mtich valnabto information.
To A. C. Drown, U. It, Allcn and othsrs, Ogdens
burgh, N. Y.
Ge.jti.cmen : Your lotler. datcd llio 20tli
nlt., rcqursling my vicwa in rclntion to tlio im
tiottant object of opcninjj n dircct communica
lion, by a railway, Irom Tlosto.i, tho cmporiuin
nf New England, to tlio outlct ollhcgrcat wcs.
torn likcp, at tlio licnd of tlic rivor St. Law
rcnco, I rcccivcd wllli tniich eat'mlaction, and
will ondcavor to givo you my vicwi a far as I
am capablci
I. lly giving you n short history of tha orig
inal canso oflho onterprise, what lias been done
and in diing to bting tho rr.atter into publio
ior.
II. What furthcr may be dono to obtain sub
nriiitiono to tlio ntock,
III. Show tha profils to lho patriotlc stock
holders who ndrnncc llio moncy to complcte
tho wotk.
And riRSTLT! Tlio originalcause of tho on
terpriao it to bo (ound in the last war. Tho
cost of tranepnrting thc munitions of war from
thu seaboard m New-England, ovcr hills and
tnountnins and thiongh Inkos, swnmps ly-wood
lands, lo Canada linc, lcd ino to think ihat a
wnlsr copirnunicatioii, lcading through New
flnmp8hiro and Vermont into tho northern and
estern lakcs, would bo of grot imporlanco to
iho United Stntcs. Frommy knowiedge tiflho
tounlry Ihat I hnd prcviously obtained from
f nrvoys I lnd madc of lands and rooda in dif
ftrent srctionp of tho rotito, I thought tlio Ihing
niight be possible. In theycars I81C -17&. 18,
I cjamincd the dilTererit vailoys in both statos,
hero I thoiight it waa prob'able that a watcr
eommtinicaliori mighl bo obtutncdj and in the
tall oflSIS I mado u survey, at'my own ex
pcnse, across thu height fh New liampshire,
to eonncct Iho wateio ot Connecticut river, by
a canal, with tho watcra of tho Merrimacls, by
njker'a nver, at l'lymnuth. I cngagcd Dari
Voung, thon an honorablc penator of Now
Hampshirc, to cxplore and txaminothe roiilc,
and report tho facts to Iho Ilon. Ichabod Rart
Intt, of Porltnioiilb, N. H., who wua ot that
timo appointed nn osont bv Qov. Plummcr to
roceive euch information, by commmiicationof
miernoi improvenienis, ns miglil uo tnaue in
Iho diflerent scetions of tho Mate, nnd to lodga
thc carno with tho Unitod Slatcs, in order to
roccivo frotn the U. S. Ihcir sharc of tho bonns
to be givcn by tl.u U. S. bank for internal im
provemcnts in tlio flotes. This report wae
mado bv Mr Iiartlult lo Ihe loffislaturoat Onn.
rord, in Jnue 1S19, which was tho first infor
mation givento tliogovcrnmQntof tlieaforcsaid
routc. lu thcjear 1819 a grant was maduto
connect, by canal, Winnipiseoge lake through
Squam 'ako with Merriniack river at Plymouth,
near tho mouth of Baker'a river j and in (ho
jcar 1821 the grant was extended by Uakcr's
river to Connecticut river. Tho urant was ci
thor for a railway or a canal. This waa tho
first railway grant on tbo routc. Canals at
that timo wcro thotijht iho niot piucilcablc
inclhod of tranportation ; Iho bcnciita of rail
ways had notthcn bccr. broughtinto publicno
lice. The grant ivaj called tho Qraflon cannl
and, ifcomplctcd, it would have openod a wa
ter communiration from Connecticut river by
Bakcr's and Merriniack rivcra to Concord and
through thc Middloccx canal tn Roston, which
i one of the propoRcd routcs for Ihe railway.
In tho winter of the naine ycar, I mado a
communicalion to the War Department at
Vathington, by Iho IIon.Thos. Whipple, M.
C. from N. II. and tho Hon. Daniol Wcbotor,
of Ropton, Ihat a canal or watcr communicalion
oould be ex'cnded frotn Boston, on tho routo
ofuresitid to Connecticut river, and by Pas
tHmpsic tivcr to Inko Memphremagog in Can
ada; and that llitic was a probability that a
water communicalion could bo lound by Mont
pelier down Onion river into lake Champlain.
On this information boing givcn in Boston by
the Ilon. Daniel Wcbster, a convcnlion was
rjillcd and a committco choscn to convone nt
Concord, N.TI. with euch inhabitantB of that
ctale as wiehcd to promoto this great enterprise:
bat uot mceting with tho encouragcmcnl from
somc of tlio inhabitants of N. II. cxpccled, the
tommittee turncd thcir altcntion towards rnnk
ing improvemcnts from Boston westcrly, in
Ibeir own ttato, towards Connecticut river.
Qov. Clinlon being at Washington thusame
wintcr, and sceing the communicalion that I
had miii and lodged at tho War Department,
olicited histon Dewit Clinton jr., who was ap
pointed a civil enginecr, lo call on mo for an
nsMstant, and to cxamine the sevcral canal
routca prnpOBcd, as far as timo would admit
that stason, by actual survey; which wasdone
ni far'&s possible in the summer of 18S5, and
a report was made to tho War Department in
the wiuter foltowiiic, from which, tozclhor with
other surveys madc that euimiicr and prcvious
by priiate nubscriptions, it made it certain that
i water communicalion could lio opcned thro'
New England into the northern nnd wcftcrn
lakea. Tho Erie canal havins becn onened
in ils whole cxtcnt through New York thesame
ynr. New England -was all alivo lo the cnter
prizo, and tho government of Ihe U. S. at that
timu being friondly to intcrnal improvemcntp,
tho ncxt summer eent Col. John J. Abcrt.wilh
cight cng'miers under 1ns cornniand, to maku
furlhrr surveyK and examino tho soveral routcs
applifd for to Iho (J. S, Government lo be eur
vovod, either for canals or water comraunica-
tions, Irom tho mouth of Connecticut river lo
tha mouth nf Knnnebcc river inclusivo. nnd
from the sea ihore through New England to
Canada line and to lake Champlain, nnd to ex
t'.ui tho survevs mado the year bcloro bv Mr
Clinton in Vermont, into New liampshire to
Winnipisoogo lakea survey having been pre
viounly madu from tliut lako to the tido watcr
nt Dover, a dislaneo of 29 miles. Col, Abert.
