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diff --git a/40427-0.txt b/40427-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4bd16c2 --- /dev/null +++ b/40427-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4244 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40427 *** + +Transcriber's Notes: + + Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. + + Notation for whole and fractional part is 55-416/1000 + + * * * * * + + + + + SENATE...... ......No. 59. + ======================================== + + REPORT + + ON THE + + + HOOSAC TUNNEL AND TROY AND + + + GREENFIELD RAILROAD, + + + BY THE + + + JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE + + + OF + + + 1866. + + + ----- + + + BOSTON: + + WRIGHT & POTTER, STATE PRINTERS, + + NO. 4 SPRING LANE. + + 1867. + + + + +Commonwealth of Massachusetts. + +Hon. JOSEPH A. POND, _President of the Senate_. + +SIR:--I herewith transmit to the legislature the Report of the Joint +Standing Committee of 1866 on the Hoosac Tunnel and Troy and Greenfield +Railroad. + + I am very respectfully + Your obedient servant, + + TAPPAN WENTWORTH, _Chairman_. + + + + +REPORT. + + +The Joint Standing Committee of 1866 on the Hoosac Tunnel and the Troy +and Greenfield Railroad, authorized to visit the tunnel and railroad, +examine into the condition and progress of the work, and to report fully +the result of such examination respectfully + + +REPORT: + +That since the adjournment of the legislature the Committee in a body +visited the tunnel and railroad in June, and again in October, and they +continued their examination of the condition and progress of the work by +sub-committees in the months of July, August, September, November and +December; (one of the examinations being exclusively devoted to the +operations on the railroad which were commenced late in October;) the +others to the tunnel and the various structures and mechanical +operations connected therewith, including an examination of the existing +contracts, and an inquiry into the general organization adopted to carry +out the laws and purposes of the State in regard to the enterprise. + +The Committee have also examined the records and the doings of the +directors of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad from the organization of +the corporation until the surrender of the railroad to the State, and +have made extracts from the records to show the financial condition of +the corporation, its dealings with the contractors for constructing the +road and tunnel, and also the embarrassed condition of the contractors +and corporation from 1855 to 1861, which finally led to the practical +abandonment of the contract on the part of Messrs. H. Haupt & Company, +and the surrender of the road to the State under the mortgages which had +been given to secure the loan advanced by the Commonwealth in aid of the +road and tunnel. These extracts from the records, with extracts from +some of the laws passed upon the subject of the railroad and tunnel, +together with remarks of the Committee upon the legislation of the +State, the doings of the directors, and their efforts and those of the +contractors to prosecute the enterprise being too long for the body of +this Report, will be found in the Appendix at A. And a synopsis of the +action and condition of the corporation at the time of, and previous to +the surrender of the road, and the relation of the contractors to the +corporation and to the State, will be stated before entering upon the +particular description of the condition and progress of the work the +present year, as observed by the Committee. + +The charter of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad was granted in 1848, +authorizing the construction of a railroad from a "point on the Vermont +and Massachusetts Railroad, at or near Greenfield," to the line of the +States of New York or Vermont, to connect with any railroad that might +be constructed from or near the city of Troy in New York. Its capital +stock was limited to $3,500,000. Authority was given in the charter to +contract with any contiguous railroad leading from either of the +above-named States, for the use of the same or any part thereof, or for +operating the two roads conjointly, or for hiring such other railroad, +or for letting their own railroad to the owners of any other road which +should compose a part of the railroad line between Troy and Boston, of +which the Troy and Greenfield Railroad should be a part. + +The corporation was organized June 1, 1848. April 11, 1849, the +directors voted an assessment of three per cent. upon its capital stock, +and this assessment was the only one that was substantially collected, +and on the first day of October, in the same year, they voted to put the +construction of the road under contract as soon as sufficient +subscription should be obtained therefore, commencing at Pownal, +Vermont, and Greenfield. In January, 1850, $2,203.94 had been received +into the treasury, and $2,203.57 had been expended with the approbation +of the president of the corporation, leaving in the treasurer's hand +$0.37. + +Sundry assessments was voted from time to, time, the last vote being in +May, 1852, amounting in all to 75 per cent. upon the subscriptions, but +they were rescinded in July, 1858, and a new series of assessments were +afterwards made which the Committee understand were as unproductive of +beneficial results as were the former, upon which only partial payments +had been made by a portion of the subscribers. + +A contract for constructing the road was made with Messrs. Gilman and +Carpenter in October, 1850. At the close of the year 1850, stock to the +amount of $250,800 had been subscribed, of which $72,000 was payable in +land damages, and $50,000 was taken by the contractors. + +At this period in the history of the corporation, with $138,800 of +available cash subscription, of which three per cent. had been paid, the +corporation applied to the State for aid by a loan to enable it to +prosecute the enterprise it had assumed, and this application was +continued without success until 1854, when the legislature passed the +Act authorizing a loan of $2,000,000, upon conditions which are +particularly set forth in the Loan Act, (see Appendix A and B,) which, +modified by subsequent legislation, discloses the policy of the State in +granting its assistance to the undertaking. + +It is proper to state, that at the time this loan was granted, there was +no prospect of opening this line of travel by individual efforts, and +the amount of the loan, taking into consideration the then assumed +estimates of its probable cost, shows that the State assumed to defray +the cost of an enterprise to the completion of which available +individual means had proved inadequate. + +In 1855, a contract for the construction of the road and tunnel was made +with E. W. Serrell. The capital stock of the corporation was fixed at +$1,500,000. This contract was changed two or three times, and finally +ended in one executed by H. Haupt and Henry Cartwright. For an account +of these changes, and of the votes and transactions of the directors and +the contractors, reference is made to Appendix A, where the same will be +found in detail. + +Upon a careful examination of these votes and transactions, the +Committee come to the conclusion that the financial embarrassments of +the corporation from the year 1855, when the first contract with E. W. +Serrell was made to the time of the suspension of the works under the +last contract with H. Haupt & Co., are apparent. And it is also apparent +that during the same time, the contractors assumed, to a very great +extent, the control and responsibility of the enterprise. + +Under the first contract, and on the day of its acceptance, the +direction of the engineering operations within the tunnel was left with +the contractor; excepting measuring for estimates and the final +acceptance of the work; and on his subscribing $600,000 to the capital +stock, $800,000 (less the new subscriptions,) was added to the contract +prices for the work. + +Under the second contract with Serrell, Haupt & Co., the directors voted +to substitute bonds for stock in payment of the work until 2,000 feet of +the tunnel was completed, and to pay the discounts and losses to which +the contractors might be required to submit, not exceeding fifteen per +cent. per annum; and also, to issue to the contractors bonds to the +amount of $100,000 in addition to payments. Said bonds were to be sold +or pledged by Haupt & Co., to enable them to raise means to carry on +their operations under the contract. + +On the dissolution of the firm of Serrell, Haupt & Co., in July 1856, +Serrell resigned his office as director and was chosen consulting +engineer. At the same time, W. A. Galbraith, one of the contractors in +the following contract, was chosen a director. Thereupon a new contract +was made with H. Haupt, W. A. Galbraith, C. B. Duncan and Henry +Cartwright. Under this contract the estimates were to be made by the +company's engineer. In July, 1857, the records show that no payments had +been made the contractors for more than a year, and that the work could +be carried on only by the continued efforts and personal credit of the +contractors. + +In February, 1858, the contract was again changed, and Messrs. Haupt and +Cartwright engaged with the corporation to complete the road and tunnel. +At this time, the records show that no payments had been made under the +previous contracts "for more than two years; that the work could only be +carried on by the continued efforts, increased expenditures, and +personal credit of the contractors." + +By a provision of this contract, any revenue arising from the use of the +road, or any portion of it, was assigned to the contractors until their +claims upon the company were adjusted; and the payment of all the +company's debts was to be deferred until that of the contractors was +satisfied; and Haupt & Co. agreed to maintain the organization of the +corporation, pay its bills for printing, and advance therefore a sum not +less than $500,000. + +The same year the Rensselaer Iron Company was allowed a lien on the iron +delivered to the contractors until the same was paid for. In 1859, H. +Haupt relinquished his pecuniary interest in the contract, and was +appointed chief engineer of the corporation. (See Appendix A, page 62.) +These transactions in which the contractors participated, (one of whom +was on the board of directors,) show conclusively that they were fully +apprized of the condition of the corporation, from the date of their +first connection with the work to the time of its "suspension," no claim +during the whole period having been made by them against the +Commonwealth for any work done for the corporation. + +The existence of the mortgages to the State were of course well known to +the contractors. They were given in pursuance of laws passed by the +legislature, and for security of the payments received by the +contractors for their services. The right of the Commonwealth to take +possession of the railroad under the mortgages, must have been well +understood. Further, the corporation, in surrendering the road to the +State, did no injury to the contractors, for the act of surrender did +not take place until after the contractors had suspended work upon both +road and tunnel, and practically abandoned the enterprise; thus leaving +to the State the alternative, either to take possession of the work and +complete the road and tunnel, or to abandon it; and, in addition to the +loss of the advances already made, forego the anticipated benefits of an +additional avenue for Western traffic. + +The treasurer's books do not show any settlement between Haupt and +Company and the corporation. The account standing upon the ledger shows +a large balance against the contractors; but the Committee are informed +that subsequent to May 30, 1863, a settlement was made upon the basis of +Mr. Stevenson's report (see Appendix A,) and that Mr. Haupt received, in +conformity with the contract of H. Haupt & Co. with the Troy and +Greenfield corporation, payment for all labor done and material +furnished by said H. Haupt & Co., for the corporation, and that all +matters between the parties have been adjusted. + +Although the accounts between the contractors and the corporation are +understood to be settled, it may be interesting to examine the account +of the Commonwealth with the enterprise and compare the value of the +work done by the contractors at the time of its abandonment by them, +with the payments made to them therefore, from the treasury of the +State. + + The amount paid from the State treasury for work + and materials upon the tunnel, $170,131 95 + Amount paid upon the road west of the tunnel, 50,000 00 + Amount paid upon the road east of the tunnel, 505,256 92 + ----------- + $725,388 87 + Amount earned by contractors under + the contract upon the tunnel, $129,475 00 + Amount earned by contractors under + the contract, upon the road west + of tunnel, 50,000 00 + Amount earned by contractors under + the contract, upon the road east of + tunnel, including temporary work, 410,204 00 + ----------- + 589,679 00 + ----------- + $135,709 87 + Overpayment in reckoning sterling exchange, say, 44,000 00 + ----------- + Overpayment when the work stopped in July, 1861, $179,709 87 + Further payments made upon the work by the + State from July 1861 to January 1867, 140,226 95 + ----------- + Total amount paid more than earned, $319,936 82 + +From the foregoing statement it appears that the contractors with the +Troy and Greenfield Railroad corporation, have received from the State, +three hundred and nineteen thousand nine hundred and thirty-six dollars +and eighty-two cents more than the value of the work which the +corporation surrendered under the mortgage, and that the State has lost +that amount of money in its efforts to assist in the construction of the +work. It is proper to add as the judgment of the very intelligent +chairman of the commissioners (Mr. J. W. Brooks,) from whose statement +to the Committee the foregoing figures are taken, that the loss to the +State in the transaction by the failure of Messrs. B. Haupt & Co., to +perform their contract in a proper manner, will reach the sum of three +hundred and fifty thousand dollars. (See statement, Appendix C.) + +The Commonwealth having taken possession of the road and tunnel, and by +the legislation of 1862 and 1863 undertaken their construction with the +free consent of the corporation, the directors by an appropriate vote, +expressed their concurrence with the proceeding, and their reliance upon +the "good faith of the legislature" to complete the enterprise which had +exhausted the resources of its immediate projectors. The last act of the +corporation, as appears by the records, was the choice of officers in +August, 1865, when Alvah Crocker was chosen president and Wendell T. +Davis, clerk and treasurer. + + +DESCRIPTION OF THE TUNNEL. + +The tunnel enters the eastern side of the Hoosac Mountain, in the town +of Florida, a few rods from the right bank of the Deerfield River. The +eastern summit of the mountain is 2,210 feet above tide-water, 1,499 +feet above the Deerfield River, 1,429 feet above the grade of the +railroad, and is distant from the East Portal of the tunnel 6,100 feet. +The western summit is 2,510 feet above tide-water 1,788 feet above the +Hoosac River, 1,718 feet above the grade of the railroad, and 6,700 feet +distant from the West Portal. Each portal of the tunnel is 766 feet +above tide-water. The summits are 2-41/100 miles distant from each +other, and the valley between them at its lowest depression is 801 feet +above the grade of the railroad. + +The length of the tunnel, from the East End to the West End, as +commenced by Mr. Haupt, is 4-84/100 miles. Its base is, at the East End, +70 feet above the Deerfield River, and at the West End, 70 feet above +the Hoosac River. Its grade, from the East End to the Central Shaft, is +18 feet per mile; from the West End to West Shaft, 26-4/10 feet per +mile; and from the West Shaft towards the Central Shaft, 21-12/100 feet +per mile. These grades are calculated to allow the free passage of water +from the centre. Should the quantity of water found in the tunnel render +feasible a reduction of this grade, a change is contemplated. + +[Illustration: Profile of the Hoosac Mountains] + +The dimensions of the tunnel areas follows: The rock cutting is 24 feet +high and 24 feet wide. The brick-work is 26 feet high and 26 feet wide. +The bottom of the tunnel will contain a culvert three feet deep at the +centre. Through this culvert the water from the tunnel is to be +discharged. It now receives, in addition to the water accumulating in +the tunnel, a 12-inch pipe, to carry air at a low pressure for +ventilation; an 8-inch pipe to carry air for driving the drilling +machines; and a 3-inch pipe for carrying water for use in the holes +which are being drilled. Should it be found advisable to use gas in +carrying on the work, provision is made for a 4-inch pipe to carry the +gas from the place of manufacture. The track is to be placed 3-1/2 feet +above the bottom of the rock tunnel, and 4-1/2 feet above the bottom, +where lined with brick. + +The distance by the highway, from the town of North Adams, or from the +West End to the East End of the tunnel, is about nine miles. From the +first named points to the Central Shaft is about five miles, and from +the Central Shaft to the East End the distance is six miles. + +The time necessary to travel from the West End to the East End, is two +hours. Loaded teams from either end to the other perform the distance +and return in a day. + +_Organization of the forces employed in the construction of the Hoosac +Tunnel, June, 1866._ + + Chief engineer Thomas Doane, salary, $4,000 00 + Two assistant engineers, salary each, 1,350 00 + One " " " 1,017 25 + One " " " 900 00 + [The assistants were assigned to different points + upon the work.] + One messenger, 469 50 + One man in the stable, 626 00 + Paul Hill, superintendent, salary, 2,400 00 + One clerk, 1,200 00 + One master mechanic, 1,800 00 + One mechanical draftsman, 1,350 00 + One pattern maker, 939 00 + + _For Materials and Supplies:_ + One cashier and paymaster, $1,200 00 + One purchasing agent, 1,200 00 + One freight clerk and assistant paymaster, 1,000 00 + One store-keeper at East End, 1,200 00 + One assistant store-keeper at East End, 780 00 + One store-keeper at West End, 1,000 00 + One assistant store-keeper at West End, 900 00 + One helper for do. at West End, 469 50 + One store-keeper at Central Shaft, 720 00 + +The above were contained on the engineer's pay-roll. + +Since the first visit of the Committee to the tunnel, many important +changes have been made in the force above mentioned, to wit: The salary +of the chief engineer was reduced to $3,600, he to provide his +transportation to various points upon the work. One of the assistant +engineers resigned and retired, and the office of two of them has been +abolished. The salary of the superintendent has been increased to +$3,000. The office of freight clerk has been abolished, and its duties +transferred to that of paymaster and cashier. The salaries of +store-keepers and their assistants were not a charge to the State, but +were paid from the profit of their respective stores. + +At the commencement of the work, it was deemed necessary to provide +stores at the three points where the operations were carried on, to +supply the workmen readily with necessaries, so that no time might be +lost by them in the important duty of making provision for their +families. But in the present state of the enterprise, it is probable +that private individuals would readily establish such stores, and +relieve the State from a duty which, although it involved no pecuniary +charge, diverted to some extent the attention of officers from their +more legitimate avocations. + + +FOREMEN AND OTHERS UNDER THE SUPERINTENDENT. + +_At West End._ + + One foreman of labor, $3.00 per day + " of brickyard, 5.82 " " + " of carpenters, 3.00 " " + One time-keeper, 2.50 " " + + _West Shaft._ + + One captain, $3.50 per day. + Two statisticians, who keep an account of + articles delivered to the workmen, and also + perform the electrical firing, 2.50 " " + + _Central Shaft._ + + One captain, $5.00 per day. + One time-keeper--acting statistician, 2.25 " " + + _East End._ + + One time-keeper, $3.00 per day. + One statistician, 2.50 " " + One " 8.00 " " + One foreman of masons at the East End, and + inspector of do. at West End, 5.00 " " + One foreman of carpenters, 3.00 " " + +Of this list the foreman of the brickyard is a temporary appointment. +The foreman of carpenters at the West End has finished his work and +retired. The foreman of masons was discharged by the commissioners, and +has entered into the employ of Mr. Farren at the West End. + +There are nine foremen of the heading gangs, two of whom have $100 per +month, and the remainder $3.00 per day. + +The heading gangs consist of eleven drillers each, including the +foreman, and from three to five rockmen for removing stone. They work by +shifts of eight hours, relieving each other at 8 A. M., 4 P. M., and 12, +midnight. The blasts are made about the time of relief. The men working +on the enlargement under private contractors make two shifts a day, each +shift working ten hours. The Committee made a special examination of the +number of men employed under the engineer and superintendent, with a +view of considering whether the force actually engaged was necessary to +an economical prosecution of the enterprise, intending to suggest any +reform that might occur to them as essential; but learning that the +engineer would in the course of the year make some reduction in the +number of the men as well as of the teams employed upon the work, the +Committee deferred taking up the subject until the anticipated +reductions should have been made. And now understanding that the +commissioners have the whole matter under consideration, and that they +have already to some extent, acted thereon, the Committee for reasons +that would be obvious, withhold any recommendations or remarks upon this +point. + + +SYSTEM OF OPERATIONS. + +The general superintendence of the labor on the work is vested in Mr. +Hill. The reports are made to the engineer. The captains in the tunnel +report weekly the proceedings of each day under the following heads, as +follows:-- + + Number of days' work. + of holes drilled. + of inches of holes drilled. + of drills dulled. + of pounds of powder used. + of feet of fuse used. + of sheets of paper used. + of pounds of soap used. + of pounds of candles used. + of quarts of oil used. + of lamps used. + of pounds of wicking used. + +The captain at the shafts four times a month reports,-- + + The days' work of the engine-men. + The revolutions of the engine. + Number of pounds of coal used. + of feet of wood used. + of gallons of sperm oil used. + of gallons of kerosene oil used. + of pounds of tallow used. + of pounds of waste used. + of pounds of tar used. + of cages raised. + of cars of stone raised. + Size of pump-plunger used. + Length of stroke. + + Number of strokes. + of gallons of water raised. + of boilers in use. + +The materials furnished for the construction of the work are charged in +their distribution to twenty-three accounts, as will be seen by the +tabular statement of its cost. Requisitions for materials are signed by +the immediate overseer, captain or foreman; they are handed to the +superintendent for approval, and by him forwarded to the engineer. If +the requisition is approved by both, the materials are ordered, and when +furnished the applicant signs upon a duplicate his receipt for the same. +This course is pursued as well for materials taken from the State lands +as for those purchased. Suitable blanks for returns, requisitions, &c., +are furnished to the several points, and the evidence of all the +transactions is preserved in the office of the engineer. In addition to +the above, a return of all material broken, or laid aside, is made to +the engineer, at whose office a substantial account of all materials on +hand, either in use, or out of use, may be found. + +The organization of the working force, and the mode adopted for supplies +and expenditures at the various points, appear well adapted to an +efficient and economical prosecution of the enterprise. + + +DIVISIONS OF THE WORK. + +_East End._ + +_Deerfield Dam._--This structure is completed. Flashboards to be used in +low stages of water may have to be occasionally renewed. + +The canal is finished as far as wheelpit No. 3. The machine-shop is +about 72 feet long, and 36 feet wide. It has three turbine wheels. A +fourth wheel is designed, but is not required at the present time, and +the pit to receive it is not completed. + +In the basement of the machine-shop are two compressors. The first was +put in January, 1866. It has four cylinders 13 inches in diameter, and +20 inches stroke. This compressor is used to drive the drills, and +furnish air for the blacksmith shop. The second compressor was put in +some time in October. It has four cylinders 25 inches in diameter, and +24 inches stroke, and is used for ventilation one-fourth of the time, +two hours after each blast, viz., from 8 to 10, A. M., from 4 to 6, P. +M., and from 12 to 2, A. M. The compressors work satisfactorily. The +loss of power in the transmission of air from the machine-shop to the +drills, a distance of 4,500 feet, being hardly perceptible. + +In addition to the compressors, there is in the machine-shop the +following machinery, viz.: three lathes, one of them worked by hand; a +drilling machine; a planer; a bolt-cutting machine and a saw-table. +Sixty horse-power is required to carry the machine-drills, the machines +in the shop, and to furnish air for the blacksmith shop. When the large +compressor is used, 75 additional horse-power is required. A circular +saw at the east end of the machine shop, is occasionally used, driven by +power derived from the turbine wheels. + +The blacksmith shop, near the entrance of the tunnel, contains three +forges. The hand-drills are made, and, together with the machine drills, +sharpened at this shop. The ordinary repairs of the drilling machines +are done in the machine shop. New parts of the same are furnished from +Fitchburg. + +The heading in the tunnel at this end when driven by hand was about 15 +feet wide by 6 feet high. When driven by the machines it is 16 feet wide +and 8 feet high. Its location is in the centre of the tunnel, 4-1/2 feet +above subgrade, and 1-1/2 feet above the road bed. + +The force employed at this point in July last was-- + + Mechanics in iron, 4 + Engine-men, 2 + Masons, 10 + Manual labor, 58 + Engine and compressor men, including firemen, 6 + Carpenters, 5 + Blacksmiths and helpers, 8 + Statisticians, 2 + Runners of machine-drills, 6 + Sawyer, 1 + Manual laborers, 63 + --- + Total in July, 165 + + The first day of November there were employed here 115 men. There are + at this point, besides the shops and saw mill above mentioned, 2 small + offices, 1 boarding-house, 2 carpenters' shops, 2 powder-houses, + 1 temporary blacksmith's shop, 1 temporary horse-stable, 3 sheds, + 1 engine-house, 1 barn, 1 instrumental station-house (all used by the + State,) and 2 cottages; 6 first-class shanties, 13 common shanties, + 10 temporary shanties, 1 store under school-room; with 1 cottage, + 1 old store and 8 shanties, built by H. Haupt & Company, which are + rented. The cost of the shanties at the East End, excluding the + Deerfield Dam, was, in July, 1866, . . . . . . . $28,052 94 + In November, 1866, . . . . . . . 