uuer examining mo rouio, oroereu Jicut. Mn.
coinb, one of Iho cngiiiecrr, to make a survey
IroinConnocticut river at llavcrhill. bv Olivrr-
inn ftrvam, Bakei'a rivor nnd Squam lake to
lake Winntpiscogoj and l was emploved by
the etute of N. II. on Its pait to assiM fa'ui
Macomb ln niaaiiig thc survey last aforrsui J
which was done in nart in Ihe year 1826.
Inlhe year 1897, Qov. Clinlon and the hon.
Jarnse Uillhouse calkd on mo lo civo ihcm a
history of thc survevs 1 had assistcd in making
with Clinlon and Macomb, Ibetwo years prc.
vious, togethcr with ntnpogrnphical deecriptlon
ofthe whola country from Cnnadn jino tothc
sea, througli Vermont and New IJampsliirc.
Whon done, Gov Clinton ohscrvcd lo Mr Ilill
houso Ihat ho knew all about tho cnuntrv be
weon Ogdcniburgh and lake Chaiiiplain, and
I... . ..! .. ... rniln.t.l .h,l wnnlil
lio a fino llilng fortho north part of tlio Ptato of ",
'New Yotk, thal if it waa cnmod tlironch 1
Nuw Englniid, it would ovonluolly nrovc to N.
I'.uglonu ol sltnllar advantagc tliiilllio i-.fie ca
nal H ns lo the slutc of Now Yotk, nnd mako
Botton in commcrco stcond to tho cily of Now
! Yotk, as wcll as be of grcat imporlanco to the
Unilru sintcs ns a imlitary commtimcaiion
through Now Englnnd Into thc Nurthcrn nnd
Wcalern lakcs,
In tho ycars 1827-38 Lleut Macomb was
ordcrtd by Col Abcrt to Burtey anothcr routo
applied for from Kcnncbeo river, in llio stato
of Maine, by Androscoggin rlvcrand river Ln-
moilla intn Iaka (Jliamplaln, across vcrinonl
nnil New llampihiro, north of llio proposrd
railvray routo. Not being sntnficd wllh Iho
routc, hc roairncd in tho falt of 1828 to havo
inu eliow lilm tho summit lovrla ol thu touto
across tho statc, aurveycd by Clinlon, olso of
llio routcs to ho eurvcycd Irom Montpelier, by
Wclra nnd Wails rivers, lo Connecticut river.
Iln pavo Wells river Iho prcfercnco for a cannl
nnd Wnils rivor tlie preference for n railway,
on tho cxammation ot both.
Macomb cxpcctcd to rclurn in the ppring to
mako tho survey from Montpelier by Wells
river to Connecticut river, nnd flnish tho sur-
cy bo had commcnccd in New Hampshirc,
from Haverhill by Bakcr: river to Merriniack
river and to Winnipiscogo lake, as a plan of a
cannl routo could thcn bcmadu from Boston to
Burlington, nnd a watcr communication from
PottBinouth and Dover, through Winnipiseo
ge, to unito with tho canal roulc at Plymouth,
N. II, Mo aho statcd that if a canal shuuld
be onened ho had no doubt that Government
would tako a good sharo ofthe etock, asit was
considered a great object at tho War Depart
ment to havo a cannl communication frotn thc
Navy Yard nt Chnrlctown into lako Cham
plain. Uo also statcd that lio had no doubt
but that tho cost government was at in trans
mitting munitions of war into tho lake, in tho
last war, n-ould havo built tho cana'.
In tho summer ofl8it-3i), n'p J D Gra
ham was sent, with threo cnsinccrs undcr his
command, inetcad of Licnt. Macomb, to make
and complcte tho surveys as aforcsaid through
Vormont and New Hampshirc ; md I wascal
lcd on again, as nn assistant and civil cnginccr,
both on tho part of N. Humpshiro & Vermont,
to mako tho survcys through bolh stalcs, ond
complcte the survey bcgun by Macomb in '20,
aud finUhcd by Graham in 1829-30.
I will hero obscrve that it is an univcrsal
practico throughout the United Statcs, to havo
tho etatcs on Iho routo furnish thaUSangin
ccrs with an atsistant, who is well acquaintcd
with tho lopograihy of tho cottnlry thro' which
tha survcys oro to bo made. I wish furthcr lo
ohscrvo that, frotn tho formcr survcys mado by
thaU S cnginecrs in 1825-2G-27-2S nnd '29,
on the diflerent routcs through Now England,
this was thought to ho thc licsl nnd mosl feas
ablo routc, at tho war dcnartmcnt, for a cannl
or watcr ceminunication Irom lako Champlain
lo Iho sca; othcrwisc tho department would
uot have sent cant Graham, ono nl thebcst cn.
ginrcrs in tho servicc, again, in 1830, to make
and complcte llio survevs, 1 lns routo mnst in
genpral provo best for thu railway, with tho ex.
ceplion of Waits river instcadof Wells river.
Fiom tho successful cxiicrimcnts rcDeatcdlv
mado, in this country and Europe, duiing tho
scven years thcn last pasl, by having locomot-
ivo cngnifs run on iron raus, it waa thouglit by
tho public that railway wero n grcnt improvc
monton canals; and in Octobcr, 1830, a con
vcnlion wns called nt Montpelier, for Iho pur
posc of taking into conpideration the proposed
railway irom liosion lo v'gdensburgli, in iicuot
Iho cnnai. At tliat convontion a commtttxo
was choscnto cxamine and report to the public
tha practicability of a tonle, which report wns
mado and publishcd, and was favorablo to tho
enterprtzo, 1 ho committoe reportcd thc prac
ticability of two routca between Montpelier &
Concord : tho ono by White river in Vermont
and by Mnscomy & Black watcr in N H, which
Irhail call tho south routc; Ihoolhcrisby Waits
river in Vermont nnil aners and iMernmack
rlvcrsm N IT, which I sliallcall tho north routc
The rommilteo found, hy cstimalinz tho scver-
al diptanccs on bolh routr'S, tho North routo to
bo a fow miles thc nearcst, but gavo no prefer-
enco, ti re commended mo survey ol notli routes.
On tho snpposilion, howcvcr, that both routes
arccqual as rcspccts a direct communication
betwccn Montpelier ond Concord, Ihpre aio
somo considcralions favorablo tothenorth routc
that ousht to ho thousht of in locatmz a rai
way, viz: by laying tho railway on Iho north
routc in N H, you connrct a watcr communi
cation from tho valley of Uakcra river Ihrou
Squam and Winnipiseoge lakcs to Porlsinouth
in llie eastern part ol r u, u by railwny lliro'
tho whole ol Iho slato ol Alnine, nnitin" with
the railway at Plymouth, N II. on Ihe eastern
b'kIo of tho Vhito Mountains : and bv lavintr
otit the railway by Waits river, on the north
roule in Vermont, you conveno Iho whole val
ley of Connecticut river, whilo by laying the
raitwavon thc Bonlh routc you only convcno
the inhnbitaats below tho mouth ol White riv
er, as tho distanco from White river up tho
valley ofthe Connecticut to thc mouth of Waits
river is 27 milcs, thcnce on Iho north routo lo
Montpelier 30 iniles, makin" thc wholo diet-
nnco 57 miles tbo same ihat it is called Irom
the mouth of White river to Montpelier onthe
south routc. You also nbliso thu inhabitants
north of Waits river to go 81 milcs inslcad of
30 to cct to Montpelier by tho railway. This
is in addition to tho nreat obstruction to a rai
way into the stato of Moine, which must cnrno
into the valley of tho Connecticut north of
Wnits nver.
Ilcrc I will obscrvo that a rnlway is now in
contcniplulion through thc wholo valley of thc
Connecticut and as tnc railway irom said val
ley lo Ogdcnsburgh will cnablcthe inhabitants
of the wholo valley to pass through Waits and
Unton rivcrs into the wes'.ern lakes, thc roads
Ihus located must be of grcat bcncfit lo cach
othcr. I will furthcr (tate that a iailwayi9 now
laid out, and a great part ol il complctcd, from
Boston ucstto the valley ol tho Connecticut,
which must provc a bcncfit to tho routo up lhc
river and thro' Vermont into tho lakcs. 1 vvill
alro observo that a railway is now complctcd
from Providcnco, 11 I, to Boslon, which will
cnahle tho inhabitants ofllhodo Island to pass
thro' uoslon to Ugdcnsburgh ; also a railway
from Boslon lo Lowell is made and complctcd,
and tho grant cxtendrd to Concord, llio slnck
takcn up, the eurveys principally madc, and it
issuppoecd will be complctcd in about two
ycars, which will opcn a railway on the dircct
routo towards Ogdennburgh nearly 70 milcs.
I will furthcr obscrve that a railway is in con
tumptation from Boston on thcseacoast to Port
larni, Moine, llicncctn Belfast, and from llicnco
to 0.ucbcc, L C. Tho survcy are now miV -ing
througli tho wholo ropte. If this railway
is completed, a railway will surely be cxlendcd
east from Bclfast on Ihe coasl into the Britiah
provincc of New Brunswick, und by a railway
from Portland Mc. to join with tho Ogdcns.
burgh railway at Plymouth N II which routo
I know to be practicablo from a cuivey I for
mcrly mado for a rood through ihat country
a communication would be opcned Ihroughlhe
wholo tlate nf Maino. Lct this join thc grcat
natinnal railway at Plymouth N H. ond pa;s
thro' the dcep valley of Bakcr's river into the
valley nf tho Connecticut at lloverhil), about
fivo miles nbovc tho mouth of Wail'a river al
Bradford, Vl Ihcre unito with the ndditioria!
improvemcnts in the wholo valley of Connecti
cut rivrr, nnd pas Ihru' the yullryn of Wails
and Onion rivcrs ihus the whole eix N. Eng
land slatcs will unito with thu transportaliun
frotn tho cily of N Y thro' Iho northern cunal,
nnd the wlinls tiass thro' llia north Datl of Is 1
on th grcat national railway to tlio outlot of
llio weslem lakes - llienco Ihto' tliom to thefar
west, rir by tlio railway in uppct canaan, now
ni contomplation, fur unitinglakoOnlario witli
lake ilurou, thro' n tine lertile anu levci coun
try. Thus you havo tho tncans by which you
might pais thro' in a day to the eliorcs ol lako
Lluron, and by a dircct route across' the lako
in a stcnmbuat, you can pass to tho falls of St.
Mnrys, or to Iho outlot of Inko Michigan, in n
nolhur, making only about thro daya Ifrom
Boston to lhc old furt ofMiehllitiluciiiac, whcro
tho news ofthadcclarationol wardid notrcach
for ncatly three tiionlhs nftcr il vas dcclarcd ln
Juno 1812. Thorailway InUppcr Canada will
bo complctcd by that provinco nl suro us timo
cxisls, as it maitcs a saving of 8 cr 10 days bo il
frotn BufTiilo, nnd U:n or twclvn from Ogdcns
biirah. in nassin!! Iho citcu'Uous nuto thro' lako
Erio to gel into lake Michigan. Uy tho great
improvemont ol tha Wclland catal, round Iho
falls of Ningra, Boslon will cct tht trado of lako
Erio soor.cr than New York can, by tho Erie
canal, togothcr with four or fivo vcatcrn statcs
and tho far west, tapping tho rivcaOhio, AVa-
and opcnlng thojugular vcin oi thlir commcrco
to flnw through thcso grcat laketto Ogdcns
burgh, and by Iho national railwiy to Boston.