31,688 99 + The rents at the East End received by the State + from shanties are, . . . . . . . 1,698 00 + per annum. All rents are collected monthly. + +A resident engineer was stationed at the East End in charge of the work. + +The progress of the excavations at the East End heading for the year +ending December, 1866, has been 569 feet; at the rate of 47.42 per +month. + +The progress during the six months ending May, 1866, was 338 feet; an +average per month of 56 feet 4 inches. One week was lost in June in +introducing the machine-drills, in consequence of which the progress +that month was reduced to 50 feet 6 inches. During the five months +ending November 30, the progress has been 219-1/2 feet; being an average +of 43.9 feet per month. It will be seen by the table, that in July, the +first month after the introduction of the drill machines, the progress +attained was only 26.5 feet. As the men became better acquainted with +them, the progress was increased to 48 feet in August, and in September +it rose to 54.5, having nearly attained the average progress of the six +months preceding their introduction. Had there been an adequate supply, +there can be little doubt that the progress would have continued to +increase, and would have shown the superiority of the machine-drill over +hand-labor; but the supply fell off, and the progress in October was +reduced to 34 feet and 6 inches. + +_Table showing the progress at East End Heading, from November 1, 1865, +to January 1, 1867._ + + =========================================== + | Distance from | Progress. + DATE. | Portal. | + ----------------+---------------+---------- + Nov. 1, 1865, | 2,839.0 | + Dec. 1, 1865, | 2,904.0 | 65.0 + Jan. 1, 1866, | 2.950.5 | 46.5 + Feb. 1, 1866, | 3,005.0 | 54.5 + Mar. 1, 1866, | 3,052.0 | 47.0 + April, 1, 1866, | 3,115.0 | 63.0 + May 1, 1866, | 3,176.5 | 61.5 + June 1, 1866, | 3,227.0 | 50.5 + July 1, 1866, | 3,253.5 | 26.5 + Aug. 1, 1866, | 3,301.5 | 48.0 + Sept. 1, 1866, | 3,356.0 | 54.5 + Oct. 1, 1866, | 3,394.5 | 38.5 + Nov. 1, 1866, | 3,431.0 | 36.5 + Dec. 1, 1866, | 3,473.0 | 42.0 + =========================================== + + +THE CENTRAL SHAFT. + +There is at this point, used by the State in the prosecution of the +work, the shaft-building, a carpenter's shop, a blacksmith's shop, a +saw-mill, powder-house, gas-house, ash-house, wood-shed, and a barn; and +in connection with the work, a store, a boarding-house, the Thacher +farm-house and out-buildings, 4 first-class and 7 common shanties. The +cost of buildings at the Central Shaft in July, 1866, was $11,080.13. +The cost in November, 1866, was $12,026.83. The annual rent of that +portion leased to operatives is $736. + +A farm, containing 250 acres of land, with a dwelling-house and barn, +has been purchased, adjoining the Central Shaft, for the sum of $3,000. +The land was well covered with timber, about one-half of which has been +cut for the purposes of the shaft and tunnel. There is estimated to be +one million feet of hemlock timber still standing, which will be wanted +in the progress of the work. This purchase was an advantageous one for +the State, there having been already realized from it an amount equal to +its cost. + +The working force at the Central Shaft in July, 1860, was comprised of-- + + Engine-men and firemen, 5 + Mechanics in iron, 4 + + Carpenters, 5 + Blacksmiths and helpers, 4 + Pump men, 1 + Manual laborers, 39 + -- + Total in July, 58 + +On the first day of November there were employed at this point, in all, +81. Of this number, 40 were engaged out of the shaft, and 41 in the +shaft. + +The above enumeration does not include the resident engineer and +time-keeper, stationed here in November. + +The depth of Central Shaft, when completed, will be 1,037 feet from the +surface; its form is an ellipse, whose axes are 27 and 15 feet. On the +fifth day of May it had reached the depth of 300.5 feet. At this time +the hoisting apparatus was removed from the shaft, and the work of +excavation ceased. The new hoisting apparatus was fitted on the first +day of August, and the drilling commenced at midnight on that day. + +Previous to the change in the hoisting apparatus, the monthly progress +had averaged about 18-1/2 feet per month. The advance in October and +November was 46 feet; the gain over the previous rate of progress is +attributable to the practice of simultaneous blasting. + +On the first day of January, 1867, the shaft had been sunk 393 feet, +leaving for excavation 644 feet. + +_Table showing the progress at Central Shaft from November 1, 1865, to +December 1, 1866._ + + ======================================== + DATE. | Distance | Progress. + | down. | + ==================+==========+========== + Nov. 1, 1865, | 200.8 | + Dec. 1, 1865, | 220.1 | 19.3 + Jan. 1, 1866, | 232.5 | 12.4 + Feb. 1, 1866, | 250.7 | 18.2 + Mar. 1, 1866, | 264.1 | 13.4 + Apr. 1, 1866, | 280.9 | 16.8 + May 1, 1866, | 297.1 | 16.2 + May 5, 1866, | 300.5 | 3.4 + June 1, 1866,[A] | 300.5 | + July 1, 1866,[A] | 300.5 | + Aug. 1, 1866,[A] | 300.5 | + Sept. 1, 1866, | 311.9 | 11.4 + Oct. 1, 1866, | 331.1 | 19.2 + Nov. 1, 1866, | 354.0 | 22.9 + Dec. 1, 1866, | 377.0 | 23.1 + ======================================== + +[A] Work suspended to put in new hoisting apparatus. + +The present hoisting apparatus is expected to be sufficient to finish +the shaft. It has two wire ropes, each 1,260 feet long. The time for a +round trip is seven minutes. The engine here is of 100 horse-power. The +blacksmith shop contains two forges. At the small machine shop the +repairs required here are made, as also some repairs for the West Shaft. + +The Central Shaft, though designed to aid in ventilating the tunnel, was +intended also to accelerate its construction by affording to the process +of excavation four faces instead of two during some portion of the work; +and the former chairman of the commissioners expected by the aid of +machine-drilling, the shaft might be completed in one year from the time +such drilling should commence within it. In this anticipation, ten +vertical drilling machines were constructed to work in the shaft area +and a compressor with two cylinders was provided to furnish the power +for operating them. The want of drilling machines at the East End became +so urgent, that these vertical ones were changed to horizontals, and +used at that point, and the sinking of the shaft by hand-drilling still +continues. But if the experiments now in progress at the East End with +the new drilling machine shall demonstrate its superiority over hand +labor, the machine will doubtless be introduced into the shaft. + + +WEST SHAFT. + +This shaft has an area of about 8 by 13 feet, and was excavated by +Messrs. H. Haupt & Co. Its depth is 316 feet. + +The buildings here used by the State are the West Shaft house, the New +Shaft building, a blacksmith shop containing two forges, a powder-house, +a horse-shed, ash-house and tank-house. The buildings owned by the State +and leased to operatives are a boarding-house and four old shanties +built by H. Haupt & Co., four first-class shanties, eight common +shanties, and a double cottage. The buildings at the West End, are +connected on the books with those at the West Shaft, and will be here +enumerated. They consist of a carpenter's shop, time-keeper's office, a +blacksmith shop containing one forge, tool-house, powder-house, +horse-shed, brickyard shed, brickyard, engine-house, artesian wells Nos. +3 and 4, buildings, and two-thirds of a barn, which are occupied by the +State. One boarding-house, store, one-third of a barn, the Harrington +farm-house, barn and out-buildings, twenty-seven common shanties and +brickyard boarding shanty. These buildings, with part of blacksmith +shop, part of carpenter's shop and time-keeper's office, are rented to +operatives and to Mr. Farren, the contractor for constructing the brick +arch. + + The cost of the structures, as reported in July, + at both places, was $35,550 94 + As reported in November, 40,010 13 + +This large increase was mainly occasioned by the construction of a +double cottage and necessary buildings at the brickyard and West End. + +The amount of rents at these two points is $2,462.60 per annum. Fifteen +of the tenements at the West End are leased to Mr. Farren, in accordance +with his contract. + +The working force at the West Shaft in July was,-- + + Engine-men and firemen, 4 + Carpenters, 2 + Blacksmith and helpers, 8 + Masons, 2 + Truckman, 1 + Pump-man, 1 + Manual laborers, 105 + --- + Total, 123 + + November 1st the working force at this point, + including one resident civil engineer, was 103 + +At this point there is one engine of 100-horse power and one of 40-horse +power, and one compressor having four cylinders of a diameter of 13 +inches and 24 inches stroke. The West heading from this shaft was +advanced 293 feet, and the East heading 1,042, on the first day of +December, 1866. The progress for the year ending November 1, 1866, at +the heading at this point was 636.7, being a fraction over 53 feet per +month. For the last four months, ending December 1, 1866, the progress +was 322.1, being a fraction over 64 feet per month, which exceeds by +four feet per month the highest estimate for hand-drilling by the +engineers in 1862, and by thirty and one-third feet the estimate of Mr. +Latrobe. The progress of the work at this heading during the last six +months, making allowance for the influx of water in November, having +exceeded the highest estimate for hand-drilling, should be regarded as +evidence alike of the skill of the miners and the good management of the +engineer and his subordinates. + +_Table showing the progress at West Shaft, East Heading, from November +1, 1865, to December 1, 1866._ + + ======================================= + DATE. Distance from Progress, + shaft, feet. feet. + --------------------------------------- + Nov. 1, 1865, 367.5 + Dec. 1, 1865, 414.4 46.9 + Jan. 1, 1866, 459.4 45.0 + Feb. 1, 1866, 503.0 43.6 + Mar. 1, 1866, 546.5 43.5 + April 1, 1866, 584.8 38.3 + May 1, 1866, 623.3 38.5 + June 1, 1866, 682.1 58.8 + July 1, 1866, 746.1 64.0 + Aug. 1, 1866, 810.5 64.4 + Sept. 1, 1866, 871.4 60.9 + Oct. 1, 1866, 945.4 74.0 + Nov. 1, 1866, 1,004.2 58.8 + Dec. 1, 1866, 1,042.0 37.8 + ======================================= + +The West heading at this shaft was at first driven 6 feet by 11. It has +been found advisable to enlarge it to the dimension of 10 feet 6 inches +by 15 feet. This work has been performed by contract. The first letting +was at the rate of four dollars per cubic yard, the State furnishing the +materials used and removing the stone. The contractors at this rate +could not pay their expenses. It was raised to six dollars per yard +which was found not to pay, and in July the price was advanced to seven +dollars and fifty cents. The State pay the men, charging the same to the +contractors, and keep their time. Good progress is made and the work is +done to the satisfaction of the engineer. + +The East heading at this point was being enlarged also by contract, from +6 feet by 15, to 10-1/2 by 15. The work commenced on the 15th of July, +1866; the price paid is seven dollars per cubic yard; the contractors +load their own stone and also that coming from the heading. The State +provides the materials used, and hoist the stone to the surface. While +the work of the miners at the East heading and of the contractors upon +both enlargements was progressing in a very satisfactory mariner, the +whole was arrested by an unexpected and somewhat sudden influx of + + +WATER IN THE TUNNEL. + +On the 27th of November the miners working east from the West Shaft +struck a seam running across the stratification of the mountain. Water +soon issued from the seam at the rate of twenty-three gallons per +minute. On the 29th, the water had risen at the foot of the shaft to two +and a half feet above grade, and the work was stopped. The usual speed +of the engine working the pump was forty-two revolutions per minute; it +was increased to fifty-six, and at that rate it succeeded in preventing +any further rise of the water. It became necessary to increase the power +of the pumps. The plunger was enlarged from eight to ten inches, and a +third lift pump was added. To affect this arrangement the pumps were +stopped from 9 o'clock, A. M., December 7th, to 3-1/2 P. M. on the 8th. +At this time the water was four feet and eight inches above grade. On +the 12th the water was so much reduced that the miners recommenced work. +The next day, at 2 P. M., the water was struck in large quantities, the +whole flow from the heading being 100 gallons per minute. On the 14th, +the work was again suspended, and unsuccessful attempts made to stop the +water by means of wooden plugs driven into the seam. The pumps working +with the longest stroke and at increased speed, were just able to keep +the water from rising. + +On the 19th, at 10.30 A. M., one of the trunnions of the pump-bob broke, +and seriously injured the pump gearing and boxes. On the 21st a new +trunnion was put in, and the pump was attached to the small hoisting +engine, the water now being seven feet above grade. On the 28th, at +noon, the breakages being all repaired, the large engine was again +attached to the pumps, the water then being nine feet and eight inches +above grade. And, on the first day of January, at 4 P. M., the water +stood nine feet ten inches above grade at the foot of the shaft.[B] + +[B] At the time of the presentation of this Report, the Committee +understood that the water was entirely removed from the shaft and +tunnel. + + +THE NEW SHAFT. + +This shaft is located about 264 feet westerly of the West Shaft. Its +dimensions are six feet by thirteen in the clear. The rock to be removed +from an area of eight feet by fifteen. The labor is done by contract. +The first price was $40 per foot; increased July 1, 1866, to $50 per +foot. The State furnishes all the materials for construction, and the +power to raise the stone and water from the shaft. The depth of the +shaft will be 277 feet when open to grade. On the first day of December, +the miners working down had progressed 180 feet, and those working from +the tunnel up 45 feet. It was then calculated that the shaft would be +excavated in two months. Plans for permanent pumps had been prepared; to +furnish the pumps according to the plans, would take several mouths. In +the meantime, a temporary pump was to be made at North Adams, under the +direction of the engineer. + +On the first day of January, about thirty-eight feet of stone remained +for excavation in this shaft. The water in the tunnel stopped the work +from below, and the work is driven upon one face only at the present +time. + +There are two small engines at this point, one of fourteen and one of +ten horse power. The pumps at this shaft, if constructed agreeably to +the design of the engineer, will discharge sixty-five gallons to a +stroke and are to be worked by a bull engine. The lift of the water will +be eighty feet less than at West Shaft, being discharged about 40 feet +below the surface. + + +THE WEST END. + +The work at the West End of the tunnel is under contract. Mr. B. N. +Farren of Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, by an agreement dated +May 1, 1866, contracted to put in a stone and brick arch of the +dimensions before stated, 26 feet by 26, for the following prices, +viz.:--Earth excavation $3.50 per yard; brick masonry, $12 per perch; +stone masonry, $6 per perch. Contractor planks the bottom and sides when +necessary at $15 per lineal foot. The State furnishes the bricks at $9 +per thousand and the timber at $16 per thousand for hemlock, and $18 for +spruce and hard-wood. The length of arch contracted for is 174 feet, the +whole of which is open. The State also furnishes the cement, which costs +in Troy, New York, from $1.65 to $1.70 per barrel, to which is to be +added the freight at 30 cents per barrel. A barrel of cement is used for +a perch of masonry. + +The contractor agrees to construct two hundred feet of under ground +tunnel, and as much more as he can before August 1, 1867, at the +following prices, viz.:--Earth excavation at $6.50 per yard; brick +masonry at $13 per perch; stone masonry at $6.50 per perch. The +timbering, from $40 to $50 per foot, lineal, depending upon the +thickness of the wall. He may, under permission from the engineer, take +stone and sand from the State's premises, without making compensation. + +Payments are to be made about the 12th of each month for the work done +the preceding month, at the rate of 80 per cent. of the finished work. + +The decision of the engineer as to the method, quality, quantity and +classification of the work to be final and conclusive. In order to +facilitate the progress of the work and with a due regard to economy, +the State has purchased the following lots of land in the vicinity of +the West End, to wit:--A wood lot, containing sixty acres, at a cost of +$9,900; the Harrington Farm; 130 acres with the buildings, inclosing the +West End and West Shaft; and running half way up the mountain. This +purchase was made January 26, 1866, price $3,000. The Kingsley lot, +purchased March 16, 1866, at $2,793.87. + +The timber used by Mr. Farren is obtained from these lots. The tops of +the trees are cut into wood and used at the brickyard. About five +hundred cords of wood has been cut on the Harrington, and one thousand +cords on the Kingsley lot, for the use of the brickyard, and is now on +hand. + +The necessity of making the bricks required for the arch tunnel is +apparent. They could not be furnished by individuals at North Adams. +120,000, before the yard at the West End was fitted up, were purchased +at Springfield at $9 per thousand; the freight of which to North Adams +was $6, and the teaming to the West End $2 per thousand. If to these +prices be added the depreciation and waste from handling, the cost will +reach $18 for all that could be used in the work. It is the opinion of +the engineer and superintendent of labor, that the bricks made by the +State will cost less than $9 when delivered to the contractor. + +Mr. Farren began work under his contract June 7, 1866, and early in +December the brick-work at the top of the arch had entered the mountain. +The masonry was commenced about, twenty-five feet west of the point +first selected, so that the open masonry will in fact be 200 feet long. +About thirty feet of invert is left uncovered the present season, under +an apprehension that the bricks on hand will only supply what will be +wanted in the drift, in order to prosecute the work with dispatch. The +invert has been properly protected, and its preservation may be +expected. + +At the beginning, the invert and the sides to the spring of the arch was +laid with five courses of brick, and the arch with six. The masonry has +been strengthened to meet the effect of the soft ground and increased +pressure to eight bricks thick all round. Where rocks are found, it will +be reduced at the bottom, and perhaps at the top. + +The excavation of the drift is in progress and is carried on with two +galleries. The lower one is of timber, and is at the bottom three feet +below the grade of the road. This gallery is ten feet wide and ten feet +high. + +The upper gallery, also of timber, is ten feet wide and four feet high, +and the space between the galleries is about ten feet. As the arch is +driven in, the top of the invert is 4-1/2 feet below the grade of the +road, and 18 inches below the timber of the lower gallery. The top +timbers of the upper gallery constitute the top timbers of the tunnel +during the excavation. They are supported above the masonry and the arch +is turned under them. + +Side drains, six feet high and four feet wide, are excavated ahead of +the galleries, to assist the drainage of the ground through which the +galleries and tunnel are driven. The water from these drains is let into +the tunnel through its sides, and runs out with the general drainage +upon the invert below the road-bed. Holes are left in the invert at +proper intervals to facilitate this drainage. + +The side drains are hereafter to be filled with stone, which will +constitute a blind drain, and also afford a proper support to the +masonry. + +The work at this point is of difficult prosecution, but the performance +of the contract may be confidently expected. + + +THE BRICKYARD. + + The expenditures at the brickyard on the first day of July, + 1866, had reached, $15,091 98 + + Of this amount the brick machines, shafting, gearing, + &c., cost $5,048 68 + + And the engine, 2,255 50 + --------- + $7,304 18 + +Twenty-four thousand bricks can be moulded daily. The drying yard is 300 +feet long and 120 feet wide. The kiln shed is 300 feet long and 50 feet +wide, and of capacity to burn all the bricks that can be moulded. There +are six brick machines, four of which are in use. They are driven by an +engine, and used alternately, two each day. The making of bricks at the +yard commenced June 26 and closed October 24, 1860. About 1,700,000 +bricks were made, of which 80 per cent. are sufficiently hard for use in +the tunnel, which is estimated to be sufficient to complete the 374 feet +of tunnel now under contract. + +The clay for the bricks is found near the yard, and hitherto a +sufficiency of sand has been found in the vicinity; but it is less +abundant than the clay. + + +MISCELLANEOUS. + + In addition to the property enumerated under the preceding + heads, the State has at North Adams, a freight house, cashier's + office, engineer's office, stable and two coal sheds, and opposite + the West End on the Pittsfield and North Adams Railroad, an + additional freight house. There are also two instrumental + station houses on the east and west summits respectively, all + of which are occupied by the State for the purposes of the + enterprise. There is also one seven-horse engine and three + small compressors. Tho State has also four mule teams, three + of four, and one of two animals, making fourteen in all. There + were also used on the work in the early part of the year, twelve + or fourteen horses, employed in hauling clay, sand, wood, &c. + Six of these have been sold to Mr. Farren, and the remainder + are to be disposed of. To this enumeration should be added + five horses and three or more carriages kept at the stable at + North Adams for the transportation of the engineers, superintendent, + master mechanic, &c., from point to point along the line of + operations wherever their presence and services might be needed. + The expense of the stable, including the pay of the keeper, + for the past year, was, $1,900 00 + + which covers the price of three carriages, $500 00 + and one harness, 40 00 + ------- 540 00 + --------- + Leaving, $1,360 00 + +for the expense of keeping five horses, and the repairs; which is about +five dollars per week in all. The charge for keeping horses at the +stable in North Adams, is five dollars per week for feed; and the cost +for the use of one horse and wagon from North Adams to the East End, is +four dollars. These horses were also used to transport the commissioners +and the committee visiting the tunnel, when required for that purpose. + + +THE ROAD BETWEEN THE TUNNEL AND NORTH ADAMS. + +It is proposed to change the course of, the road as it emerges from the +tunnel, and two lines have been surveyed, which, diverging near the +approach cut, unite again about midway from thence to the village. The +difference in length is about thirty feet. The northerly line is the +least expensive to construct, and best favors the landholders on the +route. It has the recommendation of the engineer, and the approval of +the consulting engineer, and will probably be selected. There are +reasons for an early location of this portion of the road which call for +a prompt action in this behalf on the part of the commissioners, which +will undoubtedly be taken. + +The following table shows the expense of the tunnel and the land and +works connected therewith under the administration of the commissioners, +as found November 1, 1866:-- + + Deerfield Dam, $127,982 80 + Race, 23,417 54 + Excavation and Masonry at East + End of Dam, 12,802 46 + Wheel pits, 70,723 23 + Gates and Overflow, 9,986 26 + ---------- $244,912 29 + East End Heading, 103,731 45 + East End Enlargement, 80,317 10 + East End Heading Enlargement, 17,559 46 + Central Shaft, 144,423 75 + West Shaft, 179,041 69 + West Approach, 247,900 75 + Building East End, 31,688 99 + Building West End and Shaft, 40,010 13 + Building Central Shaft, 12,026 83 + Building General Account, 9,537 37 + Engineering and Superintendent, 84,840 48 + Machinery West Shaft, 57,111 73 + Machinery East End, 87,032 38 + Machinery Central Shaft, 51,364 01 + Machinery Deerfield Dam, 10,820 93 + Machinery General Account, 62,600 76 + Machinery West End, 539 89 + Land and Land Damages, 17,513 21 + ------------- + $1,482,973 20 + +The following table shows the cost of the works under the classification +of outside and inside expenditures, as given by the consulting +engineer. + +_Outside Expenditures._ + + Deerfield Dam, $244,912 29 + Buildings East End, $31,688 99 + Buildings West End and West Shaft, 40,010 13 + Buildings Central Shaft, 12,026 83 + Buildings General Account, 9,637 37 + ---------- 93,263 32 + Machinery East End, $87,032 38 + Machinery West End, 539 89 + Machinery West Shaft, 57,111 73 + Machinery Central Shaft, 51,364 01 + Machinery Deerfield Dam, 10,820 93 + Machinery General Account, 62,600 76 + ---------- 269,469 70 + Land Damages and Land, 17,513 21 + Engineering and Superintendence, 84,840 48 + ----------- + Total outside expenditures, $709,999 00 + +_Inside Expenditures._ + + East End Heading, $103,731 45 + East End Enlargement, 17,559 46 + East End Bottom, 80,317 10 + ----------- + $201,608 01 + Central Shaft, 144,423 75 + West Shaft Headings, &c., 179,041 69 + West End approach cut, drifting + and arching, 247,900 75 + Total inside expenditures, ---------- 772,974 20 + ------------- + Total expenditures to November 1, 1866, $1,482,973 20 + +The exact correctness of any classification of the expenditures is not +very important, inasmuch as the sum total is chargeable to the +construction of the tunnel; but the Committee do not see the propriety +of charging the engineering and superintendence exclusively to the +outside expenditure. They have seen a classification which gave,-- + + Amount put into buildings machinery, &c., $673,531 24 + Spent in the work, 809,441 96 + ------------- + Total, $1,482,973 20 + + +GENERAL SUMMARY OF THE FORCE EMPLOYED ON THE TUNNEL, + +November 1, 1866. + + Thomas Doane, Chief Engineer, salary, $3,600 00 + He providing his horses. + + Paul Hill, Superintendent of Labor, 3,000 00 + His horse furnished to him. + + _In the Chief Engineer's Office._ + + H. G. Burgess, Master Mechanic, soon to leave, $1,800 00 + John Christiansen, Mechanical Draftsman, 1,500 00 + Austin Bond, Clerk, &c., 1,500 00 + Edward Stowell, temporarily engaged in making fuse, 1,000 00 + Roswell Houghton, hostler in village, $2.00 per day. + Charles P. Bradley, hostler at T. Doane's house, $18 per month. + Roger Tappan office boy and rod-man for Mr. Granger, $1.50 + per day. + _West End._--Wages from $1.25 to $3 per day, 5 + _Brick-Yard._--Wages from $2 to $5.89 per day, 13 + _New Shaft._--Wages from $1.78 to $3 per day, 31 + _West Shaft._--Wages from $1.50 to $3.50 per day, 102 + W. P. Granger, civil engineer, is resident in charge of + West Shaft, New Shaft and West End. Salary $1,350, 1 + _Central Shaft._--Wages from $1.50 to $5, 83 + This number includes the time-keeper and H. G. + Coolidge, resident engineer. + _East End._--Wages from $1.50 to $:1.25, 