i navo uuu givcn you a msioryoi wnai, nas
jccn done and is now doiii, in Itow England
and in Canada, by thoscwTio nroiwnko lolho
enlcrprizo ; but as thoro aro somcaslccp, who
would be wcll wisiicrs u liicy uaj any belicl
in llio accnmplishmcnt ofthe object, it may bu
ncccssary lo show them what miybo done, n-
grcenliiy lo llio seconu proposiuor,
II. Tor.how what mjit de doni, il bocomes
ncccsssry to havo a plan & survcyof tho whole
route from Boston to Ogdcmbirgh : thcn I
would show
1 Thatamcrc hantin Boston, hnvitcbu coods
fromEuropoCcIndia ontho wharf one day, can,
bythia routo, havo thcmthcnettdny at Ogdons
bnrgh, rcady to rcship on tho western lakcs j
that guods cannot bo conviycd in less than
doublotho limo from tho ctty of N Y, as they
must havo two or inoro Blipments, or mo canal
boats mtit bo towcd llirough the Hudson and
lake Champlain by stcim boats.
2 Thnt you can ptss from BoJton by this
railway to lako Champlain at Burlington, and
llicnco hy Montrea! and Grand river to tho
Northern occan, in less timo than from tho city
orN Y, orany ollerportin Iho U. S.
3 That hy thii railway goods from Europe
can be trarisnorlcd from Boston into tho west
ern lakcs SiUpper Canada, inorcthanamonth
Booncr in lliosnring and latcr in llio tait, than
througli Ihcgiilf of St. Lawrencej nnd moro
than n fnrlnight sooncr in llio ppting nnd Iater
in Iho fall than by the Erio canal on accnunt
of ice in the canal and in tho lake at tho hcad
ofit.andtho dangcrnus passago through tbo
gull orat L.awrcnce in Ihe spring and tall.
That goods from Boston, by this rnilwny,
can pass throuMi lake Outario c tho Wclland
canal into Inko Erie a nun.bcr nf days sooncr
any timo olyear than they can liyllio t.rie ca
nal fiom New York, and with losi cxpense.
S Show thc rcciprocnl cxchanzc bctwcon
inillion9 of inhabilanlsin North Amcrica in tlio
east and west; that cach ono may onjoy tho
comforts and blessings of tho otlicrby llits rai 1
wav communicalion thc fish and salt ofthe
east cxchangcd for llio flour nnd poik of th'e
west, lhc becl and bnttur of tho west fur tho
coltnn and woolcn manufacltircs of tha east.
thc luxurics of Europe and the Indias for lhc
6kins and furs oflho far west.
C That the incrchants from Ohio and othcr
western statcs can pass with thcir goods thro'
tho lakcs and by this railway to Boslon and
back, tvvicc, in less time than they cando down
thc river lo New Orleans and back once, aud
with less than half tho expcnsc.
7 Show that in trnnsportinr'froin Ohio.Kcn
tucky, Michi'ian, InJiana, lTlinois and Wis
consin, down tho river thro' lhc warm climate
lo New Orleans, llioflour eour., Ihcbeerspoils
llio pork tnints nnd Ihe hutlcr and lard inelt
whcn in tranBnnrlino- casterlv. thro' lako Onta
rlo and this railway, It all viould be carricd to
Boston in pafcly.
8 That tbo grcat lake Ontario lics ro deep
in lhc carlh Ihat it docs not frceio ovcr in tho
wintcr the surfacf of which is only 231 fcct
abovo tha levcl of lhc ocean, aud ils bottom
moro than 250 feet below lhc occun's surlace
and bv a covorcd railwayfrom its outlct atOa
dcnsburgh to Boston, goods can pass from I!os
ton into that lako throimliout tho year.
9 That Icss mnncvtlinn it cost to huild Iho
Erie canal will huild Iho covcrtil railway thc
whole distanco; and that Iho chiinney ot th
stcam carcan be casily allored cr amended so
ns to ptcvcnt any danger to the covering from
tho lire ncccssary to inovc tho cnginc,
10 That tho distanco by thu railway from
Boston tn Ocdcnsburch ia less by- W miles
than from Albany to Bufluln by the Erio cannl
Tho whole dislancc of iho Erio canal is 303
milcs,
11 That less than thrco milllona will huild
tho wholo railway, and the incoint ol il thrco
yeais will covcrit Ihe wholo dislancc.
12 That by a covcrcd railway, from Bost
on to Ocdensbur"li, Uoslon eccurcs the trad
of that grcat open lake llirough the wintcr.
white Iho llnuson nver, thc h.ne canal and Ih
nver bt L.awrcnce are al, Irozcn ovcr . aslcc
under thcir wintcr blankcts.
13 That in transpurtin" the railway cars a
croBs lake Champlain in the wintcr on thu ice,
whcn tho steamboat cannot run, horso power
will wcll answer tho purposc, or by stcam
boats with icc cuttera an opcn channel may be
kcpt lliro' tho ice the ditlanco being oniy a
bout lll miles.
14 That tho cattle of ihousands of hills an
llioflour, pork and butter of inillions of furm
crr. can be tranBportcd from tho srcat west to
thc occan by Ihis railway bitlcr than by any
othcr communicalion possible at prescnl know
to man.
15 and lastly, to convinco all of the fact
show the two creat ranses of mountains o
highlands, cxtondingfroni north to soulh, thro'
New Englend from Canada linc to tho occan
and Connecticut river running the wholo dist
anco bclween, all parling the great woslern
lakcs trorn tlie eastern occan. 1 hon sriow
tho Iwo crcat culps that naturo has becn dic
ging out for thouEands of ycars across these
mounlain rangcs, loavinga deep vaneyinracl
rangc, lo beimprovcd ny lhc incustry ol man
Ihousands ol lect below Ihe grcat mountai
runge : lhc ono is whern bakcr's nver rune
thro' iho Whilo niountnm rangj in tho low
of Hurnncy, N II. bttwcen Stinson's mountai
nnd Curdigan mountain : thc olher is wherc
Onion river ruus thrn' tlie Green mountain
ranga in Vermont, about M milcs below Mont
ptlifr, bctwcen Mansfield mount.iin and Cam
el'a Rump. Andiil nny then do not bclicve
what naturo husdone towards Ihe acconiplish
mcnl of this enterprise, let them cee in ihete
gulfs tlicmatks ofthe waler futls mado by tlu'se
rivers nn Iho Ipilgrs in Ihe siues ot tho ninun
tains, hundreds of fcct abovo thcir prcscnt hcds,
whore t och rivcc now pas'rngi nily through its
sepcrato rango, witliatluw cnrrf nl,al tlie d.'ptl
ol tho basc ol llio mnuntains nn euch nUe
Bakers river runnin? in n soulhcaiterly dirrr
Hon throuzh Ihe Wiuto mountain rnn;e, nu
Onion rivor rnnning in n wirlwcstrrly dircc
lion througji Iho Green mountain rnngo ma
From Ihe Montreal Ilcrald uf Iho SSth ull
learn Ihat llio comiiiuy has been nlroadv inconiora
lcil It uialo tlua roail anl Ihat a comniiltee of thu
provinrial leplainr liuvo iiul reported Co incrraae
ils capilal lo 600,000. I herc spoms evfry frob
aui.iiv uini miii ruau, rniiw in icjlgui, will r
SWfl VUill,
kinff nn openinc throush both for & communi
ctttion eithur for a canal or railway to pass from
Ihe grcat Amaricnn Mcditorranran of Ihe west
to tho Atlanlicoccnn of tha east. Thoio who
will nctbclicvein tho complcling of tho rail
road, aftcr secliignll llns, mtittba lcft in thcir
unbclief, 1 pass to thoso who will not only bc
liovo, but advanco tho money lo huild Iho rail
way and rcccive tho grcnt reward, not only for
thoir own bcncfit, but fortho benelitof milllons
yct unborn. To thoso I would show Iho prof
its and roward of thcir enterprisr, ngrccablyto
mo iniru proposition,
III. I would provo to Ihcm that this railway
cnnnot bo rivalled hy any othcr in Now Eng-
nu.ns uiEio is no place ln Ci 11. nor ln Vt,
hcro llioso two crcat ranccs of mountains mc
so complctely cut thro to thcir bottom as In tho
vailcys ol liakors and Union rivcrs, and both
polnting oui a routo in a good dircction lor loa-
icu cars to run lliro' llio whole distanco from
oston lo lako Champlain, withoul lhc hclpof
siauonory ongine.
1 would also show that this railway. whcn
completed, is not to bo cquallcd in tho known
worfd, connccling moro than 1000 miles ofsen
shoro with moro than 1 0,000 inilceof lakcshore,
thro' thcso gulpha across the great mountain
rnngca ln u uislnnco ol about 31U miles, lo
gcthcr with Iho addition of an ovcr opcn lake
of 190 milcs morc, llience by tho Wolland ca
nal, now npcncd for ship navigaticn, into lhc
vnsl chaln of lakes to tho north and wcjt, on
tho shorcx of which I will vcnturo (o ,ay that
nunurcus oi ciuos, towns nnu vu:"2'- afo yct
to ho built within one contury.
1 would lurlhcrshow thc tonnage ot thc 71
awrencc thc tonnoco and numbcr of slcnm-
boata on Iho Ohio nnd Mississippi rivers Iho
tollago of tho Ohio and Chctnpeako. tho Erio
nd iNortncrn canals, and that Ihe tollago of
ho hrio canal alono is moro than a m I on
this'ycnr.nnd incrcasingyearly, niitherjof which
ii nutn dropin liiobucket wncti rotnparcd with
us ranwar.
I would laslh show them how llia trndn of
this champion railway will cut nff tho head of
thc river bt uawrenco and cnter thc grnalliikes
ko a cinnt, taking tho Ohio nnd Misissippi
rivcrs by the forctop, and thc commcrco ofthe
North, tho West and far West,' together with
thotisands of ships on tho lakes lo pass with
thoir carcocs to Oadcnabnrcb, from thenco by
ihousands of tone daily, to pass on Iho nreat
national railway lo Bolton ; k. instnad of Bos
ton being leconl to Now York, itmustbccomo
no ol thc grcatcst cmporium? ol tlie woild.
I ahall add no moro at prcscnt. but remain
ours, most respcctfnlly.
JOHN McUUFI' ISE, Civil Enginocr.
Bradford. Vt. Jan. 20, 1837.
.Jn offlce'holdtrD. .1. Jl. Duck. Our Wnsh-
ington correspondcnt last weck wtoto us that
Mr. Buck tcslincd bcfoio tho comrnitlce of in.
ostigalion Ihat his pay as a Clork commen-
ccd whilo ho waa a moinber of the legislaluro
of Vormont. This waa bad enough for an of-
fice-holdor holding a scat in tho logielature,
to wliicli, by lhc constitution of Vermont, ho
was not enlitlcd, nnd at tho same timo draw-
ng pay from tho Gcncral Government forser-
viccs which he was not perfonning unless,
pcrchanco, the rral sereice for which govern
ment paid him was in fighting for " tht part j"
hcre in Vermont I Indeed, wa aro not sure
that ho was cntitlcd to pay, cvon on tho last
suppnstlion : ono of his greatest spccchcs in
our lcgisluturo at that time was for an incorpo-
ratton, with a capitalof $3,000,000. But bad
as our correspondcnt lopiesents Col. Buck, wo
find that nnother telle a worsostory. Tho fol
lowing is from the correspondcnt of tho N. Y.