115 + F. W. D. Holbrook, resident engineer, in charge at a + Salary of $1,350, 1 + Add force in general charge and not confined to any + particular point, 8 + ---- + Total in the employ of the State, 359 + Add at the West End in Mr. Farren's employ, about 100 + ---- + Total employed upon the tunnel, 459 + + +EXPERIMENTS. + +The interest awakened by the magnitude of the undertaking to tunnel the +Hoosac Mountain, and the anxiety manifested for its early completion, +prompted the commissioners to the discovery of means to accelerate the +progress of the work. Their attention was naturally directed to the +operation of drilling, and with a view of improving upon the machine +drill used at Mont Cenis; scientific mechanics have been employed to +devise and construct a drill that should attain that end. + +As a first step Gouch's patent of the hollow piston-rod, was purchased +for New England, for the sum of five hundred dollars. After which, a Mr. +Gardner was employed to construct a drill; but his efforts failed of +success after an expenditure of thirteen hundred dollars. A Mr. Butler +was engaged to devise a machine, but in the course of studying the +subject, his health failed and his services were lost. + +A Mr. Hanson completed a machine which promised some success; but on +trial it proved a failure. + +A second machine called the Brooks, Burleigh and Gates drill, was made +under the direction of the commissioners at Fitchburg. This machine was +put upon the works and used for several months. + +A third machine, called the Burleigh drill, an improvement upon the +preceding one, was next produced, which is now at the works on the East +Heading. + +About $13,000 was spent upon these experiments, resulting in the +construction of the Brooks, Burleigh and Gates drill, and the +manufacture of four of them. About one-half of this expenditure may be +charged to these last drills; the other was unproductive of anything of +value. + +The Brooks, Burleigh and Gates drill was patented, but the Commonwealth +has the right to use them in the construction of the tunnel. + +These machines will now be described. + + +THE HANSON MACHINE. + +This machine has a cylinder and valve motion, similar to a steam-engine. +The piston is hollow, the drill-bar which may be of any required length, +passing through it, is moved with the piston, by means of four wedges or +cams on each end of the piston; these cams are pressed on the drill-bar +by means of sliding collars forced upon them by a complex arrangement +operating alternately. The drill-bar is rotated by means of a ratchet +operated by a spiral groove in the shield of the machine. The main +difficulty in this machine was in the complex arrangement for forcing +the collars upon the cams or wedges. It did not work well in a +horizontal position. The machine consisted of one hundred and twenty +pieces, and weighed five hundred and ninety-five pounds. + + +THE BROOKS, BURLEIGH AND GATES MACHINE. + +This machine has a hollow piston, the drill-holder being a screw passing +through the piston, moving with it, and fed through it, by means of a +nut on the end of the piston-rod. This nut is held by means of a cap or +union nut, as it is called, the union nut being screwed on to the +coupling, and the coupling nut screwed to the piston-rod. The feed-nut +protrudes through the union nut, and is allowed to turn round in it. On +the end of this feed-nut is a ratchet gear covered by a ratchet-band +with an arm upon it, all moving with the piston. The ratchet arm moves +up and down in a spiral groove, the groove being in a shield attached by +screws to the cylinder; on the ratchet-band there is a pall and two +springs, one under the other. One of the springs holds the pall in gear, +the other holds it out of gear. As the piston moves down, the outer +spring comes in contact with a trip which is on the shield and is lifted +up, allowing the under spring to throw the pall into the ratchet, and as +the piston is moved back, turns the nut round, thereby feeding the screw +forward. At the extremity of its backward stroke, the pall comes in +contact with another trip on the shield which lifts it out of gear, the +outer spring having a catch upon it which holds the pall when thus +lifted out. The rotary motion is given by a ratchet on the coupling-nut, +covered by a ratchet-band the arm of which moves in a spiral groove in +the shield similar to the other, only having a spring to hold the pall +in the ratchet; this rotates all the parts on the piston except the +ratchet-bands and cross-head. The latter is held between two check-nuts +on the coupling-nut. To this cross-head is attached a bar which +communicates with a valve which opens the port when the piston moves +back, and shuts it when it moves forward; the air is always on during +its backward stroke. The piston having a greater area on the forward +than on the backward stroke, overcomes the backward pressure and moves +the piston ahead, and when cut off, the continued pressure forces the +piston back. + +This machine is automatic; generally running until some portion of it is +destroyed. No part of the machine has been found strong enough to +withstand the friction upon it for any considerable portion of time. The +union nut has proved its weakest point, and the breaking of this +generally destroys that part of the piston to which it is attached. +Another point of weakness is the feed ratchet-band, the springs of which +are almost continually breaking. + +The machine consists of eighty pieces; twenty-three of which are screws, +fifteen pins, and seven pieces of cast iron. It weighs 240 pounds, runs +about 200 strokes per minute, and costs about $400. Its longest run +without breaking has been five days. The run of one of them two days +without breaking during the time, is considered fortunate. The average +breaking is more than one a day. A table showing the list of breakages +will follow this description. + +The piston-head of this machine has a diameter of 4-5/8 inches. The +diameter of the piston-rod is 4 inches at the large end and 2-1/4 at the +small end. + +So there are 12-87/100 square inches of air area to drive the drill +ahead into the rock, and 4-23/100 to draw it out; but as the air is not +taken off from the front end, the actual pressure is upon an area of the +difference between the two, or 8-64/100 square inches. + +Table showing Number of Drilling-Machines Broken, &c. + + Column Headers + A. No. Machines Broken. + B. Cross Heads + C. Cylinder Flanges. + D. Coupling Nuts. + E. Feed Springs. + F. Feed Palls. + G. Ratchet Covers. + H. Valve Stems. + I. New Packing. + J. Tapper Bars. + K. Screw Spindles. + L. Union Coupling Nuts. + M. Feed Nuts. + N. Shields. + O. Piston Heads. + + ====================================================================== + 1866. [A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I] [J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + July 21, 32 5 2 4 3 2 2 1 10 7 - - - - - + 31, 67 7 2 1 10 4 5 2 18 14 2 3 - - - + Aug. 7, 75 4 1 - 18 15 8 4 39 6 4 - - - - + 14, 76 6 - 5 25 17 11 3 - 10 1 6 1 1 - + 21, 65 7 1 3 28 15 13 7 - 12 - 1 2 - - + 31, 102 1 1 9 64 7 18 2 - 10 2 4 5 1 - + Sept. 7, 65 1 1 - 27 4 24 - - 5 2 1 1 - - + 14, 60 2 5 - 23 2 12 2 - 10 - 3 2 1 1 + 21, 56 1 1 1 28 6 13 - - 3 - 1 2 2 - + 30, 56 3 2 1 31 3 16 2 - 4 - 1 9 1 - + Oct. 7, 54 7 - - 39 2 7 1 - 9 3 - 1 2 - + 14, 53 5 1 2 28 5 10 1 - 9 1 4 6 2 - + 21, 58 3 - - 28 4 13 - - 9 3 - 4 2 - + 31, 77 7 1 2 63 4 11 2 - 12 1 2 6 2 - + Nov. 7, 38 2 - 2 19 3 13 - - 8 2 - 3 4 - + 14, 40 1 1 - 17 2 9 - - 8 3 2 4 - - + 21, 44 - 1 - 32 1 4 - - 7 - 1 1 1 - + 31, 66 - - - 34 2 11 - 13 8 1 1 - 1 - + -------------------------------------------------------------- + 1,084 62 20 30 517 98 200 27 80 151 25 30 47 20 1 + ====================================================================== + +About forty of the Brooks, Burleigh and Gates machines have been used at +the tunnel; of these eight or ten were originally vertical, and intended +for use at the Central Shaft. At the commencement of their use, the +machines were new and had their best wear in them; there were from +twenty to twenty-four at the beginning. In a short time they began to +break down, but by putting on a large repair force and converting the +vertical machines into horizontal ones, a fair supply was kept up for +from two to three months, at the end of which time the greatest machine +progress was attained, viz., fifty-four feet and six inches, in +September. After that the progress diminished very much, and in +proportion to the giving out of the machines. It is the opinion of the +engineer that if a constant supply of machines could have been +furnished, that the progress would have reached a point much beyond that +obtained by hand labor; but with the stoppage of the supply, the number +of machines that could be kept in working order was daily reduced, and +at last it fell down to two or three, and finally, at times, none were +in condition to work. The frames were, however, kept in the tunnel to +await the completion of the Burleigh machine, the reception of which was +retarded till late in October; much beyond the time anticipated by the +commissioners, although the work of their construction was carried on +continuously night and day. They came at intervals of several weeks, two +at a time; the first of which were put into the tunnel on the +thirty-first day of October. Through the month of December, four of +these machines were at work. + + +THE BURLEIGH MACHINE. + +Has a solid piston (so called,) which has a hole in its back end to +allow the feed-screw to pass in without touching; the drill is secured +to this piston. On the back end of the piston is a section of a ball +used as a cam, which works the valve and the feed-motion. The valve is +rotated by a rod lying on the band of the cylinder; upon this rod are +two cams which perforate the band of the cylinder. The action of the +piston brings the ball on its end in contact with these cams, rocking +them up and down; the rod to which they are secured being connected with +the valve, imparts to that its motion. This machine is fed altogether on +ways, or a bed-piece, upon which is the feed-screw; the feed-nut is upon +the end of the cylinder-band. To this feed-nut is attached a +feed-ratchet, which is held between two collars, allowing it to turn +round. Upon the cylinder-band is a lever, one end of which passes +through the band; upon the other end is a pall. The motion of the piston +raises the lever up, pressing the end containing the pall against the +ratchet which turns the nut on the feed-screw, thus moving the machine +forward. The rotating ratchet is in the band of the cylinder and has a +spline in it, and a pall on its outside. The piston having a spiral +groove is turned by this ratchet as it moves down. On the return of the +piston, the pall drops into the ratchet and then the piston is turned. +The piston is not encumbered with any machinery, and moves alone; its +area of air is greater on the forward than on the backward stroke; the +alternation of the valve admits the air. The machine, like the one last +described, contains eighty pieces; it has the same number of screws and +pins, and weighs 372 pounds including the ways or bed-piece; without the +ways its weight is 212 pounds. Its number of strokes is about 300 per +minute, and its blow somewhat lighter than that of the other. This +machine is not entirely automatic; the feed-motion not working regular; +when it does not, it is fed by hand, which is a simple process. + +These machines stand the work much better than those first made at +Fitchburg. Their average time in the tunnel without repairs in the +interval, is about five days; they have needed repairs in two days; one +remained at work fourteen days. They accomplish double the work without +repairs that those do which were made after the previous pattern. There +is a further advantage in using the Burleigh machines; their breaking, +when it occurs, is not very serious, the injured parts consisting mainly +of cams, can generally be replaced at the tunnel; whereas for the +repairs on the Brooks, Burleigh and Gates machine, the dependence to a +very great extent has been upon the machine shop at Fitchburg. + +The piston-head of this machine has a diameter of 4-25/100 inches. The +diameter of the piston-rod is at the large end, 3 inches, at the small +end, 2-75/100 inches. + +So the number of inches of air area, is 8-20/800 when the drill is +propelled upon the rock, and 7-7/100 when returning from it. + +A full complement of men to work the machines first used, would be, +perhaps, thirteen. Mr. Gates, who superintended their operation in the +first instance, began with fourteen, but they were reduced to thirteen. +The Burleigh machine practically requires feeding, and a full set at +work would probably demand fifteen men for their successful operation. + +The value of these machines has not yet been ascertained. The Committee +are of opinion that when a full complement shall have been obtained, so +that the workmen can have at all times a full supply upon the frames, +that greater progress can be obtained by them than by hand drilling; and +after a few months operation, the cost of using them, in comparison with +hand labor, can be fairly tested. But as the Brooks, Burleigh and Gates +machine has been abandoned, no useful results would be obtained by +comparing the expenses within the tunnel during the months of July, +August and September, with three corresponding months when hand +drilling was carried on, and no satisfactory comparison can be made +between the working of the Burleigh machine and hand drilling, until a +sufficient number of machines has been introduced into the tunnel to +keep the men fully employed. It is to be hoped that machines sufficient +to make the test may be soon obtained, and that this desirable +information may be made known. + +The introduction of the first machine into the tunnel, before its +capacity, strength, and expense of working had been fully tested, was +unfortunate, inasmuch as its use there delayed the progress of the work. +The second machine gives such promise of success, that it will be +continued in use in the tunnel until a fair test has been made. But +should the Burleigh machine prove unsuccessful, and further attempts +with machines be attempted, the Committee recommend that their +usefulness be tested outside of the tunnel, and meanwhile the excavation +with hand drills be resumed. + + +EXPERIMENTS WITH DR. EHRHARDT'S POWDER. + +The first blast was fired in the tunnel at the East End on the 20th of +November, but owing to the presence of charcoal or some other substance +in the article, a poisonous gas was evolved which effected the miners +disagreeably, and drove them from the work. The subsequent experiments +at this point were not satisfactory, and were discontinued, and +subsequently resumed at the Central Shaft, where it was used most of the +time for a week, varying its composition from time to time. At the close +of the week, while preparing for the last blast, a premature explosion +took place, resulting in the death of one of the miners, and the injury +of three or four others. + +The material result of this experiment was as follows:--With 261 days' +work and 139-1/2 lbs. of powder, 202 buckets of stone were removed; +while in the preceding week, using common powder (schaghticoke) with +251-3/4 days' labor and 236 lbs. of powder, 168 buckets of stone were +taken out. The cost of the experimental powder is about twice as +expensive as the common powder, and its superior strength is apparent +from the above result. + + +EXPERIMENTS WITH NITRO-GLYCERINE. + +During the summer, some experiments have been made with this explosive +agent. A quantity, costing $934.29, was brought to the works by Colonel +Schaffner, who exhibited the action of the material in various ways, +with a view of testing its power, and the comparative safety of +introducing it instead of powder. After repeated trials outside of the +works, during which about three-fifths of the material was consumed, it +was introduced into the tunnel at the West Shaft with the following +result: It was used for three days at the East heading of the West +Shaft; the advance made in the heading was for the time, 14-1/2 +feet;--being an advance of 4.82 feet per day, and at the rate of 125.33 +feet per month. + + In these three days there were taken out of the enlargement + 151.76 yards of stone. To remove this quantity + with powder would cost, on an average, per yard, $9 84 + Actual cost with glycerine, 6 20 + ----- + Difference, $3 64 + + Multiplied by 151.76, gives. $552 40 + In the same time there was removed of heading + 60.15 yards. + To remove an equal amount by powder + costs, per yard, $16 25 + Actual cost with glycerine, per yard, 6 05 + ------ + Difference, $10 20 + $10.20 multiplied by 60.15, gives 613 53 + -------- + $1,165 93 + Cost of the glycerine used during the three days, + being 2/5 of $934.29, 350 36 + -------- + Saved, by using glycerine, in three days, $815 57 + + Which is a saving by the use of glycerine, per day, + of $276 85.4 + and allowing three hundred successful working + days in the year, an annual saving of $81,557 40 + +The progress made at the West Shaft on the East heading the present +year, ending December 31, 1866, is 626 feet and 8 inches. This progress +was somewhat lessened by the influx of water in December. The monthly +advance has been 52 feet and 2 inches. The average of the eleven months +ending with November is 53 feet and 6 inches. Assuming the progress made +with glycerine during the three days of its use to be obtainable +throughout the year, the monthly progress, using that material, would be +120 feet and 10 inches, on a calculation of twenty-five days to a month, +which would give an annual advance of 1,450 feet. + +Without vouching for results so favorable to the progress of the work, +it is impossible to overlook the importance of the experiment; and the +Committee are of opinion that this material, if it can be procured, +should be introduced into the tunnel and shafts, and a thorough +experiment made, in order to determine whether it can be used with an +advantage even approximating to that shown by the first trial. + +Experience has proved that the rock at the Hoosac Mountain is of a +peculiar character: comparatively easy to drill, but extremely hard to +displace, and that its advantageous excavation requires a strong +explosive agent. The difference in the use of weak and strong powder is +at once observed, and the effect of simultaneous blasting, by the aid of +electricity, is proved by the increased progress of the work since it +has been used. It would seem evident, then, without the aid of +experiment, that an explosive agent, possessing eight times the power of +common powder, would be a valuable auxiliary to this undertaking; and +that if such an one could be obtained, and safely used, no time should +be lost in procuring a supply. + +The use of nitro-glycerine in England is not uncommon; its components +are well known; and the Committee are informed that it might be +advantageously manufactured at any point where it is used. + + +ELECTRICAL FIRING. + +The experiment of simultaneous blasting by electricity has been made +with admitted success. The increased progress in the Central Shaft from +an average of about 18-1/2 to 23 feet per month, demonstrates its +utility, and will undoubtedly insure the continuance of that mode of +firing in preference to the method formerly practised. + + +THE TROY AND GREENFIELD RAILROAD. + +The completion of the railroad from Greenfield to the tunnel has been +contracted for with B. N. Farren, for the sum of $545,000, exclusive of +the cost of depot buildings, turn-tables, and engineering expenses. The +road to be opened for travel to Shelburne Falls by the 15th of November, +1867, and to the tunnel by the 15th of July, 1868. A lease of the same +has been executed to the Fitchburg and the Vermont and Massachusetts +Railroad Companies, at a rent of $30,000 per year, to expire on the +completion of the tunnel, or whenever the work on the same shall be +stopped, by competent authority. + +Mr. Farren commenced work under his contract about the 20th of October. +At this time there were about four miles of track,--exclusive of that +which had to be removed with the trestle-bridges,--built by Mr. Haupt. +Some portions of the track were in fair condition; but the larger part +of it must be relaid. Many of the ties are of hemlock; they are all +decayed and must be removed, and new ones substituted. None of the +bridges were strong enough to be used, and the timber of which they were +constructed is too much decayed to be used for building purposes: There +is on hand in addition to the track laid, chairs, or connecting joints, +sufficient to lay five miles of rails; also about ten thousand chestnut +ties. Such of these as had been properly piled are sound. Many of them, +however, are so much decayed, as to be unfit for use. + +The road-bed has in many places been injured by rain and frost. At +exposed points near the river, it is entirely destroyed. Comparatively +speaking, there was little masonry on the line. With the exception of +one pier, the bridge masonry at Green River will be taken down. All the +deep ravines were crossed by trestle work, and consequently there were +but few culverts. Of these some small ones are still standing in good +condition. Of the bank wall built, about one-half remains,--the +remainder has either fallen down, or will be taken down and rebuilt. + +Very little alteration will be made in the general location of the line +or its gradients. The curvature will be very much modified and improved. +Some sharp and reversed curves will be entirely saved by the +substitution of straight lines. Others, where the expense of reduction +is not very heavy, will be materially changed. The alterations below +Shelburne Falls are substantially as follows:-- + + A straight line substituted for one 2°, one 4° and one 6° curve. + One 2° curve substituted for one 4° curve. + Four 4° " " " four 6° " + One 3° " " " one 6° " + Three 3° " " " three 6° " + Five 5° 30' " " " five 6° " + One 3° 30' " " " two 6° " + One 4° and two 2° curve substituted for three 6° curve, + saving 45° and 60 feet. + One 5° 40' curve substituted for one 7° curve. + One 6° " " " one 7° " + Three 7° " " " three 8° " + One 5° " " " two 5° and one 6° curve. + Two 3° " " " two 6° curve, + saving 30° and 40 feet. + +The same plan for improving the line above the falls will be pursued, so +that when completed, the road combining the alignment with the gradients +will, in the judgment of the engineer, be "superior for doing +economically a heavy traffic, to any railroad in New England which runs +east and west." + +At Green River there will be substituted for Mr. Haupt's bridge of 700 +feet built on a curved line one of 470 feet, to be constructed on a +straight line. The remainder of the ravine to be made a solid +embankment. All the bridges on the line are to be "Howe's Truss," and +equal in strength and durability to any in New England. + +The trestle-work has been removed, and the ravines where it was placed +are being filled with substantial masonry and solid embankments. + +On the first day of November Mr. Farren had about fifty men employed; on +the first day of December, two hundred and seventy-five, and on the +14th of December, when one of the Committee visited the line, he had +over three hundred. + +About one-third of the masonry for Green River bridge has been built, +and the stone is quarried for the other bridges. Nearly one thousand +yards of culvert masonry and three hundred yards of bank wall have been +constructed, and from forty to fifty thousand yards of earth removed. + +The timber for Green River bridge is sawed and will be framed in +January. The material for all the bridges below Shelburne Falls has been +contracted for, to be delivered early in the spring. Twenty thousand +ties have been purchased, together with posts and boards for fences. The +work at the rock-cut near Shelburne Falls will be commenced in the month +of January. + +On the line below Shelburne Falls, there will remain in the road, the +following sharp curves, to wit: In the track as laid and not disturbed, +four of six degrees, and in the remainder of the line, six of six +degrees, three of seven, and two of eight. One of the eight degree +curves, is through a long heavy cut, and cannot be reduced without great +expense. The other is near the Deerfield River crossing, where all +trains will be required to run slow. It cannot be avoided without a +tunnel or a curve over the entire bridge. The three seven degree curves +occur in heavy rock-cuttings, and these are all the sharp curves that +are contained in a space of thirteen miles. + +Above Shelburne Falls the alignment and grades are more favorable. From +the tunnel to the Deerfield River crossing, below Shelburne Falls, a +distance of twenty-two miles, there is but one ascending grade going +east; its location is about two miles west of the falls; it is one-half +mile in length, and is thirty-five feet to the mile. Within the same +space going east, there are the following descending grades, to wit: One +of forty-five feet per mile for 2,000 feet, one of forty feet for 6,000 +feet, one of twenty-eight feet for 2,500 feet, and one, near the village +of Shelburne Falls, of fifty feet per mile for 5,300 feet. The remaining +grades are from five to twenty feet per mile. + +The sharp curves remaining after the proposed improvements will be as +follows, to wit: Near the depot grounds at Shelburne, and running +through the village, there is necessarily one eight degree curve, and +on the seventeen miles between the falls and the tunnel, there occur +thirteen six degree curves. A slight change in laying the track will +increase the radius of these curves to 1,000 feet. This in some cases +can be done. + +The county commissioners have been called out and have made an +adjudication in regard to the public crossings and alterations of +highways between Greenfield and Shelburne Falls. + +The whole work below the falls is under good progress, and is being +prosecuted with great vigor. The laying of the track can be commenced as +early in the spring as the season will admit, and its extension to +Shelburne Falls, may, in the opinion of the engineer, be expected early +in October. + +It appears from the foregoing, that of the work now in progress on the +road and tunnel, their is performed by contract,--the construction of +the railroad from Greenfield to the East End of the tunnel; the +enlargements east and west in the tunnel at the West Shaft; the +excavation of the New Shaft; and the arch masonry and excavation at the +West End; while the work at the East End, at the Central Shaft, the +heading and lifting at the West Shaft, the lifting at the New Shaft, and +the work at the brickyard has been performed by the State. No criterion +has been afforded enabling the Committee to determine upon the +comparative economy of the different modes of operation. + +The commissioners in their able report in 1863, speaking of the manner +of constructing the tunnel, say: "It would not be wise nor according to +any precedent for the State to expect to get the work done at the +contract price if it should turn out to cost more. It would certainly +get no abatement if the price was found to be exorbitant. We are clearly +of the opinion that it should not be constructed by contract, excepting +in so far as parts of the work may be in detail to the men actually at +work upon it, and even such contracts should' not be permanent in their +character." That the