Couricr and Enquirer :
Thcv (tha commilteci havo exam'ined a MrDuck
r v. inuni) wliowo caie aCRidcntally came up b
fure them, and Is onu oT tho numerous cases sus
ncctt'd to exist herc individuals have reccivcd
navmentfrom tlie treasurv, withoul ncrforminr' anv
dtily and this caso dcmonjir.Ues iho impossibilily of
makinq "specific charses." Tlie examinalion of
anollier wuness lea !o the cxaminiunn orlVlr Uuck,
irom wnosc lesumony u nnpears inai in juiy ibao
ho was appointod to a Llerks!iii in ono ot tha pub
lic otTiccs in this city, at a salnrr of twclre huudrcd
dollars per nnnum that ho was elcclcd a mcmbcr
ol Iho l.eislaturo ol Vermont, whero Ihe parly re
nuircd his serviccs ihat ho actcd in ihe canacitv
of a legislator for fivo or six weeks, and como lo
aeningion aoout mo nrsi ol uecember tliat he
receivcd payrnent out oflho trcasury from July un
til Uecember, dcductinc iho five or six weeks that
his own xtalc paid him, thus pockcting tliree or four
nunureu uoiiars lor servicas rcnuereu, tvinist he was
romforlnblv eniovin? Lho summer'a brezp in th
doiijlitful Green 'Mounlains oflho palriutic stato of
vermont.
rioiwiinsianuing tnc pariicuiaruy ol Iho a-
hovc account, wo aro inclincd to think ourown
correspondcnt in the righl, both bccausc his
account is moro favorablo to Mr. Buck, tvho
was oncc ccrtuinly a vcry good anti-Jackson
man, and withal a very strong polilical friend
of ours, to say tho lcast, and bccausc it bet-
tor agrecs with thc knowlcdgo wo previouUy
had of tho matter. Near the uloso of theses
sion of our legislature, in 1835, Mr.B. inform
cd us that he had reccived an appointmcnt as
Clerk nt Washington, with a handsomo sala
ry ; ihat ho should givc up his seat in tlio le
gislature nr.d soon leavo Vermont. Our im.
prpssion is that hcdid not leave his seat, though
ho pcrhaps did ask lcavcof abscncc. IJowcv
er ihe fcct may bo cs lo this point, wo suppose
thcre can bo no quesllon of the impropriety of
government in paying him for scniccs which
he did uot pciform. White on this snt.jacl wc
wish to say that wc havo bcen told that Col.
Buck wa? at Chelcea in .Septomber last that
httoted at the state rltctlcn, and that ho was
exccedingly activo at the polls, particularly
concerning the qualification of a prion whosc
right to vote was then, nnd is now, soriously
doubtod. Whether or not Ihe committre ill
tukc surh mattrrs inlo considtiation, wc do
not know ; it eecins lo u', hnwever, thnl tht
pioplt will not rtli6h a comnc of things like
tliis.
Jf. ,U. Whltnty again. This man has pub
lishcd a card in lho Washington Globe, con
cerning his aflair with Peylon in lh cotnmlt
tec room, nnd the result has hren that Pnyton
has takcn up tho matter in the llousc and pro
vcdMr. Whitney's card false. Pnylon was
angry and uted liarsh languagc, for which he
apologiild to tho cominitteo ; hjt did not
draw any wcapon. Whitni'y dclibeiatcly in
Fiillcd him, and thc committco nnnnimotisly rr
fuscd lo leccive his insulling answer lo Poy
ton's ijucstion.
A mr morial is about to bo prescntrd lo Con
gtesii, from Upicr Canada, praying the repoal
of dutics on Canadian produco and allowing a
drawback on goods irnported into tho U. S.
dvaliucd for Canada.
From Wushlngton.
RIondat, Fcb. .
This is pctition day dcrisircly cnllcd
" bUtk .Vonday," ns it is tho day on which
hosts of mcmorials aro poured into Congrcss
nn the subjoct of slavcry. Monday the Ctli
was distinguishcd, as a day abovo all olhers
for cxcitcmcnt in both houses of Congrcss.
In tho Sonate, n vcry largo numbcr ofpctitions
fortho abolition olslavery in the Dislrict woro
prcscnlcd hy Messrs. Tiplon of Indiann, Preu
tiss and Rwifl ol Vermont, Ewing and Morrii
of Ohio. Wall of New Jersey. Knicht of
Rliodo Island, Buchanan of Pannaylvama, and
Davis and Webnter of Massachujutts, Mr.
Calhoun ohjcctod lo thcir rcception a dcbate
ciisucd, in which Mcssrj. Calhoun, Tipton,
Ewing uf 0., Swifl, AVall, Buchanan, Morris,
Mubbard, Prcston, Southard, Bonton, Wcb
ster, Cuthbcrt and King of Gno., took pnrt.
As wo intcnd to publish this dohato hercaftcr,
Wo shall only rcmnrk now that Mossrs. Wcb
stcr nnd Southard acsertcd that Congrcss had
alrcady excrcised tho power to regutatt tho
commcrco in slavcs ainong the stalcs ; Mr.
Calhoun mainlalned llmt slavory was not an
ttlt in tho prcsont state ofocicty; and Ihat
Mr. Kivcs of Virginia admilted Ihat II was an
etil : theso fow words couipris tho gist of
much of tho irrogular but intcresling discus-
(ilon iu thc Scnato. Mr. Bayard moved thnt
the quertion of rcceiving tha pctitions bo laid
on tho tablo! carried,
Ycas Bayard, Benton, Black. Brown. Bu
chantm, Calhoun, Clnylon, Ciitbbert, Etcfni'
..r ni 1.-..1 n i .. tr..,.L. tr. . b
of lll., Eulton, Grnndy, Ilubburd. Kont. Kin
of Ala., King ol Gco., Linn. von. Moorc
Mouton, Nicholas, A'orrt, I'at, Preslon,
Itivcs, lloblnton, lluggles, Snier, Slrange,
vaiaer, viiuo, n rigm 31.
Nnys Davis, Ewine of Oliio. Hendricks,
Knisht, Morris, Nilos, Pron'Iss. Robbins
souuiaru, awut, l ipton, Tomlinson, Wall
13.
Wo havo put tlio namcs of Senators from
tho free states, who voled in tho ollirmative, in
ftafc . it secms they aro all Van Burcn mcn,
Only fivo V. B. mcn votcd In tho negativo.
In tho llouse was presented such a sccno a
was novcr hcforo wltnessed in Congrcss an
account of which we have copicd from the
Boston Allas. (Sec first pare.)
TnESDiT, Fcb. 7.
In lho Scnate, Mr. McKcan of Pa. prcscnt
cd various rciuonBtrances againstrcdncingtlie
duty on loreign coal. A messaga (rom lhc
Prcsidcnt, rclativo to Mexico, asking an act
aulhorising lho ma'.mg' of rtprisals, was recei
vcd and refcrred to. tho committco on Foreign
Afiairs. Tho restrictivo Innd bill was ordercd
to bo ongrosscd, 21 te 16. '
BESCINDING THE EXPUNGE.
Mr. Bayard laid hcforo tho Scnate instruc
tions, from Ihe legislaturo of Delaware, that
thc Senators of that state introduco aud sus
tnin a resolulion rjciniiinff the txpunging rts
o.'uli'orij, which wcre brnught in hy Mr. Ben
ton and rocontly adopted by lho Scnate. Mr.
Bayard said it would bo irnprnpcr to comply
with tho instructions at this sension of the
Scnate, but he gavo nolice that he should, at
tho ncxt scssion, biing in" roscinding rcsolu
tions that hc should continuo to bring them
In ovcry Bcssion, until thoy wero adopted or so
long as hc held n sat, nnd ho trustcd Ihat lho
Senators that thuuld succccd him would fol
low tho cxamplo, believing, as ho did, that the
cxpunging rosolulions wcre contrary to lho
fcclings of Iho nation. Wo rejoicc at this
mcasuxt wo had oursclves tho't of suggcat
ing it, ns strirtly ronslilutional and ns abso
lutcly dcmanded in defence of lho ConEtitu
tion. The IIuupc spcnt lho day in dcbating Ihe
" privilcged question" or, in othor wi :ds,
considcring what was to be dono with John
Q,. Adams, for inquiring of tht Sjitaktrwhelh
tr i pitition of ilaves came undtr a certain rule
of the Ihutt ! Thcre werc sundry resolutions
and motiona prescnted touching tho matter
8omc to ernsurt Mr. A., iomo dcclaiing that
hc ought to be cemurcd, and olhers that ho it
ctnsured. Of coursc therc was an almost in
finito divcrsity of opinions, and what tho re
sult will bc is matter nf guess werk. Wc
gutss tho hot-bloodcd southcrncrs will sufll'r
thcir wrath to bo cvaporated, and thal Mr,
Adams will como ofl' thc viclor.
Wcdxesd.it, I'cb. 8.
In the Senatc, Mr. Wcbster presenlcd lho
memoria! of aboul 1J00 mcrchants of N. Y.,
for n national bank. Mr. W. said his tiews
werc now what they had been on this matter,
but ihat ho had delcrmincd not to move ontho
subjcct until it was deiuaiidcd by Ihe united
vaice nf thu people ; ho also said that he bc
liovcd n chntige would sooncr or Iater lake
place in the vicws of guntlcrnen opposcd to
him, nnd then they would properly introduco
lliid subjcct. At 20 minute'9 pasl 12 n'clock,
tho Scnalc ropnired to the llousc, to canvass
tho votcs for PreBident and Vico Prcsidcnt of
iho United 3iates, nnd returnod at half paM
thrco o'clock, when Mr. Grundy, from the
joiut committco reportcd a rcsolution for n
rommitleo to inform Martin Van Burcn of his
olcclion as Presidenl, which was agreed to
Mr. Grundy also introduccd n prcomblo and
resolution, pettingfurth that thero had bron no
elcctioii of Vico Prcsidont by tho clectors,and
that thc Sennlo now procccd to eloct a Vico
Prcsidcnt, the Secrolary calling on tho 6ena
lors in alphahrtical order to name tho randi-
dato for whom they votcd all which wns a
grccd to, and
nxcHARS ax. johnson,
of Kentucky, was olcctcd Vice Prosident for
four ycars aller lho 3d of March next, by tho
fullovving vote :
Ter Itichard .V. oimoii Mcssrn. Bonton,
Black, Brown, Buchanan, Cuthberl, Ewing of
Illinois, Fullon, Grundy, IIondrickH, Ilub
bard, King of Alabama, King of Ocorgia,
Linn, Lyon, McKean, Morris, Mouton, Nich
olas, Nilcs, Norvcll, Pagc, Parker, Uives,
Bobinson, Rugglea, Sevicr, Slrange, Tall
, madge, Tipton, Walkcr, Wright 35.
ror Franch Grangtr Moisrf, Bayard,
Clay, Claylon, Crillcndcn, Davis, Ewing ol
Ohio, Kcnt, Knighl, Prentlss, Kobbins, Soulh
ard, Spcnccr, Swia, Tomlinson, Wall, Wth.
stcr 1C.
Ibientett Mr. Whilo of Tenncspoe, and
Messrs. Calhoun nnd Picston ol Soulh Caro-
lina.
On comparinc Ihis ofc!with tho table b-
low.ttllO fullowins facts will bo nbtntvKil thnt
the Senators from Georgia, Indiana nnd Vir-
gmia, Mr, Giundy of Tennesioo, and Mr.
Morris ol Ohio volrd for Col. Johnson, and
thelr stalcs voled 'ngalnst him all which Sen
ators nre Van Buron rnn ; Ihat the Senatotti
ff om R. I. and Mr. Tomlinson of Connecticut
(Whlga) o!cd(or Mr.'Grancer, and thcir
states against him ; that Mr. Wall (V. B.) of
N. J. voled wilh his slatn and for Mr. Gran
gcr ; and that Messrs. Monro and Black,
(Whigi) voled for Johnson ; ond ihat both
lho Senators of Michigan voled for Mr. John
son, nnd thcir votcs wcro rountcd. Had a'l
tho Senators voled, and according to thcvoico
ol thcir states, excluding Michigan, tho result
would havo been 20 for Col. Johnson and 2 1
ngalnst him.