commissioners in April last entertained the idea of +inaugurating and continuing the contract system so far as the same +should prove economical for the State, satisfactorily appears in the +following letter: + + BOSTON April 25, 1866. + + Hon. TAPPAN WENTWORTH, _Chairman of Hoosac Tunnel and Troy + and Greenfield Railroad Committee._ + +DEAR SIR:--Hearing that questions have arisen in regard to the propriety +of contracting the work upon the Hoosac Tunnel, it may not be improper +for me to say that that subject (contemplated in the Act of 1863,) has +for a long time engaged the serious attention of the commissioners, who +have already a contract for constructing a portion of the West End, +before the governor and council, awaiting their approval under section 3 +of chapter 214 of the Acts of 1863. + +When the economic value of their new facilities shall be demonstrated, +they expect further to avail of this system 80 far as the interest of +the State (as represented by the rapid, economical and certain progress +of the work,) shall warrant. + +While the high prices now prevailing will probably render the letting of +large jobs at this time injudicious, they are not of short contracts, or +of letting portions of the work to the miners by the piece. + + Very truly yours, J. W. BROOKS, _Chairman_. + +The Committee coincide with the views of the commissioners. And the +justness of their remarks, that the State must not expect to have the +work done at less than its cost, is borne out by the operations under +the contract for the West End enlargement, where the State has increased +the contract from four to seven dollars and fifty cents a perch, in +order to insure the miners a compensation for their labor. + +It may be proper to state in this connection, that the labor done upon +the road and tunnel by early contractors, has not tended to a "rapid, +economical and certain progress of the work," and that if even the whole +work should be put under contract, the interest of the Commonwealth +would require the continuance of a commission, and the services of an +engineer of the highest skill and integrity to superintend its +performance in order to avoid a loss and damage similar to that which +occurred to the State while the work was under the nominal control of +the Troy and Greenfield Railroad corporation. + +The retirement of all the gentlemen who comprised the board of +commissioners, first appointed under the legislation of 1862, affords +the Committee an opportunity to acknowledge the eminent talent and +ability which they respectively possessed for the discharge of the +important duties assigned to them, and to bear testimony to the industry +and intelligence displayed in their elaborate and comprehensive report +upon the subject of the railroad and tunnel in 1863. It was fortunate +for the State in that crisis in the affairs of this enterprise to be +able to command so much practical information upon a question so +interesting and important, and at the same time so difficult of +solution. + +But in addition to the duty of furnishing an opinion of the feasibility +and mode of constructing the tunnel, and of the propriety of opening +this line of railway communication with the West, the commission was +instituted to carry on and superintend a most important and difficult +public work, involving the expenditure of several million dollars. Yet +each of the gentlemen composing the board was engaged in other duties +requiring substantially their whole time and attention. Under these +circumstances their personal observance of the progress of the work +could not be given to a degree satisfactory to the public, or essential +to the interests of the State, and the responsibility of the operations +came to devolve upon the engineer at the works, and the chairman of the +commissioners in Boston. These irksome labors were discharged with +diligent faithfulness, and as the event has proved with a physical +suffering to one of them that has called forth a general expression of +regret and sorrow. + +By chapter 214 of the Acts of 1863, the governor is authorized to draw +his warrant on the treasurer for such sums as may be required, from time +to time, by the commissioners, for the purpose of carrying out the +provisions of law for the completion of the tunnel and railroad. The +commissioners under this enactment have made monthly requisitions upon +the governor, transmitting at the same time vouchers for the expenses of +the preceding month; and upon this information and requisition the +warrants have been drawn. By the 293 chapter of the Acts of 1866, a +general supervision of the work is vested in the governor and council, +with power to "correct abuses, remedy defects, and impose and enforce +requirements in such manner as the interests of the Commonwealth shall, +in their judgment, require." As the commissioners exercise a delegated +power, there would have been a manifest propriety in requiring of them, +from time to time, a report upon the progress of the work, and of their +own doings even under the Act 1863, so that the governor might have been +more fully provided with information touching the necessity of the +requisitions. But under the Act of 1866, it appears essential that the +commissioners should report monthly to the governor and council the +general plan of operations pursued, the progress of the work, and the +manner and extent of their own superintendence of the same. + +The Committee are therefore of opinion that the commission should be +reorganized in such manner that the State could command the whole time +of its members: that a greater degree of personal attention should be +given by them to the work than it has heretofore received: that the +commissioners should keep minutes of their doings which shall be open to +the inspection of the governor and council, and the appropriate +legislative committee: that their monthly communications to the governor +and council should embrace, in addition to the past, and the requisition +for the current month, a report of the operations, the progress of the +work during the previous, month, and the manner and extent of their own +superintendence of the same. + +The Committee are also of opinion that a due regard to economy in +conducting the enterprise requires that the commissioners should at +once, by experiment, ascertain the probable time required to excavate +the enlargement of the tunnel, and that the work upon the enlargement be +regulated and pursued with a view of avoiding any unnecessary delay in +operating the road after the heading is removed. + + * * * * * + +In concluding this Report, the Committee cannot forbear to express their +obligations to Mr. Doane, the engineer in charge of the work, for the +assistance rendered by him in aid of their labors, nor withhold their +approbation of the faithful and able manner in which he has discharged +the duties of his office, so far as they have come under their +observation. The Committee are indebted to Mr. Hill, the superintendent +of labor, for his uniform attention during their examinations, and they +fully recognize his capacity for his position, and his interest in the +operations. They are likewise indebted to Mr. Hall, the intelligent +master of the machine shop, for very valuable information concerning his +particular department. And also to Mr. Field, the able and efficient +engineer of the railroad, for a very satisfactory report upon that +portion of the work under his direction. + + TAPPAN WENTWORTH, + + ----- -------,[C] + WILLIAM L. REED, + _Of the Senate._ + + MOSES KIMBALL, + GEORGE B. LORING, + SYLVANDER JOHNSON, + B. F. TAFT, + E. H. CHISHOLM, + SILAS JONES, + JAMES R. GLADWIN, + _Of the House._ + +[C] Hon. ALVAH CROCKER has not acted on the Committee since his +appointment upon the commission. + + + + + +APPENDIX. + + + + + +[A.] + + _Sketch of the Proceedings of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad + Corporation, from its organization to the surrender of the Road + under the mortgage, and the adoption of the work by the + Commonwealth._ + +The charter of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad, was granted in 1848, +and authorized the construction of a railroad with one or more tracks, +from a point on the Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad, at or near +Greenfield, to some point on the line of New York or Vermont, convenient +to meet or connect with any railroad that may be constructed from any +point at or near the city of Troy, on the Hudson River in the State of +New York. Its capital stock was limited at $3,500,000. + +The corporation was authorized to contract with the owners of any +contiguous railroad leading into or from either of the States of Vermont +or New York, for the use of the whole or any part thereof, or for the +running and operating the two railroads conjointly, or for the leasing +of such contiguous road, or for any other road, or for the letting or +hiring of their own road to the owners of such contiguous road, or of +any other road which composes a part of the railroad line between the +cities of Boston and Troy, of which the Troy and Greenfield Railroad +shall be a part. + +The first meeting under the charter was held June I, 1848, at which +subscription papers were voted to be issued and circulated, in order to +organize the corporation. In 1849, March 16, the subscribers to the +stock held their first meeting, and organized under the charter. + +At the annual meeting, February 6, 1850, the stock was apportioned among +the neighboring towns as follows:- + + Ashfield, 60 shares. + Charlemont, 400 " + Colrain, 150 " + Conway, 50 " + Greenfield, 700 " + Hawley, 120 " + Heath, 120 " + Leyden, 30 " + Monroe, 50 " + Rowe, 100 " + Shelburne, 400 " + Buckland, 150 " + Florida, 120 " + Adams, 1,000 " + Williamstown, 800 " + Clarksburg, 40 " + Hancock, 50 " + Deerfield, 150 " + Bernardston, 40 " + Gill, 80 " + Whitingham, 00 " + Reedsborough, 00 " + Stansford, 00 " + 0,000 shares. + +It was also voted to apportion the directors among the towns in the +following manner, to wit:-- + +North Adams, 3; Florida, Rowe, Heath and Monroe, 1; Colrain, Buckland +and Hawley, 1; Shelburne, 1; Greenfield, Deerfield and Conway, 3; +Williamstown and Whitingham, 2; Charlemont, 1; and one director at +large. + +Before the annual meeting in 1850, the directors had voted to assess +three per cent. upon each share of the capital stock. This vote was +passed April 11, 1849, and on the first day of October in the same year, +they voted that the construction of the road from the State line at +Pownal, Vermont, to Adams, and from Greenfield to Shelburne Falls, be +put under contract as soon as sufficient subscription shall have been +obtained therefore, and that the two ends aforesaid shall be constructed +simultaneously. + +1850, January 28, the treasurer had received the sum of $2,203.94, and +had paid out on bills approved by the president, $2,203.57, leaving a +balance in the treasury of $0.37. + +Sundry assessments amounting in all to 75 per cent. upon the +subscriptions, were afterwards voted, the last on the 6th of May, 1852. +These assessments were rescinded by a vote passed July 23, 1858, and it +also voted that the several amounts heretofore paid by individual +stockholders, except on assessment laid April 11, 1849, be credited to +their several accounts on assessments now or hereafter to be made. + +1850, October 28, the contract with Messrs. Gilman and Carpenter, was +ratified, and on the 29th, the president was authorized to execute it. + +The Committee have not found this contract nor any record stating its +provisions. + +December 27, 1850, a committee reported that the whole amount of stock +subscribed, was $250,800, of which $7,200 was payable in land damages +and materials for the road; and that Messrs. Gilmore and Carpenter had +subscribed for 500 shares of stock, to wit, $50,000. + +On the 7th day of January, 1851, the directors voted to break ground the +next day, and on the 27th of May in the same year, they voted to expend +a sum not exceeding $25,000, in experiments upon the east side of the +mountain, at or near the mouth of the proposed tunnel. + +In 1851, the corporation petitioned the legislature for a loan of the +State credit for two million dollars; but the application was +unsuccessful. + +The failure to secure the aid of the Commonwealth, appears not to have +discouraged the corporation, for on the 7th of August, 1851, the +directors voted that they would proceed forthwith from Adams to the New +York line, and simultaneously incur all the necessary expenses to make +thorough experiments with such machines as promise to facilitate the +construction of the tunnel, and when the road is begun from Greenfield, +it shall be after an arrangement is made to construct it to the foot of +the mountain in Florida and connect in some way with the road at North +Adams. + +The Troy and Greenfield Railroad Corporation having directed its +attention to a connection with the Troy and Boston Railroad Company +through a portion of the State of Vermont, and a charter having been +obtained from the legislature of Vermont, incorporating the Southern +Vermont Railroad Company, whereby such connection could be made, a +committee of the directors of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company +and of the Southern Vermont Railroad Company made an agreement, subject +to the modification or ratification of the stockholders of each company, +"that the stock of both of said companies and their franchises from said +Greenfield to the west line of Pownal, in the State of Vermont, shall +become and be one joint, consolidated stock and interest, with equal and +common rights and privileges to the stockholders of both companies;" it +being understood that an application shall be made to the legislature of +Vermont for a change of the name and style of the joint corporation +mentioned in the said Act of the Vermont legislature. This report was +made to the board of directors, and it was voted that the same "be +accepted and adopted, recorded and placed on file." Subsequently the +Southern Vermont Railroad was leased to the Troy and Greenfield +Corporation on a perpetual lease for $12,000 per year; and the 21st of +April, 1860, it was purchased by the Troy and Greenfield Corporation for +the sum of two hundred thousand dollars, with money advanced to the last +named corporation by the Commonwealth. In the report of the +commissioners on the Troy and Greenfield Railroad and Hoosac Tunnel, the +Southern Vermont Railroad is estimated to have cost from $110,000 to to +$125,000 only. + +In 1858, another application was made to the legislature for a loan, but +with the same result as in 1851. In both instances, committees reported +in favor of the application. + +In 1854, the application was renewed, and was successful. The Act was +passed on the fifth day of April, 1854. By the first section, the +treasurer was authorized to issue scrip, as certificates of debt, for +the sum of two million dollars, to be expressed in the currency of Great +Britain or in federal currency, as the directors of the Troy and +Greenfield Railroad should elect, to bear an interest of five per cent., +payable semi-annually, and redeemable in thirty years, for the purpose +of enabling the Troy and Greenfield Company to construct a tunnel and +railroad under and through the Hoosac Mountain, in some place between +the "Great Bend" in Deerfield River, in the town of Florida, at the base +of Hoosac Mountain, on the east, and the base of the western side of the +mountain, near the east end of the village of North Adams, on the west. +The scrip was to be delivered to the treasurer of said Troy and +Greenfield Railroad Company in the manner and upon the conditions +following:--$100,000, when it should appear to the satisfaction of the +governor and council that said company had obtained subscriptions to +their capital stock in the sum of $600,000, and twenty per cent. upon +each and every share of said six: hundred thousand dollars should have +actually been paid in, and seven miles of their railroad and one +thousand lineal feet of their said tunnel under the Hoosac, in one or +more sections, of size sufficient for one or more railroad tracks, +should have been completed. + +$100,000, when ten miles of their said railroad, in one or two sections, +and ten thousand lineal feet of their said tunnel, in one or more +sections, should be completed. + +$100,000, when fifteen miles of their said railroad, in one or two +sections, and three thousand lineal feet of their said tunnel, in one or +more sections, should be completed. + +$100,000, when twenty miles of their said railroad, in one or two +sections, and four thousand lineal feet of their said tunnel, in one or +more sections should be completed. + +$100,000, when twenty-five miles of their said railroad, in one or two +sections, and five thousand lineal feet of their said tunnel, in one or +more sections, should be completed. + +$100,000, when thirty miles of their railroad, in one or two sections, +and six thousand lineal feet of their tunnel, should be completed. + +$100,000, when thirty-two miles of their railroad, in one or two +sections, including all the line east of Florida, and seven thousand +lineal feet of their tunnel, in one or more sections, should be +completed; and for each additional portion or portions of said tunnel of +fifteen hundred feet, in one or more sections, completed by said +company, $100,000, subject to the condition that the last $200,000 +should be reserved until said company, or their successors, should open +their railroad for use from Greenfield to the line of the State in +Williamstown; and subject also to the condition, that, prior to the +second delivery of scrip, thirty per cent. of the same shall have been +paid in cash to the treasurer of the company by the stockholders +thereof, in addition to the $120,000 to be paid prior to the delivery of +any scrip; and that upon each application for scrip, in pursuance of the +law, and prior to the delivery thereof, thirty per cent. of the scrip +then applied for shall have been paid by the stockholders to the +treasurer of the company until the $600,000 subscribed for has been paid +by the stockholders. + +The Act further provided, that the treasurer of the company, within +three months from the receipt of any scrip, should pay to the +commissioners of the sinking fund created by the Act, ten per cent. on +the amount of scrip so taken as a sinking fund; and after the road +should be opened for use, twenty-five thousand dollars should be +annually paid to said commissioners for the same purpose. + +The Act further provided, that the said company should execute an +assignment, as a pledge or mortgage on the railroad, with its franchise +property and income, conditioned to pay the principal sum of said scrip, +or so much thereof as the sinking fund should be insufficient to pay, +and the interest, as the same became due; and that said company should +assign all the interest it then had, or might afterwards obtain, in the +Southern Vermont Railroad Company. + +In 1855, the legislature authorized certain towns on the line,--to wit: +Ashfield, Buckland, Conway, Colrain, Charlemont, Deerfield, Greenfield, +Hawley, Heath, Rowe, Shelburne, Adams, Florida, and Williamstown,--to +subscribe three per cent. on their valuation, respectively, to the +capital stock. This Act was not fully complied with on the part of the +towns, and $125,000 only is reported to have been realized from that +source. + +In 1855 a contract with E. W. Serrell to construct the work was reported +to and accepted by the directors. This contract does not appear among +the papers of the corporation, and its terms cannot be stated. + +At the same time the capital stock of the corporation was by a vote +increased to $1,500,000, and a location designated as the east line on +the railroad near Cheapside was adopted. This singular resolution was +also passed:-- + +_Resolved_, That the direction of the engineering operations within the +Hoosac Tunnel after the location of the line is adopted, and plans +perfected for the same, be left with the contractor, excepting the +measurements for monthly and final estimates and the final acceptance of +the work. + +1855, July 18. Mr. Serrell having proposed to subscribe the sum of +$600,000 (less the amount of the new subscription made by others,) +provided the company would make such allowances as would enable him to +dispose of the proposed issue of $900,000 of bonds advantageously, the +directors voted to add $300,000 to the contract prices of the work, and +that said $900,000 bonds as provided by the contract should be issued as +soon as authorized by the stockholders, and placed in bank by the +trustees to the credit of such persons as shall deposit against the same +cash or railroad iron equal in value to sixty-five cents on the dollar. +The said bonds to be taken by said Serrell at par and so estimated in +his contract. + +At this time sixteen hundred and thirty-five shares of new stock had +been subscribed, amounting to $163,500. + +The trustees alluded to in the foregoing vote were selected by a +committee appointed for the purpose, and with power to execute to them a +mortgage. They were J. V. C. Smith, Paul Adams and John G. Davis, all of +Boston. The mortgage was executed, and is known in the history of the +road as the "Smith mortgage." A resolution explanatory of this +transaction was passed August 16, 1855, in the following words:-- + +"_Resolved_, That, whereas by the terms of the provisions of the +resolution of July 18, 1855, by which it is provided that the bonds of +the company to be issued, are to be placed in bank, &c.; therefore, as +explanatory thereto, be it + +_Resolved_, That it is not intended thereby to prevent the operation of +the contract, but that the said bonds are to be delivered to Serrell & +Co., on the warrant of the engineer, countersigned by the president and +treasurer, whenever the engineer shall draw therefore on monthly or +final estimates." + +1856, February 7. The president reported to the directors that a +contract had been redrafted and concluded with Messrs. Serrell, Haupt & +Co., which was read, accepted and ratified, and the committee +discharged. This contract was probably dated January 31, 1856, but the +Committee have not been able to find it among the papers of the +corporation. + +1856, May 22. The directors voted, that in case Messrs. Serrell, Haupt & +Co., would enter into an agreement to carry on the work of the Troy and +Greenfield Railroad Company, in compliance with the terms and conditions +of the loan Act, until 2,000 feet of the tunnel should be completed, the +corporation would substitute bonds instead of stock in all payments to +be made on account of work to be done to that time. + +The treasurer was authorized to give the acceptance or notes of the +company, to an extent equal to the whole indebtedness of the company to +said contractors, upon which to raise money to carry on the work. + +That the company would pay or allow to said contractors all discounts or +losses to which they might be required to submit, provided such +discounts or losses did not exceed the rate of 15 per cent. per annum. + +That the trustees of the mortgage bonds should deliver to Mr. Herman +Haupt one hundred thousand dollars in the bonds of the company in +addition to payments due for work, said bonds to be sold or hypothecated +by him, and the proceeds applied to the work. The bonds to be charged on +account of the contract if not returned when the second payment from the +State shall have been made. + +1856, July 28. H. Haupt and W. A. Galbraith notified a dissolution of +the firm of Serrell, Haupt & Co., and proposed to enter into a new +contract. + +E. W. Serrell notified that Messrs. Haupt and Galbraith were authorized +to surrender the old contract. + +The stock subscription of Edward W. Serrell and E. W. Serrell & Co., was +transferred to H. Haupt & Co., the latter to furnish a guarantee that +the assessments due and to become due should be paid. + +E. W. Serrell resigned his office as a director in the company, and was +appointed consulting engineer. W. A. Galbraith was chosen a director. + +1865, July 30. A contract was made with Herman Haupt, William A. +Galbraith, C. B. Duncan and Henry Cartwright for the construction of the +road and tunnel. The firm name of the contractors was H. Haupt & Co. By +the provisions of the contract all work done under previous contracts +with E. W. Serrell or Serrell, Haupt & Co., was to be credited to H. +Haupt & Co., and all payments under said contracts were to be charged to +H. Haupt & Co., and credited to the Troy and Greenfield Railroad. "The +road from the eastern terminus at or near Greenfield from some +convenient point on the Vermont and Massachusetts line, as the same now +is or hereafter be located," is assumed to be in all about forty-two +miles in length. + +"This contract includes the graduation, tunneling, masonry and bridging, +superstructure, fencing, depot buildings, switches, turn-tables, water +and fixtures, and in fine all labor and materials necessary for the +construction of the road are included in this contract." The right of +way to be provided and paid for by the railroad company. The work to be +completed and finished in the best manner, for which the Troy and +Greenfield Railroad Company agreed to pay H. Haupt & Co., "the sum of +three millions eight hundred and eighty-three thousand dollars in manner +following, to wit: Two millions of dollars in the bonds of the State of +Massachusetts, to be issued under the Act by which the credit of the +said State is loaned to said corporation, nine hundred thousand dollars +in the six per cent. mortgage bonds of said company, five hundred and +ninety-eight thousand dollars in the capital stock of said Troy and +Greenfield Railroad Company, and three hundred and eighty-two thousand +dollars in cash." The work of constructing and completing the road was +to be done in compliance with the loan Act of April, 1854. One hundred +and fifty thousand dollars to be expended by the contractors in depot +buildings and necessary rolling stock, cars, engines, &c. under the +direction of the board of directors. The stock subscription of E. W. +Serrell and of Serrell & Co., amounting to five thousand nine hundred +and eighty-seven shares, was to be transferred and assumed by Haupt & +Co., payable in compliance with said Loan Act with the understanding +that the assessments on the stock were to be paid by the performance of +this contract in stock credits as provided in the contract, and the +stock taken by the contractors at par. + +This contract further provided, that on the receipt of the several +installments of State bonds, the contractors should pay to the sinking +fund the ten per cent. specified in the Loan Act, in consideration of +which Haupt & Co. should retain whatever sums was realized from the +exchange and premium on the bonds. The payments were to be made monthly, +on estimate of the company's engineer. The cost of the materials and +work upon the line, exclusive of the Hoosac Tunnel and its approaches, +was assumed to be one million eight hundred and eighty thousand dollars, +and the estimates were to be made in the relative proportion that the +part done bore "to the whole amount of materials and work to be +furnished, and done at the price named." The Hoosac Tunnel and its +approaches were estimated at two million dollars for a double track, and +the monthly estimates were to be in proportion to the amount of work +done on the approaches, and the length of tunnel excavated. + +The contract further provided, that, with the assent of both parties, +the tunnel might be constructed for a single track, in which case no +abatement was to be made for the first three thousand feet; but for the +excavation beyond that point, the sum of twelve dollars per lineal foot +was to be deducted from the contract price. + +The above are the essential provisions of the contract under which H. +Haupt & Co. performed their work upon the road and tunnel until February +18, 1858, except as the same was modified and changed by votes of the +directors. The contract was reported to the board of directors, and +approved by them August 6, 1856. On the same day the directors voted to +request the trustees to recognize H. Haupt & Co. as contractors, instead +of E. W. Serrell, and to issue the bonds to said H. Haupt & Co. on the +estimate of the engineer and the order of the trustees. + +They also voted to change the location of the road at the West End, in +accordance with plans marked A and B. + +Under date of July 10, 1857, there appears upon the records the +following:-- + +A preamble, "stating that the efforts to raise money for building the +road had proved unsuccessful; that no payments had been made the +contractors for more than a year, * * * *; that the work could only be +carried on by the continued efforts * * * * and personal credit of the +contractors. + +"Therefore voted, that the whole of the State bonds that may be issued +in aid of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company shall be exclusively +appropriated to work done, or to be done, upon the tunnel, in compliance +with the terms and conditions of the Act authorizing the loan of credit, +and with such other conditions and modifications as the legislature may, +from time to time, make and establish; but said H. Haupt & Co. shall not +be held subject to any other conditions whatever, so far as respects the +work done upon the tunnel; and any State scrip that may at any time be +delivered to the treasurer of the company, shall be promptly handed to +the contractors; the contractors, on their part, to comply with the +conditions of the present Act, and with such other conditions or +modifications as may be introduced, and to have the benefit of any +extension of time or increase of compensation by the State. + +Second. Any new or additional subscription that may be obtained, shall +be applied to payment of the present contractors for work done, or to be +done, by them, and to no other object; and any subscriptions that may be +collected west of the Hoosac Mountain, shall be applied exclusively to +the completion of that portion of the road. + +Third. The present subscription east of the Hoosac Mountain may be +collected and applied to the payment of other liabilities of the +corporation, and the treasurer is requested to prepare, without delay, a +full and complete list of all such liabilities. + +Fourth. Any commissions for procuring or collecting subscriptions shall +be paid by H. Haupt & Co., in consideration of which, and also of the +premises, the payment of graduation, masonry, bridging, and +superstructure on the road, exclusive of the tunnel, shall be two +million dollars, with the addition of such sums as may be required for +the right of way, if this item shall be paid by the contractors. Of this +amount, nine hundred thousand dollars shall be in mortgage bonds of the +company, and the balance in cash, to as great an extent as can be +procured, the remainder in stock at par; and the directors of the Troy +and Greenfield Railroad Company shall use their best endeavors to +increase the cash subscriptions as much as possible. + +If new parties be introduced, or desired by H. Haupt & Co., the contract +may be redrafted, and these conditions and changes incorporated; the +committee for this purpose shall consist of the president and Alvah +Crocker, with power to execute it finally, if not inconsistent with the +present contract, or with the changes hereby authorized. It is further +agreed and understood, that nothing herein contained shall be so +constrained as to invalidate the existing contract with said Haupt & +Co., or vary its conditions, except so far as herein expressed or +necessarily implied." + +On the 18th of February, 1858, another agreement was made by Herman +Haupt and Henry Cartwright with the Troy and Greenfield Railroad +Company, and such others as might be associated with them; and who upon +signing the contract were to be considered as parties to the same; as it +bears the signatures of D. N. Carpenter, President for the Troy and +Greenfield Railroad Company, and H. Haupt & Co., by H. Haupt, and no +others, it may be presumed that Messrs. Haupt and Cartwright are the +only persons comprising the party of the first part. + +This contract recites that every attempt to procure new or to collect +old subscriptions to the capital stock of the company, since the +execution of the former contract with H. Haupt & Co., have proved +unsuccessful; that the contractors had prosecuted the work for more than +two years without any payment having been made to them as required by +existing contract; that there appeared no possibility of procuring means +for the further prosecution of the work, except by the continued +efforts, increased expenditures, and personal credit of the contractors +themselves; and that H. Haupt & Co. propose to release the Troy and +Greenfield Railroad Company from the cash payments required by the +contract, and to assume themselves the labor of procuring and collecting +subscriptions, and of carrying on and completing the Troy and Greenfield +Railroad and Hoosac Tunnel in such manner as will comply with all the +conditions of the Loan Act. The parties therefore agreed. + +That H. Haupt & Co. should comply with all the conditions of the Act, +approved April 5th, 1854, whereby a loan of credit was given by the +State of Massachusetts in aid of the construction of the Hoosac Tunnel, +and should have the benefit of any changes that may hereafter be +obtained, or extensions of time that may be granted; but they shall be +subject to no other conditions or restrictions other than those +expressed in this contract. + +That the road shall be so constructed that its gradients should not +exceed those in each direction which exist or may hereafter exist +permanently on other portions of the line between Troy and Boston; that +sharper curves than were in ordinary use in other parts of the line were +to be changed at the expense of the contractors, and trestle work or +temporary bridging was to be replaced by permanent structures at the +expense of the contractors as soon as practicable after the completion +and opening of the whole line. + +That H. Haupt & Co. should have the benefit of all existing +subscriptions, and of all they might procure; also of any revenue that +might arise from the use of the road, or any portion of it when +completed, until their claims on the company were discharged and paid; +and to secure this end, the payment of all other debts of the +corporation was to be deferred until that of the contractors was +satisfied. The real estate of the corporation not required for the +purposes and use of the road, was to be sold or applied to meet present +liabilities of the company; and Haupt & Co. were to maintain the +organization of the corporation and pay its necessary printing expenses, +by paying to the treasurer annually a sum not less than five hundred +dollars. + +The State bonds were to be appropriated exclusively to the construction +of the tunnel. The State scrip delivered to the treasurer of the company +was to be promptly handed to the contractors. + +The compensation to be allowed to H. Haupt & Co. was to be as provided +in the resolutions of the directors, passed July 10, 1857. + +The payment for graduation, bridging, masonry, and superstructure on the +road, exclusive of the tunnel, was fixed at two million dollars, +exclusive of any payments that might be made for the right of way. Of +this amount, nine hundred thousand dollars was to be paid in mortgage +bonds of the company; the balance in cash, to as great an extent as cash +subscriptions could be secured; the remainder in stock at par. + +The bonds and stock of the company to be issued to H. Haupt & Co. when +required, to an amount equal to the work done, estimating it by the +proportion it bore to the whole amount performed and to be performed. + +H. Haupt & Co. were authorized to collect subscriptions to the capital +stock of the company, and their receipt for money was to be accepted by +the company as evidence of payment. By the execution of this agreement +all former contracts between the same parties were agreed to be annulled +and cancelled. + +H. Haupt & Co. was recognized as the firm name under which the parties +of the first part were associated, and then to be conducted. Copies of +this and the preceding contract will be found printed verbatim in a +report of a committee of the House of Representatives in 1860, of which +Mr. Kimball, of Boston, was chairman. It was reprinted in 1861, and is +House document No. 406, of last year; and it may be profitably consulted +for other valuable information touching the doings of the Troy and +Greenfield Corporation and the contractors therewith. + +1858, May 25, the directors assented that the iron delivered by the +Rensselaer Iron Company for the road should remain the property of the +iron company until the same was paid for, in accordance with an +agreement of H. Haupt & Co. with the iron company. + +From a report of a committee of the directors made to the board July 23, +1858, it appears that at the date of the report, seven thousand four +hundred and fifteen, shares were subscribed for unconditionally by +parties who appeared to have been solvent at the time of subscribing. + +That three thousand four hundred and fifty shares had been subscribed +for conditionally, or, by parties who were not solvent, or whose +subscriptions could not be collected. + +That of the conditional subscriptions, the greater part had been or +would be complied with; of these nine hundred and thirty-nine were +subscribed by the towns not included in the published lists. + +Upon two thousand four hundred and thirty shares of the unconditional +subscriptions, including those of Gilmore and Carpenter, twenty per +cent. only had been paid. + +That upon six thousand five hundred and nine shares, subscribed for +unconditionally, twenty per cent. or more had been paid in cash. + +At this date it appears that the whole number of shares subscribed for +conditionally and unconditionally, was ten thousand eight hundred and +sixty-five. + +At this meeting of the board the clerk was directed to place upon the +record the names of all the stockholders, with the number of shares held +by each, on which twenty per cent. or more had been paid. The record +shows the number of shares to be six thousand six hundred and +forty-eight, and the amount paid on the same two hundred and sixty-seven +thousand five hundred and sixty-nine dollars. Against the name of H. +Haupt & Co. was set the number of five thousand shares. At this meeting +the directors also voted to fix the capital stock at one million five +hundred thousand dollars. + +1858, September 3. The last vote was reconsidered, and it was voted that +the capital stock be fixed at [Note: amount missing] as represented by +the list of stock reported at the previous meeting. + +The directors also voted as they had previously done, to rescind all the +assessments heretofore voted, except the assessment of three per cent. +laid April 11, 1849, and then voted an assessment of ten per cent. upon +each and every share in the capital stock of the company, payable in +thirty days. Between this date and September 14, 1859, nine other +assessments were voted, the whole amounting to eighty-eight per cent. of +the par value of the stock. + +By another entry upon the records, under date of November 3, 1858, it +appears that Williamstown and Adams subscribed to the capital stock of +the Troy and Greenfield Railroad, ninety-three thousand dollars, upon +condition that the payment should be made in town scrip, maturing in +thirty years, and to be issued whim the road was completed between Adams +and Troy; half the interest on the scrip to be paid by the Troy and +Boston Railroad Company. Mortgage bonds of the Troy and Greenfield +Railroad Company, in amount equal to said subscription, were to be +deposited in the Adams Bank as security against loss of stock from such +a contingency as a sale of the road by the _bona fide_ holders. + +Immediately following this entry upon the records are recorded these +votes:-- + +_Voted_, To accept the subscription on the condition stated, that the +contract with the Troy and Boston Railroad Company be altered to allow +said company to pay the interest on the scrip directly to the treasurers +of the towns; that bonds to the amount of ninety-three thousand dollars +be prepared ready for delivery, and that Mr. Haupt and the treasurer be +a committee to carry this vote into effect, as also any change of +contract with the Troy and Boston Railroad Company. + +_Voted_, That the trustees of the mortgage bonds of this corporation be, +and hereby are, requested to deliver to Mr. H. Haupt and the treasurer, +ninety-three bonds of one thousand dollars each, to be deposited by them +in the Adams Bank, in compliance with the conditions and requirements of +the votes of towns of Adams and Williamstown, &c., &c.; sixty bonds to +be appropriated as security for Adams, and thirty-three for +Williamstown. + +Under date of May 20, 1859, appears the following record:-- + +Whereas, satisfactory evidence has been afforded to the board of +directors of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company that H. Haupt has, +by an instrument of writing, duly executed, formally relinquished, for +himself, his heirs, executors and administrators, all pecuniary interest +in any profits that may be realized in the construction of the Troy and +Greenfield Railroad and Hoosac Tunnel, and that the use of his name in +connection with the firm is merely nominal, to avoid the inconvenience +and embarrassment resulting from a change of title: + +_Voted_, That in the opinion of this board, no impediment exists to +prevent the said H. Haupt from performing the duties of chief engineer +of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company, and that he be, and hereby +is, appointed to said office. + +1859, December 26. _Voted_, That the treasurer be, and hereby is, +directed to hand over to H. Haupt & Co., as soon as received by him, the +bonds of the Commonwealth, hereafter to be issued in aid of the road or +tunnel, taking their receipt therefore. + +In 1859, application was made to the legislature to reduce the size of +the tunnel in order to facilitate its completion, and by chapter 117, of +the Acts of that year, it was provided that the tunnel might be +constructed of the height of eighteen feet, and fourteen feet wide, and +the payments were changed so as to depend upon the construction of the +railroad, the excavation of the tunnel, and also of the heading, which +was to be driven of the width of fourteen feet at the bottom, and the +height of six feet in the middle, with a proviso that no more than +seventeen hundred thousand dollars (in addition to the six hundred +thousand dollars of scrip,) of stock subscriptions, and the anticipated +scrip from the towns before, mentioned, all of which was to be +considered as unconditional subscriptions, should be paid until the +whole of the tunnel through the Hoosac Mountain shall have been +completed, and the payments by the State were not to commence until +twenty per cent. of the stock subscription should "have been actually +paid in." The provisions of this Act, in regard to advances by the State +for progress actually made in excavating the tunnel and constructing the +road, were substituted for those of the Act of 1854, the second section +of which was repealed. By chapter 184 of the Acts of 1860, the city of +Boston was authorized, with the consent of the legal voters, to +subscribe five hundred thousand dollars to the capital stock of the Troy +and Greenfield Railroad; but the consent was not given. + +The legislation of 1859 did not meet the exigencies of the corporation, +and application for assistance was again made. To relieve still further +the difficulties of the company, the Act of 1860, chapter 202, was +passed, in which it was provided that the undelivered portion of the +loan of two million of dollars, authorized by chapter 226 of the Acts of +1854, amounting to one million seven hundred and seventy thousand +dollars, should be apportioned between the railroad and tunnel, and for +the construction of each respectively, and six hundred and fifty +thousand dollars was set apart for the completion of the unfinished +portion of the railroad, extending from its eastern terminus, near +Greenfield, to within half a mile of the eastern end of the Hoosac +Tunnel, and one million one hundred and twenty thousand dollars to the +completion of the tunnel. The Act provided for the execution to the +Commonwealth of such further bond and mortgage as the attorney-general +should prescribe, and that such bond and mortgage, as well as all bonds, +mortgages or other assurances heretofore made to the Commonwealth by +said company, should have priority and be preferred before any and all +attachments or levies on execution heretofore or hereafter made. The Act +further provided that payments hereafter to be made for work done upon +the road and tunnel, should be so made upon estimates of a State +engineer, whose appointment and duties were prescribed in the Act. Such +estimates were to be based upon a "width of road-bed, at grade, of +fifteen feet on embankments, seventeen and a half feet in side cots, and +twenty feet in through cuts; in the heading of the tunnel, upon +dimensions fourteen feet wide and six feet high in the middle, and in +the finished excavation of the tunnel, of fourteen feet wide and +eighteen feet high in the middle." And the deliveries of scrip were to +be at the rate of fifty dollars for each lineal foot of tunnel, divided +between heading and full-sized tunnel, in the proportion of thirty +dollars for each lineal foot of heading, and twenty dollars per lineal +foot for the remaining excavation, and of six hundred and fifty thousand +dollars for the whole of the graduation, masonry, bridging and +superstructure of the road east of the tunnel. The weight of the rails +was fixed at not less than fifty-six pounds to the lineal yard; the +capital stock of the corporation at two millions and a half dollars, +including all shares before issued. + +By the eighth section of the Act the corporation was authorized to +purchase the entire road franchise, stock, bonds, and other property or +the Southern Vermont Railroad Company, together with its lease to the +Troy and Boston Railroad Company, and subject to its provisions, for the +sum of two hundred thousand dollars. This Act repealed all prior +legislation inconsistent with its provisions, with a saving of the +security which the Commonwealth had, by virtue of its mortgage on the +franchise, railroad and property of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad +Company, and was approved April 4, 1860. + +1860, July 3. A committee was appointed to execute the mortgage to the +Commonwealth required by chapter 202, of the Acts of 1860. + +1861, July 30. The directors voted that Mr. Haupt be a committee to +appear before the council in reference to the withholding the scrip now +due the road; and January 16, 1862, it was voted that Mr. Haupt be +authorized to act as the agent and representative of the company in any +relation that the company may be brought before the present legislature +or any committee thereof. + +Previous to the vote of July, 1861, suspicion was excited that Messrs. +H. Haupt & Co. were not performing their work in a manner conformable to +the requirements of the statute, and it was deemed imprudent to make any +further advance of scrip under the Act of 1859, until the work was +examined and the condition of the corporation better understood. An +inquiry was instituted, a new State engineer appointed, and an +investigation of the proceedings of the contractors and corporation was +had. The facts disclosed in the examination induced the governor and +council to withhold the issue of any more scrip, under the last +mentioned law, and the legislature by chapter 156 of the Acts of 1862, +passed April 28, assumed the duty of completing the road and tunnel. + +The first section of the Act is as follows:-- + +"The governor, with the advice of the council, is hereby authorized and +directed to appoint three able, impartial and skilful commissioners, to +investigate the subject of finishing the Troy and Greenfield Railroad, +and of tunneling the Hoosac Mountain, whose duty it shall be to report +to the governor and council, what in their judgment, will be the most +economical, practical and advantageous method of completing said road +and tunnel; the estimated cost of fitting the same for use; the time +within which the tunnel can be completed, and what contracts can be +effected and with what parties for completing said tunnel and road and +the probable cost of the same; the probable pecuniary value of the road +and tunnel when completed; the sources and amount of traffic and income, +and all other facts, in their opinion, useful to assist the governor and +council in determining the best method of securing a continuous railroad +communication between Troy and Greenfield." + +By the second section the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company was +authorized to surrender to the State the property mortgaged. + +By the third section the commissioners were authorized to audit and +allow all just claims for labor, service, materials and land damages +incurred between April 6, 1860 and July 12, 1861, in carrying on the +work, and to procure the release and discharge of all attachments and +liens upon said materials. $175,000 was appropriated to pay the +claimants under the approval of the governor and council. + +By the fourth section the commissioners were authorized to use or run +that portion of the road east of the mountain or lease the same to the +"Vermont and Massachusetts," the "Fitchburg," the "Troy and Boston +Railway Company," or either of them, until the completion of the tunnel. + +By the fifth section the commissioners were authorized to continue the +work on the Hoosac Tunnel, and by contract or otherwise, to expedite its +completion. + +On the 18th of August 1862, is recorded on the records of the +corporation the following votes:-- + +1. "The directors of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company hereby +instruct the president to transfer to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, +under the several mortgages held by said Commonwealth, all the property +of said corporation. + +2. "_Voted_ to call a meeting of the stockholders to see if they would +ratify the above vote. + +3. "_Voted_, That the treasurer be directed to make no further delivery +of the stock or bonds to the contractors without the written order of +all the finance committee." + +At the commencement of the session of the legislature in January, 1863, +his Excellency Governor Andrew, after stating the general provisions of +the Act of April, 1862, and the appointment of the commissioners under +it, "each of whom was carefully selected as being, in the words of the +Act, at once 'able, impartial and skilful,'" and after alluding to the +labors of the commissioners, and the reports of the distinguished +engineers appointed to "assist them, closes his remarks upon the +enterprise in the following words:-- + +"The report of the commissioners to the governor and council is not yet +made, but it is understood to be in rapid preparation. I am unable, +therefore, to communicate to the legislature at the beginning of its +present session so fully as I have hoped on the subject of this +important and interesting enterprise of establishing a new avenue for +our trade with the West, piercing the Green Mountain range, and opening +up to greater activity the economical resources of our Northern tier of +towns. I trust that the conclusions and reasoning of the commissioners +when published will settle conflicting opinions in the minds of the +people, and, if favorable to the active pursuit of the enterprise, that +its prosecution will enjoy an unanimous support. The work can be +pursued, relieved from all factitious embarrassments, and contracts can +be made by those in the sole interest of the Commonwealth, superintended +by citizens of the highest experience and capacity." + +In communicating the report of the commissioners to the legislature on +the 12th of March, 1863, after analyzing and commenting upon its +statements and reasonings, the governor concludes his address in these +words: "I congratulate thee general court and the people upon the rescue +of the Commonwealth, and especially of this great experimental +enterprise, from a position inconsistent with economical, safe, or even +possible success in piercing its mountain barrier. + +"I earnestly and respectfully invite your most candid and thoughtful +consideration, not only of the specific facts and figures which +elucidate or express the details of information bearing most immediately +upon the work contemplated, but I also venture to commend to your +deliberate judgment the arguments and reasonings drawn from liberal and +enlightened views of public policy and of public economy, which finally +lift this subject above all merely local interests or antagonisms into +the sphere of statesmanship. And having attentively watched the progress +of the report of the commissioners, and the documents by which it is +accompanied through the press, I am prepared to give my own assent to +the opinion with the expression of which the commissioners conclude +their discussion:-- + +"'By the time the tunnel can be completed, the public interest requiring +it will have grown large enough to pay for the outlay. The impulse given +to business by the new facility, would soon fill up the new line, and +make up the temporary loss felt by any other. + +"'Considering the large sum which the Commonwealth has already invested +in this work, which must be sunk if it is not completed; the reasonable +protection from loss which is offered by the other companies interested +in the line; the more intimate relations it may promote between +Massachusetts and the West; and the benefits which such a facility +promises to the city and State, we are of opinion that the work should +be undertaken by the Commonwealth, and completed as early as it can be +with due regard to economy.'" + +The surrender of the road by the directors to the Commonwealth, was +followed by the following vote, passed January 7, 1863:-- + +_Voted_, That Mr. Stevenson, formerly State Engineer of the Troy and +Greenfield Railroad, be requested to return an estimate of the payments +and credits to which Haupt & Co. were entitled, under their contract, at +the time of the suspension of the work, and that the amount allowed by +such estimate be passed to the credit of H. Haupt & Co.; also, that the +stock and bonds to which they are entitled be issued without further +order, when legal impediments are removed. + +Under the vote, Mr. Stevenson made the following report:-- + + _Engineer's Office, Bunker Hill Bank Building,;_} + CHARLESTOWN, MASS., Feb. 10, 1863.