In tho llousc, a mcssagc was icccivcd from
tho Prcsidcnt rclativo' to.the cxploring expedi
lion, in which ho cxprosscs a hopo that all fa
cilities will be grantcd. A vory gentlo hint
to tho failhful to voto foraupplics, Cambrolang
and Jarvis tu tho contrary nolwithstanding.
ELECTION OF PKESIDEN'T OF THE
UNITED STATES.
Tho hour of twclvohavingarrivcd, andmes
sagcs to that cftect liaving bern intcrcbanged
between the Iwo Houses, theScnaloii! abody,
ontered tho llall, p-oceedcd by thcir President
and Secretjry, nnd wero received by the Mcm
bori of tho llousc standing uncovercd.
Tho President of lho Scnato prcsidcd, tho
Speakcr ofthe llousc sitting on his right hand.
Tbo Tcllcrs, Mr. Grundy-, of the Scnato,
Messrs. Thomas and Lincoln of Ihe llousc,
hnvlng takcn thcir seat?, tho rcturn nf vlecto
rai votcs from cach State was opcned, read,
and rccordcd, thc result of thc wholo numbcr
of votcs being as follows:
u L - 1 ' -
VOU TICO
"S ron rRCSlDCST. rrtESlDENT.
vl I c- i .
3 I 1 I' i B 4
5 2 3 ? 3 -S 50
5 . 5
S 'aJ-i
10 Maino 10 10
7 N. Ilamphir' 7 7
14 Maspachusctlr I I 11
4 II. Island 4 4
8 Conncclicut 8 S
7 Vermont 7 7
42 New York 42 VI
8 Nw Jersey fi 8
30 Pennsylvania 30 30
3 Delavvaro 3 3
10 Marvtand 10 10
23 Virniia 23 83
15 N. Carnlina 15 15
11 S. Carnlina II 11
II Georgia 11 11
15 Kentucky 15 15
15 Tenncssco 15 15
21 Ohio 21 21
5 Louisiann 5 5
4 Mississippi 4 4
9 Indiana 9 9
5 Illinois 5 C
7 Alabams, 7 7
4 Mineouri -1 4
3 Arkansas 3 3
Total,
Mich'n ifcounted
167 14 73 26 11 M4 77 47 SS
3 " 3
291
170
147
Afler lhc cnuntins of tha votes was com
pletpd, and thc result dcclarcd
The President of lho Scnate proclaimed
Ihat Martin Vnn Buren was elcctcd Prcsidcnt
of the United StalcB for four years commen
cing Iho 4th day of March ncxt ; nnd Ihat for
Vicc Prcsidcnt no person voted for had a ma
jority of the whole numbcr of votcs ; B. M.
Johnson and Francis Grangcr being tho two.
highesl on the list.
And thcrcupor, at an early hour tho House
adjourncd.
TntrnsDAT, Feh. 9.
In the Senatc, Mr. Stvift prescnted an abo
lition mcmorial from Vermont Mr. Calhoun
objected to its rcception nnd Ihe qucslion of
reception was laid on the table, 25 to 12. Mr.
Calhoun, on leavo, introduced n mosteingular
bill, Iho object of which wasincflect, logite tht
public lands away to the states in which thost
lands He. Mr. Kobinaon (of II.) inovcd tore
fcr it lo a selcct commiltee, and Mr. Walkcr
(of Mississippi) wished it to go te a commit
tec, the mcan time saving ihat he was ngainsf
ppolia'ions on thc public property and against
injustico to tho old states, Mr. Niles (of Con
necticut) was against this bill he had voted:
for Wolkor's land bill ' wilh fear and trom
bling." Mr. Webster wishcd not tliat the iden
should go furth to thc country that a measuro
nf this magnitude was In pass ths Senate, and
moved to reconsider the voto by which Iho bill
had beon ordercd to a second roading. Mr.
Calhoun wished fer n rcfcrenco and Mr.
Brown (of N.C.) was for rcconsidering.
Mr Clay said that four or fir ycars ago, this
tubject of'lho public lands was forcrd upon him,
and ho had devWed a schvme full of eqtiity. Il re
ceived Ihu votes of h niajorily of bolh llouses, and
vvs rejected by Ihe Prosident. Ile had always
considered ihu public domain a tacrej irusl for tfi
country and pusieritv. He vvas opposeil to any
inraiure eivini; away this public property fbr Iho
bcncfit of ppociilators, and ho ws thfrefore opposoJ
Ijlhis bill, as woll ns that which is locomeup to-day,
on ils ihird reading, He had himself labored hith
erto in vain, lo snvo Ihii property, but he should
continuo to oppose theso (.clieinrs. Uo implored
the Scnate to abstain from inakinj; ihcso appeals to
lho new Slates, for the purpose of servin; any par-
ucuiar pariy. ne appoaieu lo Ihe Hcnalor froia
South Carolma, whether ho might not incur th
suspiuion of ilcsiritiff to vvin over ihe new Statcs to
servo somo ijarticiiTar aiins. Ho hopeJ ihat his
own niolives would bo Iruly sppreciated, when b
mado Ihii sland a;a nst thu iclicnie of givinf away
tho public domain.
Mr Calhorn said h had hopr J ibat th: votes of
last srsmon would havo beon fjllowed up, aud ihat
Ihe public lands might havr bstin preserved; bnt it
bom); now apparrnt from lho votos giron by the
Senators from llio inidJle and norlbern Slates, that
this hopo was now vain, he thought it bolter lo c'ito
up Iho properly at ones. Il liad been assertad bcrs
wiiliiu iwodaj c, Ihat lho new Senatort and slates
ought nollo fcecopl lands on coiiditions, when Ihe'
vrould so soou haro tho power ia Iheir liands. S
ihat Uitsc lands wfil be taMo tbv inoins oriacurins.