} + +D. N. CARPENTER, Esq., _President, pro tem., T. & G. R. R; Co._ + +DEAR SIR:--By a vote passed on the 7th of January last, I am requested +to return an estimate of the payments and credits to which H. Haupt & +Co. were entitled under their contract at the time of the suspension of +the work on the Troy and Greenfield Railroad. + +The contract thus alluded to recites that "The compensation to be +allowed to H. Haupt & Co. shall be as provided in the resolutions of the +board of directors of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company, passed +July 10, A. D. 1857, to wit: + +"The whole of the State bonds that may be issued in aid of the Troy and +Greenfield Railroad Company shall be exclusively appropriated to work +done, or to be done, upon the tunnel, in compliance with the terms and +conditions of the Act authorizing the loan of credit; and any State +scrip that may,' at any time, be delivered to the treasurer of the +company shall be promptly handed to the contractors. + +"The payments for graduation, bridging, masonry, and superstructure of +the road, exclusive of the tunnel, shall be two millions of dollars, +with the addition of such sums as may be required for right of way, if +this item shall be paid by the contractors. Of this amount, nine hundred +thousand dollars shall be in the mortgage bonds of the company, and the +balance shall be in cash, to as great an extent as cash subscription can +be procured; the remainder in stock, at par. + +"The bonds and stock of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company shall +be issued to H. Haupt & Co. whenever required, but not to a greater +extent than they would be entitled to receive for the work done, +estimating' it by the proportion which it bears to the whole amount done +and to be done." + +This contract is so clear and precise in its terms that but one +construction can be placed upon it, though it is evident that such terms +were predicated upon a different state of affairs than existed at the +time of suspension. By this contract, all State payments are to be +exclusively appropriated to the work on the tunnel, while the stock and +bonds are as exclusively devoted to the graduation, bridging, masonry, +and superstructure of the railroad. The amount of compensation the +contractors would thus be entitled to, is the issue of State scrip from +July 10th, 1857, to the time of suspension, and the $2,000,000 of stock +and bonds, less the amount required to finish the railroad. From this +must be deducted such payments as may have been made from time to time, +concerning which I have no data, but which your treasurer's books must +show. Any sums that may have been paid by the contractors for right of +way, are to be added to the amount due. + +The cost of finishing the railroad must be estimated. For the road east +of the tunnel, my estimate of the cost of finishing was, September 12, +1861, $102,394; to this we should add one-half mile of railroad and +bridge over the Deerfield, $20,000. For the unfinished portion west of +the tunnel, I have no data of my own; I have, therefore, taken for the +purpose the estimate of D. L. Harris, which is the highest I can +find--$40,000. + +We thus have as the cash cost of completing the graduation, masonry, +bridging, and superstructure of the road, $162,394, which is to be +deducted from the $2,000,000 of stock and bonds, leaving the amount the +contractors are entitled to, $1,857,606, less payments made, plus the +amount of right of way, &c. + +This is in exact accordance with the strict construction of the contract +which I previously have remarked was predicted upon a different +condition of affairs than existed at the time of suspension. + +I deem it my duty in this connection respectfully to suggest whether, in +view of the changes made in the issue of State scrip, which was paid +upon the road as well as upon the tunnel, the contractors should not +make proper reductions of the stock and bonds due them, taking into +consideration as an offset to this such losses as they have been +subjected to by the adverse action of the State authorities. This +suggestion, however, is volunteered. My duty under the vote of the board +is simply to decide what amount the contractors are entitled to receive +under an exact and literal construction of the contract. + +L. STEVENSON, _Civil Engineer_. + +Mr. Haupt was present at the meeting of the directors at which the vote +of January 7 was passed, and the 30th day of May he addressed the +following letter to the treasurer of the corporation:-- + + MAY 30, 1863. + +W. T. DAVIS, Esq., _Treasurer, &c._ DEAR SIR:--I find the statement of +payments on road in Senate Document, No. 82, 1863, page 17 communication +of J. W. Brooks to governor, viz:-- + + Oct. 8, 1860, $64,090 00 + Dec. 12, 1860, 112,190 00 + Jan. 5, 1861, 30,355 00 + Feb. 18, 1861, 23,270 00 + March 7, 1861, 19,890 00 + April 14, 1861, 19,175 00 + May 7, 1861, 65,555 00 + June 26, 1861, 34,645 00 + July 9, 1861, 90,064 00 + ----------- + $455,234 00 + +Omitting for the present any consideration of offsets, and deducting +this whole amount for a temporary settlement, the items to be filled up +will be as follows:-- + + Whole amount of credit on road per Stevenson's + estimate, . . . . . . . . . . . $1,800,000 00 + Deduct stock already issued as per certificates + delivered, number, . . . . . . . . + Shares, . . . . . . . . . . . . + Bonds delivered, number, . . . . . . . + Dates of delivery, . . . . . . . . . + Total bonds and stock delivered, . . . . + Balance stock to be delivered, . . . . . + +In addition to this, H. Haupt & Co. have credits on the books of the +company for cash payments made on company accounts as follows:-- + + * * * * * + + Amounting to say, . . . . . . . $90,000 00 + + Yours, &c., HAUPT. + +Stock to be delivered hereafter instead of bonds. You can with these +dates make out this statement in an hour, please do so and send to me at +Washington. + +Some people in Massachusetts will find out that I am not quite dead yet, +they may feel me kicking before long. Help Field all you can to get +releases on payment of the 85 per cent. I will not forget you. + + HAUPT. + +Previous to the receipt of Mr. Haupt's letter to the treasurer, but +subsequent to the message of the governor, from the foregoing, extracts +have been made, to wit: On the first day of April, 1863, the following +preamble and resolutions were passed by the directors. + +"On motion of Mr. Brigham, seconded by Mr. Cheever, the following +resolutions were adopted:-- + +"_Whereas_, The stockholders of this company at their annual meeting +held September 2, 1862, unanimously acquiesced in the action which the +legislature had taken in regard to the affairs of this company, and +voted to surrender the property of the corporation to the Commonwealth +in the expectation that the railroad and tunnel should be completed in +conformity with the avowed intention of the legislature. It is + +"_Resolved_, That this board of directors see no reason to regret the +step which this corporation has taken, but in the kindly interest shown +by His Excellency the governor in this enterprise, and in the able +report of the commissioners appointed to examine the subject, they +perceive every indication that the great work will be prosecuted with +vigor and arrive at an early completion. + +"_Resolved_, That having released the property to the Commonwealth, we +recognize the State as having entire and complete control over the same; +our only claim being that the State shall carry out in good faith the +recommendations of the commissioners as contained in their report, and +in the address of the chief magistrate of the Commonwealth. + +"_Resolved_, That the clerk be requested to furnish copies of the above +vote to the friends of the road in the Senate and House of +Representatives, to be used if necessary to show the views of the +directors." + +On the 29th day of April, 1863, the legislature, passed an Act entitled +"an Act in addition to an Act, providing for the more speedy completion +of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad, and Hoosac Tunnel," which is +chapter 214 of the Acts of 1863. By the provisions of this Act, the +commissioners appointed under chapter 156 of the previous year, were +authorized, subject to the advice and approval of the governor and +council, to construct, complete and equip the Troy and Greenfield +Railroad and Hoosac Tunnel, and to make such alterations in the line of +the road as may be deemed necessary to render it suitable and proper for +part of a through line from Troy to Boston. Also such alterations in the +location and dimensions of said tunnel as will render it suitable and +proper for use, in accordance with the spirit and intent of the 224th +chapter of the Acts of 1854. + +By the legislation of 1862 and 1863, and the vote of the directors and +of the corporation in the same years, the corporation surrendered to the +State the road and tunnel, and the State took possession of the same +with the express understanding on both sides, that they would proceed in +the construction and completion of both works. The enterprise having +fallen into the hands of the State, and the work having been assumed by +the State government, no further vote of importance appears upon the +records of the directors. Their last meeting was held August 30, 1865, +when Alvah Crocker was chosen President, and Wendell T. Davis, Clerk and +Treasurer. + + + + + +[B.] + + + _Principal Acts of the Legislature relating to the Hoosac Tunnel + and Troy and Greenfield Railroad._ + + +[1848--Chapter 307.] + +AN ACT to incorporate the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company. + +_Be it enacted, &c._ + +SECT. 1. George Grennell, Roger H. Leavitt, Samuel H. Reed, their +associates and successors, are hereby made a corporation, by the name of +the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company, with all the powers and +privileges, and subject to all the duties, liabilities, and restrictions +set forth in the forty-fourth chapter of the Revised Statutes, and in +that part of the thirty-ninth chapter thereof relating to railroad +corporations, and in all other general laws which have been, or shall be +hereafter passed, relative to railroad corporations. + +SECT. 2. Said company are hereby authorized to locate, construct, and +maintain a railroad, with one or more tracks, from some convenient point +on the Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad, at or near the termination of +said railroad in Greenfield, through any or all of the following towns, +viz.:--Greenfield, Deerfield, Conway, Shelburne, Buckland, Coleraine, +Charlemont, Hawley, Rowe, and Monroe, in the county of Franklin, and +Savoy, Florida, Adams, Clarksburg, and Williamstown, in the county of +Berkshire, to some point on the line of the state of New York or of +Vermont, convenient to meet, or connect with, any railroad that may be +constructed from any point at or near the city of Troy, on the Hudson +river, in the state of New York. + +SECT. 3. The said company may, with their railroad, unite with, and +enter upon, the Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad, at or near the +termination thereof, as aforesaid, and may likewise enter upon, cross, +and use, the railroad of the Connecticut River Railroad Company, in and +near the town of Greenfield, (not, however, interfering with the depot +buildings of either of said companies,) on such terms as may be agreed +upon between the corporation hereby created and the aforesaid companies +respectively, or as may be prescribed by law. + +SECT. 4. The capital stock of the said company shall consist of not more +than thirty-five thousand shares, the number of which shall, from time +to time, be determined by the directors thereof; and no assessment shall +be laid of a greater amount thereon, in the whole, than one hundred +dollars on each share. And the said company may purchase and hold such +real and personal estate, as may be necessary for the purposes of their +incorporation. + +SECT. 5. If the location of said road shall not be filed within two +years, in the manner prescribed by law, or if the said railroad shall +not be constructed within seven years from the passage of this act, then +the same shall be void. + +SECT. 6. The legislature may authorize any railroad company to enter, +with their railroad, upon the Troy and Greenfield Railroad, on such +terms as may be agreed upon by said companies, or as may be prescribed +by the provisions of law. + +SECT. 7. The legislature may, after the expiration of five years from +the time when such railroad shall be opened for use, from time to time, +alter and reduce the rate of toll, or profits, upon said road; but said +toll shall not be so reduced, without the consent of said company, as to +produce, with said profits, less than ten per cent. per annum, upon the +investments of the said company. + +SECT. 8. The said corporation may contract with the owners of any +contiguous railroad leading into or from either of the states of Vermont +or New York, for the use of the whole or any part thereof, or for the +running and operating the two railroads conjointly, or for the leasing +of such contiguous road, or for the letting or hiring of their own road +to the owners of such contiguous road, or of any other road which +composes a part of the railroad line between the cities of Boston and +Troy, of which the railroad hereby authorized shall be a part. + +SECT. 9. The Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company shall, within one year +after the opening of their road for use, purchase and take an assignment +of the lease and contract of transportation, made and executed between +the Western Railroad Corporation and the Pittsfield and North Adams +Railroad Corporation, on the thirteenth day of January, in the year one +thousand eight hundred and forty-six; and shall have all the advantages, +and assume all the liabilities, accruing under and by virtue of said +lease: provided, that the said Western. Railroad Corporation shall +perform their covenants in said lease, to keep said road, and other +property therewith connected, in repair, until such assignment; and +shall, within six months after the said Troy and Greenfield Railroad +Company shall have filed the location of their road, according to law, +and shall have raised, by subscription, one million of dollars, for the +construction of the same, signify, in writing, their election to make +such assignment: and provided, that, at the time of such assignment, +there shall be secured to said Western Railroad Corporation, by a proper +instrument, a lien or mortgage upon all their rights in said Pittsfield +and North Adams Railroad, as collateral security for the performance of +all the obligations of said corporation, contained in said lease and +contract of transportation: and, provided also, that, after the +completion of the said Troy and Greenfield Railroad, the said Western +Railroad Corporation shall assign and convey, to the said Troy and +Greenfield Railroad Company, the said contract of transportation, +according to the terms of this section, if the said Troy and Greenfield +Railroad Company shall so elect. + +SECT. 10. This act shall take effect from and after its passage. +[_May 10, 1848._ + + +[1852.--Chapter 291.] + +AN ACT concerning the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company. + +_Be it enacted, &c._ + +SECT. 1. The Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company and the Southern +Vermont Railroad Company, a corporation established by the laws of +Vermont, are hereby authorized by a vote of the stockholders now, or to +be, passed, to unite themselves in one corporation; and such vote having +been passed, they shall thereupon become one corporation, and all the +franchises, property, powers, and privileges now enjoyed by, and all the +restrictions, liabilities, and obligations imposed upon, said two +corporations, by virtue of their respective charters, shall appertain to +said united corporation in the same manner as if the same had been +contained in or acquired under an original charter. Such corporation, so +formed by such union, shall be called by the name of the Troy and +Greenfield Railroad Company. + +SECT. 2. If the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company shall unite with +said Southern Vermont Railroad Company, then, and in that case, one or +more of the directors of such corporation, formed by such union, shall +be an inhabitant of this Commonwealth, on whom processes against such +corporation may be legally served, and said company shall be held +answerable to answer in the jurisdiction where the service is made and +the process returnable. + +SECT. 3. The said company and the stockholders therein, so far as they +are situate in Massachusetts, shall be subject to all the duties and +liabilities of railroad corporations in Massachusetts, and to the +general laws of this Commonwealth in relation to railroad corporations. +[Approved by the Governor, May 20, 1852. + + +[1854.--Chapter 226.] + +AN ACT authorizing a Loan of the State Credit to enable the Troy and +Greenfield Railroad Company to construct the Hoosac Tunnel. + +_Be it enacted, &c._ + +SECT. 1. The treasurer of the Commonwealth is hereby authorized and +instructed to issue scrip, or certificates of debt, in the name and in +behalf of the Commonwealth, and under his signature and the seal of the +Commonwealth, for the sum of two millions of dollars, which may be +expressed in the currency of Great Britain, and may be payable to the +bearer thereof in London, and bearing an interest of five per cent. per +annum, payable semi-annually in London, on the first days of April and +October; or the said scrip may be issued in federal currency, payable in +Boston, as the directors of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company +shall elect when they apply for each and every issue of said scrip, with +warrants for the interest attached thereto, signed by the treasurer; +which scrip or certificates, in the currency of Great Britain, shall be +redeemable in London, and those in the federal currency, at Boston, at +the end of thirty years from the date thereof, and the same shall bear +date on the first day of April or October which shall precede the issue +of each portion of said scrip; and all such scrip shall be countersigned +by the governor of the Commonwealth, and be deemed a pledge of the faith +and credit of the Commonwealth, for the redemption thereof; and the +treasurer of the Commonwealth, under the conditions hereinafter +provided, shall deliver the same to the treasurer of the Troy and +Greenfield Railroad Company for the purpose of enabling the said company +to construct a tunnel and railroad under and through the Hoosac +Mountain, in some place between the "Great Bend" in Deerfield River, in +the town of Florida, at the base of Hoosac Mountain on the east, and the +base of the western side of the mountain, near the east end of the +village of North Adams, on the west. + +SECT. 2. Whenever it shall be made to appear to the satisfaction of the +governor and council, that the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company +shall have obtained subscriptions to their corporate stock, in the sum +of six hundred thousand dollars, and twenty per cent. on each and every +share of said six hundred thousand dollars shall have been actually paid +in, and shall have completed seven miles of their said railroad, in one +or two sections, and one thousand lineal feet of their said tunnel under +the Hoosac, in one or more sections, of size sufficient for one or more +railroad tracks, a portion of said scrip, to the amount of one hundred +thousand dollars, shall be delivered to the treasurer of said company; +and when said company shall have completed, in one or two sections, ten +miles of their said railroad, and two thousand lineal feet of their said +tunnel, in one or more sections, another portion of said scrip, to the +amount of one hundred thousand dollars, shall be delivered to the +treasurer of said company; and when said company shall have completed +fifteen miles of their said railroad, in one or two sections, and three +thousand lineal feet of their said tunnel, in one or more sections, +another portion of said scrip, amounting to one hundred thousand +dollars, shall be delivered to the treasurer of said company; and when +said company shall have completed twenty miles of their said railroad, +in one or two sections, and four thousand lineal feet of their said +tunnel, in one or more sections, another portion of said scrip, +amounting to one hundred thousand dollars, shall be delivered to the +treasurer of said company; and when said company shall have completed +twenty-five miles of their said railroad, in one or two sections, and +five thousand lineal feet of their said tunnel, in one or more sections, +another portion of said scrip, amounting to one hundred thousand +dollars, shall be delivered to the treasurer of said company; and when +said company shall have completed thirty miles of their said railroad, +in one or two sections, and six thousand lineal feet of their said +tunnel, in one or more sections, another portion of said scrip, +amounting to one hundred thousand dollars, shall be delivered to the +treasurer of said company; and when said company shall have completed +thirty-two miles of their said railroad, in one or two sections, +including all their line to be constructed east of the town of Florida, +and seven thousand lineal feet of their said tunnel, in one or more +sections, another portion of said scrip, amounting to one hundred +thousand dollars, shall be delivered to the treasurer of said company; +and for each additional portion or portions of said tunnel, of fifteen +hundred lineal feet, in one or more directions, completed by said +company, another portion of said scrip, amounting to one hundred +thousand dollars, shall be delivered to the treasurer of said company; +subject, however, to this proviso, that the last two hundred thousand +dollars of said scrip shall be reserved until said company, their +successors or their representatives, have opened said railroad for use +through the Hoosac, and laid a continuous railroad from Greenfield to +the line of the state in Williamstown, when the same shall be delivered: +provided, that prior to the second delivery of scrip to the treasurer of +the Troy and Greenfield Railroad corporation, according to the +provisions of this section, evidence shall be furnished, satisfactory to +the governor and council, that a sum, equal to thirty per cent. of the +amount of the scrip then applied for, shall have been actually paid to +the treasurer of said corporation; in cash, by the stockholders thereof, +in addition to the hundred and twenty thousand dollars to be paid prior +to the delivery of any scrip. And that on each application for scrip, in +pursuance of the provisions of this section, and prior to the delivery +thereof, satisfactory evidence shall be furnished to the governor and +council, that a sum, equal to thirty per cent. of the amount of scrip +then applied for, has been actually paid to the treasurer of said +corporation, until six hundred thousand dollars subscribed for have been +paid by the stockholders. And no scrip shall be delivered till +satisfactory evidence of such payment is, from time to time, furnished +to the governor and council. + +SECT. 3. Whenever the treasurer of said company shall receive any of +said scrip, he shall, within three months from the receipt of the same, +pay to the commissioners of the sinking fund, by this act hereafter +established, ten per cent. on the amount of scrip so taken, as a sinking +fund; after the whole of said road is open for us, twenty-five thousand +dollars annually, shall be set apart from the income of said road and +paid to said commissioners, and the whole thereof shall be added to said +sinking fund, and shall be managed, invested and appropriated, as is, or +shall be provided by law, in relation thereto. + +SECT. 4. The treasurer of the Commonwealth, the auditor of accounts of +the Commonwealth, and the treasurer of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad +Company for the time being, shall be the commissioners of the sinking +fund of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company. The said commissioners +shall have the care and management of all the moneys, funds and +securities at any time belonging to said sinking fund, and shall invest +the same; but the moneys not invested, and all the securities of said +fund, shall be in the custody of the treasurer of said Commonwealth. + +SECT. 5. This act shall not take effect until said company, at an annual +meeting, or at a special meeting duly notified for that purpose, shall +have assented to the provisions thereof, and shall have executed to the +Commonwealth a bond, in such form as the attorney-general prescribed on +the issuing of scrip to the Western Railroad Corporation, conditioned, +that the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company shall comply with the +provisions of this act, and shall faithfully expend the proceeds of said +scrip as herein provided, and shall indemnify and save harmless, the +Commonwealth, from all loss or inconvenience on account of said scrip, +and that said company shall well and truly pay the principal sum of said +scrip, punctually when the same shall become due and payable, or such +part thereof as the sinking fund aforesaid shall be insufficient to pay, +and the interest thereon semi-annually, as the same shall fall due, and +shall also assign to the Commonwealth, by suitable instrument or +instruments, of the same form with that or those prepared by the +attorney-general on the issuing of scrip to the Western Railroad +Corporation, the entire railroad, with its income, and all the franchise +and property to them belonging, the whole thereof to be held by the +Commonwealth as a pledge or mortgage to secure the performance of all +the conditions of said bond: _provided_, _however_, that the +Commonwealth shall not take possession of said pledged or mortgaged +property, or any part thereof, under or by virtue of said mortgage, +unless for some substantial breach of some condition of said bond. + +SECT. 6. In addition to the security provided in the preceding section, +the said company shall assign all the interest they now have, or may +hereafter obtained, in the Southern Vermont Railroad Company. + +SECT. 7. The Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company are authorized, and at +any time prior to the execution of said mortgage, and within one year +from the passage of this act, to alter the present location of their +road: provided, that the tunnel shall be located and constructed within +the limits prescribed by the first section of this act. + +SECT. 8. The time for completing the Troy and Greenfield Railroad is +hereby extended, for the additional term of six years. + +SECT. 9. When the Commonwealth shall have advanced to said company, said +bond or scrip to the amount of five hundred thousand dollars, the +legislature may elect two directors of said company, who shall hold +office for the same time, be elected in the same manner, and receive +compensation to the same amount as the state directors of the Western +Railroad Corporation, but neither of them, while holding such office, +shall serve as a director of any other railroad company. [_Approved by +the Governor, April 5, 1854._ + + +[1855.--Chapter 394.] + +AN ACT to authorize certain towns in the Counties of Franklin and +Berkshire to subscribe to the Capital Stock of the Troy and Greenfield +Railroad Company. + +_Be it enacted, &c._ + +SECT. 1. That each of the several towns of Ashfield, Buckland, Conway, +Coleraine, Charlemont, Deerfield, Greenfield, Hawley, Heath, Monroe, +Rowe, and Shelburne, in the county of Franklin, and each of the several +towns of Adams, Florida and Williamstown, in the county of Berkshire, +be, and hereby is, authorized to subscribe for and hold shares in the +capital stock of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company, to any amount +of money not exceeding three per centum on the amount of its last +valuation: provided, the inhabitants of such town or towns, at a legal +town meeting duly called for that purpose, shall vote by a two-thirds +vote to subscribe for such shares in accordance with the terms of this +act, to pay for the same out of the town treasury, and to hold the same +as town property, subject to the disposition of the town, for public +purposes, in like manner as any other property which it may possess. + +SECT. 2. Said towns are hereby authorized to raise, by loans or taxes, +any sums of money which shall be required to pay the instalments on +their respective subscription to said stock and interest thereon. + +SECT. 3. This act shall take effect from and after its passage. +[_Approved by the Governor, May 18, 1855._ + + +[1859.--Chapter 117.] + +An Act in addition to, an Act authorizing a loan of the State Credit, to +enable the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company to construct the Hoosac +Tunnel. + +_Be it enacted, &c., as follows:_ + +SECT 1. The terms of the act authorizing a loan of the state credit to +enable the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company to construct the Hoosac +Tunnel, are hereby modified as follows, viz.: + +Whenever it shall be made to appear to the satisfaction of the governor +and council, that the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company shall have +actually obtained unconditional subscriptions to their corporate stock +in the sum of six hundred thousand dollars, and twenty per cent. on each +and every share of said six hundred thousand dollars shall have been +actually paid in, and shall have completed seven miles of their road, in +one or two sections, and one thousand lineal feet of their said tunnel +under the Hoosac Mountain, in one or more sections, of size sufficient +for one or more railroad tracks, a portion of said scrip, to the amount +of one hundred thousand dollars, shall be delivered to the treasurer of +said company; and whenever said company shall have, excavated, in +addition to the amount of tunnel above provided for, one thousand lineal +feet, in one or more sections, of heading or gallery of fourteen feet +width at the bottom, and six feet in height in the middle, and of +suitable proportion and form, or (if excavated by machinery) circular, +and with a diameter of not less than eight feet, another portion of said +scrip, amounting to fifty thousand dollars, shall be delivered to the +treasurer of said company; and when said company shall have excavated +two thousand feet of their said tunnel, of the size above specified, +another portion of said scrip, amounting to thirty thousand dollars, +shall be delivered as aforesaid; and whenever said company in addition +to said two thousand feet, shall have excavated one thousand lineal feet +of heading, in one or more sections, and of the size above specified, +and shall have graded three miles of road, commencing on the bank of +Green River, at the present location of the crossing of said stream, or +north thereof, and extending towards Shelburne Falls, on the same side +of Green River and Deerfield River as the present location, said three +miles being all situated within four miles of the point of commencement, +another portion of said scrip, amounting to eighty thousand dollars, +shall be delivered as aforesaid; and whenever in addition to the grading +of said three miles as above, said company shall have excavated three +thousand lineal feet of tunnel as above specified, another portion of +said scrip, to the amount of twenty thousand dollars, shall be delivered +as aforesaid; and whenever said company, in addition to the three +thousand feet above specified, shall have excavated, in one or more +sections, one thousand lineal feet of heading, as above specified, and +shall have graded six miles of road in location and otherwise as +aforesaid, said six miles of road being all situate within seven miles +of the point of commencement at Green River, another portion of said +scrip, amounting to eighty thousand dollars, shall be delivered as +aforesaid; and when said company, in addition to the grading of six +miles of road above specified, shall have excavated four thousand feet +of tunnel as above, another portion of said scrip, amounting to twenty +thousand dollars, shall be delivered as aforesaid; and whenever said +company, in addition to the above, shall have excavated, in one or more +sections, one thousand lineal feet of heading as aforesaid, and shall +have graded nine miles of road, in location and otherwise as aforesaid, +between Greenfield and Shelburne Falls, another portion of said scrip, +to the amount of eighty thousand dollars, shall be delivered as +aforesaid; and whenever said company, in addition to the above nine +miles of graded road, shall have excavated five thousand feet of tunnel +as aforesaid, another portion of said scrip, amounting to twenty +thousand dollars, shall be delivered as aforesaid; and whenever said +company shall have excavated, in one or more sections, one thousand +lineal feet of heading as aforesaid, in addition to the five thousand +feet of tunnel above specified, and shall have graded the road between +Greenfield and Shelburne Falls, crossing the Green River upon the +present location, or at a point north thereof, another portion of said +scrip, amounting to eighty thousand dollars, shall be delivered as +aforesaid; and whenever said company, in addition to the grading of the +road between Greenfield and Shelburne Falls as aforesaid, shall have +excavated six thousand feet of tunnel as aforesaid, another portion of +said scrip, amounting to twenty thousand dollars, shall be delivered as +aforesaid; and whenever in addition to the grading and tunnel above +specified, the said company shall have excavated as aforesaid, one +thousand lineal feet of heading, another portion of said scrip, to the +amount of thirty thousand dollars, shall be delivered as aforesaid; and +whenever in addition to the grading above specified, the said company +shall have excavated seven thousand feet of tunnel as aforesaid, another +portion of said scrip, to the amount of twenty thousand dollars, shall +be delivered as aforesaid; and for each additional thousand feet of +heading that shall be excavated of dimensions as aforesaid, another +portion of said scrip, amounting to thirty thousand dollars, shall be +delivered as aforesaid; and for each additional one thousand feet of +tunnel that shall be excavated of dimensions as aforesaid, another +portion of said scrip, amounting to twenty thousand dollars, shall be +delivered as aforesaid; and whenever said company shall have completed +the graduation and superstructure of the road between Greenfield and +Shelburne Falls, on the route herein before specified, and shall have +put the same in running order, another portion of said scrip, to the +amount of forty thousand dollars, shall be delivered as aforesaid; and +whenever said company, in addition to the road between Greenfield and +Shelburne Falls above specified, shall have completed the graduation and +superstructure of two continuous miles of road, commencing at the +western termination of the above road, another portion of said scrip, +amounting to eighty thousand dollars, shall be delivered as aforesaid; +and for the graduation and superstructure of each additional mile of +road, graded and laid continuously through either of the towns of +Buckland, Charlemont, Rowe or Florida, another portion of said scrip, +amounting to twenty thousand dollars, shall be delivered as aforesaid: +_provided_, that when the rails shall have been laid and the road put in +running order, between Greenfield and the east end of the Hoosac Tunnel, +excepting that portion of the road which is to be made from the material +to be furnished by the tunnel itself, another portion of said scrip, +amounting to one hundred thousand dollars, shall be delivered as +aforesaid: and _provided_, _also_, that whenever the aggregate amount of +scrip that shall have been delivered to the treasurer of said company +shall have reached the sum of one million seven hundred thousand +dollars, no further delivery of scrip shall be made until the whole of +the tunnel through the Hoosac Mountain shall have been completed, of +size not less than fourteen feet in width and eighteen feet in height +from the bottom to the top of the excavation, and until the facades of +the said tunnel and such portions as may require arching shall be +finished with good substantial stone or brick masonry, and until the +rails shall have been laid over the whole length of the road, including +the tunnel, and the same constructed in such manner, and the necessary +connections with other roads 80 finished, as will permit the convenient +use of the same in the transportation of passengers and freight between +the cities of Boston and Troy; but when such connections shall have been +made, the tunnel fully completed and the road constructed as herein +before provided, the balance of said scrip, amounting to three hundred +thousand dollars, shall be delivered as aforesaid: and _provided_, +_also_, that until the rails shall have been laid and the road put in +running order between Greenfield and Shelburne Falls, the aggregate +payments under this act shall not exceed one million of dollars: and +_provided_, _also_, that prior to the second delivery of scrip to the +treasurer of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Corporation, according to +the provisions of this section, evidence shall be furnished, +satisfactory to the governor and council, that a sum equal to thirty per +cent. of the amount of the scrip then applied for, shall have been +actually paid to the treasurer of said corporation, (in cash,) by the +stockholders thereof, in addition to the one hundred and twenty thousand +dollars to be paid prior to the delivery of any scrip, and that on each +application for scrip, in pursuance of the provisions of this section, +and prior to the delivery thereof, satisfactory evidence shall be +furnished to the governor and council that a sum equal to thirty per +cent. of the amount of scrip then' applied for, has been actually paid +to the treasurer of said corporation, until the six hundred thousand +dollars subscribed for shall have been paid by the stockholders; and no +scrip shall be delivered until satisfactory evidence of such payment is, +from time to time, furnished to the governor and council; and provided, +also, no scrip shall be delivered to the treasurer of said corporation +until satisfactory evidence shall be furnished to the governor and +council, that said corporation have expended in a reasonable manner, in +excavating and completing said tunnel, and in grading, constructing and +completing the line of road, a sum at least equal to the amount of all +the preceding issues of scrip. + +SECT. 2. The preceding section of this act shall not be so constructed +as necessarily to delay the opening of the road between Greenfield and +Shelburne Falls, until after the completion of six thousand feet of +tunnel; but whenever any portion of not less than three miles of said +road shall have been graded between Greenfield and Shelburne Falls, as +herein before provided, a portion of scrip, amounting to fifty thousand +dollars, shall be delivered to the treasurer of the said company; and in +case such payments shall have been previously made upon the road, the +payments upon the completion of the third, fourth, fifth and sixth +thousand feet of tunnel shall be reduced to thirty thousand dollars for +each thousand feet of heading, and twenty thousand dollars for each +thousand feet of tunnel of the required dimensions; but no portion of +said scrip shall be delivered for any portion of said heading or tunnel, +until the corresponding portion of the road shall have been graded as is +herein before provided. + +SECT. 3. Whenever the treasurer of said company shall receive any of +said scrip, he shall offer the scrip, 80 received, to the treasurer of +the Commonwealth for sale; and if the treasurer of the Commonwealth +shall so require, being thereunto authorized by law, the treasurer of +said company shall sell and dispose of the same to the treasurer of the +Commonwealth, at the fair market value thereof, to be determined by the +governor and council. If the treasurer of the Commonwealth shall decide +to buy as aforesaid, then the treasurer of the company shall forthwith +pay, to the commissioners of the sinking fund, ten per cent. on the +amount of the scrip so taken, as a sinking fund. If the treasurer of the +Commonwealth shall decide not to buy, as aforesaid, then the treasurer +of the company, within three months after the receipt of any of said +scrip, shall pay to the commissioners of the sinking fund, ten per cent. +on the amount of the scrip so received, as a sinking fund. After the +whole of said road is open for use, twenty-five thousand dollars +annually, shall be set apart from the income of said road, and paid to +said commissioners; and the whole thereof shall be added to said sinking +fund, and shall be managed; invested and appropriated, as is or shall be +provided by law in relation thereto. + +SECT. 4. The preceding sections shall be in lieu of and be substituted +for sections two and three of chapter two hundred and twenty-six of the +acts of the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, and the +second section of said act is hereby repealed. + +SECT. 5. The time for completing the Troy and Greenfield Railroad and +Hoosac Tunnel, is hereby extended until December thirty-first, in the +year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five. + +SECT. 6. Subscriptions, the instalments upon which are payable in cash, +or in the scrip of the towns authorized to subscribe to the stock of the +Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company, under the provisions of chapter +three hundred and ninety-four of the acts of the year one thousand eight +hundred and fifty-five, shall be considered as unconditional +subscriptions, in compliance with the requirements of this act; and +payment in the bonds of said towns shall be considered as cash. + +SECT. 7. This act shall take effect, whenever said company shall file, +in the office of the secretary of state, a certified copy of any vote or +votes accepting the same, which may be passed at any regular meeting of +the stockholders of said company, or at any meeting specially called for +that purpose. + +_Approved March 26, 1859._ + + +[1860.--Chapter 202.] + +AN ACT in addition to an Act authorizing a loan of the State Credit to +enable the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company to construct the Hoosac +Tunnel. + +_Be it enacted, &c., as follows:_ + +SECT. 1. The Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company shall forthwith make +and file in the proper offices a location of their entire road and +tunnel, which location shall be made on that side or sides of the +Deerfield River which will afford the most direct and eligible route +between the village of Shelburne Falls and a suitable terminus in the +town of Deerfield or Greenfield, to be determined by the state engineer +appointed as hereinafter provided. + +The grades of any part of the road hereafter to be constructed shall not +exceed forty feet to the mile ascending eastward, and fifty feet to the +mile ascending westward; and the limits of grade and curvature of said +road, included within said location; and not graded, shall be such that +the maximum resistance to the passage of trains, in either direction, +shall not exceed the maximum resistance in the same direction on the +Fitchburg and Vermont and Massachusetts Railroads; and before any +location made by the chief engineer of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad +Company shall be filed, a copy of the alignment and a table of grades, +verified by the oath of said engineer, shall be submitted to a state +engineer appointed as hereinafter provided, who shall certify that the +limits of grade and curvature herein before prescribed have not been +exceeded, and the said table of grades so certified shall be filed with +the location. + +SECT. 2. No further deliveries of scrip shall be made to said company +upon the conditions authorized in former acts, but the undelivered +portions of the loan of two millions of dollars authorized by chapter +two hundred and twenty-six of the acts of eighteen hundred and +fifty-four, amounting to one million seven hundred and seventy thousand +dollars, shall be divided and apportioned between the railroad and +tunnel, and for the construction of each, respectively; six hundred and +fifty thousand dollars for the completion of the unfinished portion of +railroad extending from the eastern terminus of said road near +Greenfield to within half a mile of the eastern-end of Hoosac Tunnel, +and one million one hundred and twenty thousand dollars for the +completion of the tunnel, which shall be delivered upon the conditions +and in the manner hereinafter declared, subject however to the +provisions of the third section of chapter one hundred and seventeen of +the acts of eighteen hundred and fifty-nine. + +No delivery of any portion of said scrip shall be made until said +company shall, at a special meeting duly authorized for the purpose, +have assented to the provisions of this act, nor until said company +shall have duly made and located their line of road as aforesaid, and +shall have executed to the Commonwealth such further bond and mortgage, +or other assurances of title on their franchise, railroad, or other +property, as the attorney-general shall prescribe, for the further +security of the Commonwealth; and said bond and mortgage, and other +assurances, and all bonds, mortgages, or other assurances heretofore +made to the Commonwealth by said company, shall have priority to and be +preferred before any and all attachments or levies on execution +heretofore or hereafter made. + +SECT. 3. The governor and council shall annually appoint a state +engineer for the purpose of examining and determining monthly the amount +and value of the work done, and materials delivered on the railroad and +tunnel of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company, who shall receive an +annual salary of one thousand dollars, payable quarterly. The state +engineer shall forthwith fix permanent marks in each end of the Hoosac +Tunnel, marking the progress of the work up to February twenty-fourth, +eighteen hundred and sixty, from which to determine the progress +subsequently made. He shall also determine by suitable notes, marks, or +observations, the amount and value of all grading, bridging, masonry, or +other work done, or iron, or other materials delivered on the road east +of the Hoosac Tunnel prior to December twenty-second, eighteen hundred +and fifty-nine, and fix data from which to determine the value of any +work, or materials delivered subsequent to the date last named. He shall +monthly, immediately after the first day of each month, estimate the +proportion which the work done upon the road, since the preceding +estimate, bears to the whole of the work required to be done in the +graduation, masonry, bridging, and superstructure of said railroad east +of the Hoosac Tunnel, and also the work done in the excavation of said +tunnel, which he shall certify separately to the governor, together with +the amount of state scrip to which the company is entitled under the +provisions of this act. Such monthly estimates shall be based upon a +width of road-bed at grade of fifteen feet, on embankments, seventeen +and a half feet in side-cuts, and twenty feet in thorough-cuts; in the +heading of the tunnel, upon dimensions fourteen feet wide and six feet +high in the middle, and in the finished excavation of the tunnel of +fourteen feet wide and eighteen feet high in the middle. + +The deliveries of scrip shall be at the rate of fifty dollars for each +lineal foot of tunnel, divided between heading and full sized tunnel, in +the proportion' of thirty dollars for each lineal foot of heading and +twenty dollars per lineal foot for the remaining excavation; and of six +hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the whole of the graduation, +masonry, bridging and superstructure of the unfinished portion of the +road east of the tunnel. + +The scrip shall be delivered on the road in the proportion which the +value of the work done and the materials delivered each month bears to +the estimated cost of the whole work and materials required on the +portion of road aforesaid. + +No expenditures shall be required merely for the purposes of ornament, +but the work shall be substantially performed, and the rails shall weigh +not less than fifty-six pounds to the lineal yard; for any defective +materials or work, a proportionate amount of scrip shall be withheld. + +The governor and council shall have a general supervision of the work, +and for that purpose shall visit and inspect the same at least once in +each year, and as much oftener as they may deem expedient; and they +shall have power to correct abuses, remedy defects, and enforce +requirements, by withholding scrip or imposing new requirements in such +manner as the interest of the Commonwealth shall in their judgment +require. + +If the governor, upon the receipt of the monthly estimates and +certificates of the state engineer, shall approve thereof, he shall +transmit the same and his approval thereon to the state treasurer, and +the state treasurer shall thereupon deliver the amount of scrip so +certified for, to the treasurer of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad +Company, or to his order, subject to the provisions hereafter mentioned. +If he shall not approve thereof he shall submit the same to the council, +and their approval transmitted to the state treasurer as aforesaid shall +authorize such delivery. + +SECT. 4. The company shall at least thirty days before any interest on +any state scrip delivered to said company becomes payable, transmit the +amount thereof, with costs of exchange, to the treasurer of the state, +and he shall in all cases and at the charge of said company, pay at +maturity all interest and costs of exchange which become payable on said +scrip where the same is payable; and if said interest and exchange and +all interest and costs thereon, or any payments required to be made into +the sinking fund, or interest thereon, or any part thereof, remain +unpaid when said company becomes entitled to the next delivery of state +scrip, then the state treasurer shall deduct the amount so remaining +unpaid, with all costs and interest thereon, from the amount of scrip +then deliverable. + +SECT. 5. The Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company may construct their +railroad across the public highways at grade, in cases where the county +commissioners of the county do not determine such manner of crossing to +be detrimental to the public safety and convenience; but whenever they +do so determine, said company shall construct the same in such manner as +the county commissioners direct. + +SECT. 6. The legislature shall immediately after the passage of this +act, elect two directors of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company, to +hold their office for one year, or until others are elected by the +legislature; and any city, town or corporation that may subscribe not +less than one hundred thousand dollars, shall have the right to elect +annually one director; and any city that may subscribe not less than +five hundred thousand dollars, shall have the right to elect annually by +their council two directors in said company, which election may be held +at any time after such subscription is made. + +SECT. 7. The capital stock of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company +shall consist of twenty-five thousand shares of the par value of one +hundred dollars each, in which shall be included all shares heretofore +issued or subscribed for, conditionally or unconditionally, or payable +in work, an accurate account of which shall be made by the company, and +recorded in the records of the directors. And the residue of said +shares, and all shares which may revert to said company, shall be +hereafter issued only at par value, and for cash, or town or city scrip, +or for the bonds of the company. + +SECT. 8. The Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company is hereby authorized +and required to purchase the entire road, franchise, stock, bonds, and +other property of the Southern Vermont Railroad Company, together with +the income, benefits and reversion of its lease to the Troy and Boston +Railroad Company, and subject to its provisions, for the sum of two +hundred thousand dollars; and for the purpose of enabling them to make +such purchase, and transfer the same to the Commonwealth as additional +security to the Commonwealth for its whole loan, a further issue and +loan of state Scrip in federal currency; of the description specified in +chapter two hundred and twenty-six, of the acts of the year eighteen +hundred and fifty-four, is hereby authorized to be made, to the amount +of two hundred thousand dollars, deliverable as follows, namely: + +Whenever all the capital stock of the Southern Vermont Railroad, +excepting not exceeding twenty shares, of one hundred dollars each, and +one hundred thousand dollars of its mortgage bonds, with coupons +attached, the whole amount being one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, +payable in twenty years from the date of issue, with six per cent. +interest, payable semi-annually at the Bank of Commerce, in the city of +New York, and the aforesaid lease of said company to the Troy and Boston +Railroad Company, together with the rent reserved therein of twelve +thousand dollars per annum, payable semi-annually, shall have been +transferred to the treasurer of the Commonwealth, for the future +security of the Commonwealth for its whole loan of credit to the Troy +and Greenfield Railroad Company, in such manner as the attorney-general +shall prescribe, and to the satisfaction of the governor and council, +the state treasurer shall deliver one hundred and twenty-five thousand +dollars of said scrip to the treasurer of the Troy and Greenfield +Railroad Company; and when the remaining portion of said bonds, with the +coupons attached, shall be in like manner delivered to the state +treasurer, he shall deliver to the treasurer of the Troy and Greenfield +Railroad Company the balance of said scrip, amounting to seventy-five +thousand dollars: _provided_, that if any holders of said bonds, not +exceeding ten thousand dollars in all, shall refuse to surrender the +same at par, the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company shall not be +required to purchase the same, but the state treasurer shall withhold an +equal amount of state scrip at par in lieu thereof. + +The semi-annual payments of the coupons, with the balance of the income +from the lease of the Southern Vermont Railroad, shall be collected by +or paid to the state treasurer, who shall therefrom pay the interest on +the two hundred thousand dollars of five per cent. scrip herein +authorized to be issued, and shall pay the balance to the commissioners +of the sinking fund of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad loan, to be by +them from time to time invested as is now by law required. + +The Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company shall, as soon as may be after +the passage of this act, procure from the legislature of the slate of +Vermont the requisite authority for purchasing, holding and mortgaging +to the Commonwealth the franchise, railroad and property of the Southern +Vermont Railroad Company, according to the provisions of this act; and +in case such authority shall not be granted, and any want of security by +reason thereof accrue to the Commonwealth, the governor and council +shall withhold from the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company portions of +scrip constituting the last deliveries to be made on the completion of +the tunnel, to such amount, not exceeding two hundred thousand dollars, +as may be required for further security. + +SECT. 9. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent herewith, are hereby +repealed: _provided_, _however_, that such repeal shall not, and nothing +contained in this act shall, have effect or be construed in anyway to +release or impair any security which the Commonwealth now has or may +hereafter have by force of the bond and mortgage now held by the +Commonwealth on the franchise, railroad and property of the Troy and +Greenfield Railroad Company. + +_Approved April 4, 1860._ + + +[1862.--Chapter 156.] + +AN ACT providing for the more speedy completion of the Troy and +Greenfield Railroad and Hoosac Tunnel. + +_Be it enacted, &c., as follows:_ + +SECT. 1. The governor, with the advice of the council, is hereby +authorized and directed to appoint three able, impartial and skilful +commissioners to investigate the subject of finishing the Troy and +Greenfield Railroad, and of tunneling the Hoosac Mountain, whose duty it +shall be to report to the governor and council what, in their judgment, +will be the most economical, practical and advantageous method of +completing said road and tunnel, the estimated cost of fitting the same +for use, the time within which the tunnel can be completed, and what +contracts can be effected, and with what parties, for completing said +tunnel and road, and the probable cost of the same, the probable +pecuniary value of the road and tunnel when completed, the sources and +amount of traffic and income, and all other facts in their opinion +useful to assist the governor and council in determining the best method +of securing a continuous railroad communication between Troy and +Greenfield. + +SECT. 2. The Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company is hereby authorized +to surrender to the slate, the property now mortgaged; but the right of +redemption shall not be barred until ten years have elapsed after said +road and tunnel are completed and the same open for use. The said +commissioners shall immediately, in the name of the Commonwealth, take +complete possession under the mortgages to the Commonwealth, given by +the Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company, of all property, rights and +interests intended to be conveyed by said mortgages, or either of them, +and then shall, without unnecessary delay, cause the said railroad to be +completed and put into running order, and supplied with suitable depots, +turn-tables and other usual and necessary appliances for the reception +of freight and passenger cars, from the eastern terminus of the Troy and +Greenfield Railroad to the Hoosac Tunnel. + +SECT. 3. Said commissioners shall audit and allow all just claims for +labor, service, materials, land-damages incurred after April sixth, +eighteen hundred and sixty, and before July twelfth, eighteen hundred +and sixty-one, in carrying on the work of constructing the Troy and +Greenfield Railroad and Hoosac Tunnel, and may procure the release of +all attachments and discharge all liens on said materials. The accounts +thus audited shall be transmitted to the governor, and, if approved by +the governor and council, the governor is hereby directed to draw his +warrant upon the treasurer in favor of the claimants, for the amounts +thus allowed, to an amount not exceeding one hundred and seventy-five +thousand dollars. + +SECT. 4. Said commissioners are hereby authorized, with consent of the +governor and council, to use or run that portion of said road east of +the Hoosac Mountain, or lease the same to the "Vermont and +Massachusetts," the "Fitchburg," the "Troy and Boston Railroad Company," +or either of them, until the completion of the said tunnel. + +SECT. 5. Said commissioners shall have authority, with the approval of +the governor and council, to continue the work on the Hoosac Tunnel, and +by contract or otherwise, to expedite the completion of said tunnel. + +SECT. 6. All the net earnings and income derived from said railroad, +including the tunnel, shall be held by the Commonwealth in trust: first, +for the payment and reimbursement of the interest on all loans, +advancements and disbursements of the Commonwealth, on account of said +railroad or tunnel: second, for the payment and reimbursement to all +parties having a legal right thereto. + +SECT. 7. The governor is hereby authorized to draw his warrant on the +treasurer of the Commonwealth, for such sums as may be required from +time to time by the commissioners for the purpose of carrying out the +provisions of this act, and the amount of the same is hereby +appropriated therefore; and the treasurer of the Commonwealth is hereby +authorized to issue scrip, or certificates of debts, in the name and in +behalf of the Commonwealth, to an extent sufficient to secure the +required funds, which scrip shall bear such rate of interest, as is +allowed at the time on state scrip issued for other purposes, and shall +be redeemable at the end of thirty years from the date thereof; and he +shall sell or otherwise use the same at his discretion, to procure the +sum necessary to meet the payments in this act provided: provided, that +all expenditures and advances made under and by virtue of this act, +shall be on account, and form part of the two millions of dollars, +authorized to be loaned in state scrip to the Troy and Greenfield +Railroad Company by chapter two hundred and twenty-six of the acts of +eighteen hundred and fifty-four; and said expenditures and advances, +together with all sums hitherto advanced to said company, excepting the +sums advanced on account of the "Southern Vermont Railroad," shall not +exceed in amount the said two millions of dollars. Such changes may be +made in the location and grades of the road, as may be necessary to +improve the same; and no lease shall be made of the portion of the road +east of the tunnel for a term exceeding six years; nor shall such +portion be constructed without the approval of the governor and council. + +SECT. 8. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent herewith, are hereby +repealed. + +SECT. 9. This act shall take effect upon its passage. + +_Approved April 28, 1862._ + + +[1863.--Chapter 214.] + +AN ACT in addition to "an Act providing for the more speedy completion +of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad and Hoosac Tunnel." + +_Be it enacted, &c., as follows:_ + +SECT. 1. The commissioners appointed under the one hundred and +fifty-sixth chapter of the acts of eighteen hundred and sixty-two, are +hereby authorized, subject to the advice and approval of the governor +and council, to construct, complete and equip the Troy and Greenfield +Railroad and Hoosac Tunnel; and to make such alterations in the line of +said road as may be deemed necessary to render it suitable and proper +for part of a thorough line from Troy to Boston; also such alterations +in the location and dimensions of said tunnel as will render it suitable +and proper for use, in accordance with the spirit and intent of the two +hundred and twenty-sixth chapter of the acts of eighteen hundred and +fifty-four. + +SECT. 2. The governor is hereby authorized to draw his warrant on the +treasurer of the Commonwealth for such sums as may be required from time +to time by said commissioners for the purpose of carrying out the +provisions of this act, and the act or acts to which this is in +addition; and there is accordingly hereby appropriated for the purpose +of constructing and completing said tunnel and railroad and equipping +the the same, and paying interest upon such scrip, as has been or may +be issued during the progress of the work, the unexpended balance of +the two millions of dollars authorized by chapter two hundred and +twenty-six of the acts of the year eighteen hundred and fifty-four, and +referred to in chapter one hundred and fifty-six of the acts of the year +eighteen hundred and sixty-two. And the treasurer of the Commonwealth is +hereby authorized, upon the warrant of the governor drawn as aforesaid, +to issue scrip or certificates of debt to the amount of said +appropriation, which shall be expressed in such currency and shall bear +such rate of interest as the governor and council may direct, and shall +be redeemable at the end of thirty years from the date thereof: and said +treasurer shall sell or otherwise dispose of the same as he may deem +proper, subject to the approval of the governor and council. + +SECT. 3. Said commissioners', and their successors in office, shall be +removable by the governor, with the advice of the council, and in case +of any vacancy occasioned by death; resignation or removal, such vacancy +shall be filled by appointment of the governor, with the advice of the +council; and said commissioners shall, once in three months, and oftener +if required, present to the governor and council an account of all +contracts entered into by them as such commissioners, and of all +payments and charges by them made, by virtue of their commission, with +their vouchers therefore, which vouchers and accounts shall be examined, +and if found correct, and in good faith, shall be allowed by the +governor and council; but no lease of any part of said railroad, nor any +contract amounting to more than ten thousand dollars shall be made by +said commissioners without the of the governor and council. + +SECT. 4. Said commissioners in altering the location of the line of said +road shall have the same power as railroad corporations have in making +locations under existing laws, and may take, by purchase or otherwise, +such lands, or easements therein, as may be needed for any purposes +connected with the construction of said tunnel, and all titles or +easements so taken shall vest in the Commonwealth; and all parties +aggrieved by any action of said commissioners, under this section, may +have their damages assessed in the manner provided by law for the +assessment of damages against railroad corporations; and all damages so +assessed shall be paid from the treasury of the Commonwealth to the +party entitled thereto, upon the warrant of the governor, drawn pursuant +to the provisions of this act. + +SECT. 5. Said commissioners, subject to the approval of the governor and +council, shall have the power to use a part of the money appropriated by +this act, not exceeding fifty thousand dollars, to extinguish any liens +or claims, or rights of redemption which any person or corporation may +have, in order to perfect the title of the Commonwealth to said railroad +and tunnel. + +SECT. 6. The contract executed by the Troy and Boston Railroad Company, +on the eighteenth day of February, eighteen hundred and sixty-three, by +the Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad Company on the twentieth day of +said February, and by the Fitchburg Railroad Company on the twenty-third +day of said month, printed on pages eighty-eight to ninety-four, +inclusive, of the report of said commissioners made on the twenty-eighth +day of February, aforesaid, and referred to in the message of the +governor, dated the twelfth day of March, in the year eighteen hundred +and sixty-three, is hereby approved, ratified and confirmed. + +SECT. 7. The compensation or said commissioners shall be fixed by the +governor, with the advice of the council; but the compensation of the +chairman of said commissioners shall in no event exceed the sum of five +thousand dollars per annum, nor shall the entire compensation of all of +said commissioners exceed the sum of seven thousand dollars per annum. + +_Approved April 29, 1868._ + + + + + +[C.] + + + _Statement of J. W. Brooks, Esq., Chairman of the Commissioners, + made to the Committee during the session of the Legislature, + 1866._ + +The first Act for loaning the credit of the State to the Troy and +Greenfield Railroad Company, dated April 5, 1854, provides, besides +other conditions, that when seven miles of the road in one or two +sections is completed, and 1,000 feet of the tunnel, in one or more +sections, sufficient for one or more tracks is completed, then $100,000 +of scrip shall be delivered to the company. + +The size of the tunnel required by this Act is not definitely stated, +nor what proportion of the $100,000 of scrip is loaned on account of the +tunnel. + +The Act of April 4, 1860, defines the size the tunnel to be 14 feet wide +and 18 feet high. If this means excavation and not completed tunnel, +then the room required for the ballast and drainage would reduce the +height to about 16 feet above the rails; a size absurdly small enough to +be regarded as certainly not above the minimum intended by the Act. The +same Act provides that $30 per foot shall be allowed on account of +heading, and $20 on account of the enlargement, making $50 per foot for +the completed tunnel; $50,000 of the first advance may therefore be +considered as on account of the first 1,000 feet of completed tunnel, +and the remainder, say $50,000, on account of the road which had been +then completed west of the tunnel. + +The second delivery of scrip was on account of the tunnel, and under the +provisions of the' Act of 1859, which provides that $50,000 may be +advanced upon the completion of 1,000 feet of heading. The heading was +done and $49,777.78 delivered October 4, 1859. + +The third delivery of scrip was under the provisions of the same Act, +and was on account of grading three miles of road, in detached pieces, +near Greenfield. For this, $50,222.22 was delivered January 3, 1860. + +The fourth delivery was under the same Act, and for completing the +second 1,000 feet of tunnel, for which $30,222.22, was delivered March +1, 1860. + +An Act changing the terms of the loan was passed April 4, 1860. Section +2 divides the scrip remaining undelivered, as follows: "No further +deliveries of scrip shall be made to said company upon the conditions +authorized in former Acts, but the undelivered portions of the loan of +two millions of dollars authorized by chapter two hundred and twenty-six +of the Acts of eighteen hundred and fifty-four, amounting to one +million seven hundred and seventy thousand dollars, shall be divided and +apportioned between the railroad and tunnel, and for the construction of +each, respectively: 'six hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the +completion of the unfinished portion of railroad extending from the +eastern terminus of said road near Greenfield, to within half a mile of +the eastern end of Hoosac Tunnel." + +Section 3 contains the following provisions: "The governor and council +shall annually appoint a state engineer for the purpose of examining and +determining monthly the amount and value of the work done, and materials +delivered on the railroad and tunnel of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad +Company, who shall receive an annual salary of one thousand dollars, +payable quarterly. The state engineer shall forthwith fix permanent +marks in each end of the Hoosac Tunnel, marking the progress of the work +up to February twenty-fourth, eighteen hundred and sixty, from which to +determine the progress subsequently made. He shall also determine by +suitable notes, marks or observations, the amount and value of all +grading, bridging, masonry, or other work done, or iron, or other +materials delivered on the road east of the Hoosac Tunnel, prior to +December twenty-second, eighteen hundred and fifty-nine, and fix data +from which to determine the value of any work, or materials delivered +subsequent to the date last named. He shall monthly, immediately after +the first day of each month, estimate the proportion which' the work +done upon the road, since the preceding estimate, bears to the whole of +the work required to be done in the graduation, masonry, bridging, and +superstructure of said railroad east of the Hoosac Tunnel; and also the +work done in the excavation of said tunnel, which he shall certify +separately to the governor, together with the amount of state scrip to +which the company is entitled under the provisions of this Act. Such +monthly estimates shall be based upon a width of road-bed at grade of +fifteen feet, on embankments, seventeen and a half feet in side cuts, +and twenty feet in through cuts; in the heading of the tunnel upon +dimensions fourteen feet wide and six feet high in the middle, and in +the finished excavation of the tunnel of fourteen feet wide and eighteen +feet high in the middle. + +"The deliveries of scrip shall be at the rate of fifty dollars for each +lineal foot of tunnel, divided between heading and full-sized tunnel, in +the proportion of thirty dollars for each lineal foot of heading and +twenty dollars per lineal foot for the remaining excavation; and of six +hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the whole of the graduation, +masonry, bridging, and superstructure of the unfinished portion of the +road east of the tunnel. + +"The Scrip shall be delivered on the road in the proportion which the +value of the work done and the materials delivered each month bears to +the estimated cost of the whole work and materials required on the +portion of road aforesaid. + +"No expenditures shall be required merely for the purposes of ornament, +but the work shall be substantially performed, and the rails shall weigh +not less than fifty-six pounds to the lineal yard; for any defective +materials or work, a proportionate amount of scrip shall be withheld. + +"The governor and council shall have a general supervision of the work, +and for that purpose shall visit and inspect the same at least once in +each year, and as much oftener as they may deem expedient; and they +shall have power to correct abuses, remedy defects, and enforce +requirements, by withholding scrip or imposing new requirements in such +manner as the interest of the Commonwealth shall in their judgment +require." + +Under the provisions of this Act scrip to the amount of $455,034.70 has +been delivered on account of the railroad and $40,131.95 on account of +the tunnel. + +State scrip was delivered in sterling up to and including the delivery +of March 7, 1861, and afterwards in dollar bonds. In this statement the +sterling is changed into dollars, to show it all in one currency, and +the pound sterling is reckoned, as by the State treasurer when the +deliveries were made, at $4.44-44/100. + +The certificates for amounts due on account of the railroad or tunnel +were for irregular sums, and the scrip delivered was in round amounts; +the fractional difference sometimes in excess and sometimes below the +amount of the certificates is divided between the tunnel and railroad in +proportion to the amount due on account of each. + +Stated and divided as above, the scrip which has been delivered on +account of the railroad and tunnel, is as follows:-- + + ========================================================================= + | | On account | On account of| + Date. | On account | of road west| road of east | Total. + | of Tunnel. | of Tunnel.| of Tunnel. | + ------------------+------------+-------------+--------------+------------ + 1858, October, 6, | $50,000 00 | $50,000 00 | - | $100,000 00 + 1859, October 4, | 49,777 78 | - | - | 49,777 78 + 1860, January 3, | - | - | $50,222 22 | 50,222 22 + 1860, March 1, | 80,222 22 | - | - | 80,222 22 + 1860, October 8, | 15,829 79 | - | 64,170 21 | 80,000 00 + 1860, Dec. 12, | 5,580 37 | - | 112,197 40 | 117,777 77 + 1861, January 5, | 2,781 99 | - | 30,601 34 | 38,883 83 + 1861, February 18,| 2,545 83 | - | 23,281 95 | 25,777 78 + 1861, March 7, | 2,052 82 | - | 19,724 95 | 21,777 77 + 1861, May 8, | 5,061 65 | - | 80,438 35 | 85,500 00 + 1861, June 27, | 2,831 89 | - | 84,668 11 | 37,500 00 + 1861, July 12, | 3,497 61 | - | 90,002 39 | 93,500 00 + +------------+-------------+--------------+------------ + |$170,131 95 | $50,000 00 | $505,256 92 | $125,388 87 + ========================================================================= + +The amount of State scrip which according to statutes, had been earned +by the progress made towards constructing the tunnel before the +surrender of the property to the State, may be stated as follows:-- + +Strictly considered, no portion of the tunnel at the East End was cut to +the required size of 14 feet wide and 18 feet high, much of it was less +than 12 feet wide, and some of it only about 13 feet high. At the +entrance the excavation was so nearly sufficient that only a small +amount more was required to bring it to full size, and had all the rest +been well done, a not very exacting inspector might have passed 25 feet +of this as completed. The remaining 2,964 feet of penetration at this +end could form no ground whatever for a claim as completed work. + +At the West Shaft the heading had been driven in both directions 56-1/2 +feet. + +At the West End the total penetration had been 543 feet. Of this +distance 26 feet had been arched with stone--40 feet is in rock, +standing without support, and 477 feet is temporarily supported with +timbers. Under the assumption that the 40 feet left unsupported is safe +enough to be left permanently 80, then 66 feet was completed at this +end, giving at all points a total penetration of 3,588-1/2 feet, of +which, 91 feet was completed. + +It is clear that the payment of $50,000, under the Act of April 5, 1854, +for 1,000 feet of completed tunnel, was not earned. + +Under the Act of 1859, scrip to the amount of $50,000 was to be +delivered upon the completion of 1,000 feet of heading, and though the +prior conditions of this Act had not been complied with, this amount may +fairly be considered as having been earned. + +The next payment of $30,222.22 for the completion of the second 1,000 +feet of tunnel was clearly not earned. + +All subsequent payments were made under the Act of April 4, 1860, +providing for the payment of $30 per foot for heading and $20 per foot +for the enlargement. + +The total amount according to the several Acts is as follows:-- + + Under the Act of 1859,-- + For 1,000 feet of heading, $50,000 00 + Under Act of 1860,-- + For balance of heading, say 2,588-1/2 feet, at $30 per foot, 77,655 00 + For 91 feet of enlargement, at $20 per foot, 1,820 00 + ----------- + Total amount earned, $129,475 00 + +The amount of State scrip which under the statute had been earned by the +progress made in constructing the railroad may now be considered. + +The first payment of $50,000 under the Act of 1854, should have been for +seven miles of completed railroad. The certificate of the engineer, upon +which it was paid, gave (see page 82 of House document No. 185 for +1860,) the length of rails laid as upwards of seven miles; nothing in +the certificate showed then any part of it was completed road, and upon +investigation then made it proved that while most of it was done, a part +near the west end of the tunnel "was not ten feet wide," and would cost +several thousand dollars to complete it. It is clear that this payment +had not then been earned in the manner provided by the statute. + +The second payment was on account of the road, under the Act of 1859, +for grading three miles of road, "said three miles being all situated +within four miles of the point of commencement;" Page 30 of House +document No. 185 for 1860 says of this grading, "the continuous line is +interrupted by fourteen gaps of cuts and fills;" it is thus made up of +fifteen separate pieces, avoiding all but the cheapest part of the work, +and costing, as the contractor who did the work certifies, between +$8,000 and $9,000. Under, to say the least, a somewhat liberal +construction of the Act, $50,000 was said to have been earned by doing +this grading. + + All further deliveries of scrip have been under the Act of 1860, + which provides that the $650,000 to be delivered on account of the + road east of the tunnel shall be in proportion to the progress made + upon the work. On page 15, (Senate document No. 93 for 1863,) the + cost of the work done and materials furnished upon the road east of + the tunnel is stated at $463,047 90 + + Deduct amount first expended, as testified by the contractor, + for which the $50,000 was paid, say 8,500 00 + + Amount expended under the $650,000 appropriation, + including the cost of worthless bridging and masonry, $454,547 90 + + The cost of completing the grading, bridging, masonry and + superstructure upon this part of the road, as estimated by + Mr. Laurie in 1862, was $370,970 80 + + Deduct the cost of a small change in the line, and of + embankment washed away by the Deerfield River, 5,275 00 + + Sum required to complete the road upon the old line + where the work stopped, $365,695 80 + + Amount already expended under the $650,000 appropriation, 454,547 90 + + Amount expended and to be expended at the then prices, $820,243 70 + + Of which 55 per cent. had been done when the work + stopped, in July, 1861. 55-416/1000 per cent. therefore of + the $650,000 had been earned, and this amounts to $360,204 00 + + The total amounts earned and paid compare as follows: + Amount paid upon the tunnel, $170,131 95 + Amount paid upon the road west of the + tunnel, 50,000 00 + Amount paid upon the road east of the tunnel, 505,256 92 + ---------- $725,388 87 + + Amount earned upon the tunnel, $129,475 00 + Amount earned upon the road west of tunnel, + (not fully earned,) 50,000 00 + Amount earned upon the road east of tunnel, + (temporary work included,) 410,204 00 + ---------- 589,679 00 + ----------- + $135,709 87 + Overpayment in reckoning sterling exchange, say 44,000 00 + Overpayment when the work stopped, in July, 1861, $179,709 87 + ----------- + Further payments made upon the same work under the + law of 1862, 140,226 95 + ----------- + Total amount paid more than earned, $319,936 82 + +If proper deductions had been made from the amount earned on account of +the unfinished condition of the seven miles west of the tunnel, on which +the first $50,000 was paid, and on account of the worthless masonry and +bridging which have been reckoned in at full cost, the overpayments +would be shown more correctly to exceed in amount the sum of +$350,000. + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + +All obvious typographical errors were corrected. Tables containing +decimal fractions were standardized to show decimals for all values in +the column. Spelling was standardized to the most prevalent form. +Punctuation was left as printed. + +On page 42 the curve value 3-1/2° was changed to 3° 30' to match the +other similar values. The sum of the shares in the table in Appendix A +on pages 50-51 should total 4,610 shares but was printed as 0,000. This +was assumed to be a typographical error. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Report of the Hoosac Tunnel and Troy +and Greenfield Railroad, by the Joint Standing Committee of 1866., by Tappan Wentworth + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40427 *** |