LAWS OF THE STATE IN REFERENCE TO RAILROADS. List of all the Railroad Companies chartered in the State of Vermont, with the dates of the Acts of their incorporation; and also the dates and abstracts of all laws passed by the Legislature in reference thereto. The asterisk [*] prefixed signifies that the work of construction has not been commenced. 64 ATLANTIC & ST. LAWRENCE 66 *BELLE WATER & ISLAND POND.... *BENNINGTON & BRATTLEBORO' ... *BENNINGTON & GLASTENBURY *BLACK RIVER BRATTLEBORO' & FITCHBURG · 66 Nov. 13, 1851 Act additional to act of 1850. Oct. 27, 1848 Constituted a corporation of Vermont. Nov. 14, 1851 Time extended for locating road. Nov. 7, 1855 Act of incorporation. Nov. 9, 1831 Act of incorporation. Nov. 10, 1835 Act of incorporation. Nov. 6, 1845 Charter renewed and continued. Nov. 9, 1849 Act of 6th November, 1845, revived. Nov. 23, 1852 Act reviving act of incorporation. Oct. 31, 1855 Act of incorporation. Nov. 6, 1847 Act of incorporation. Oct. 31, 1843 Act of incorporation. Nov. 6, 1846 Conn. River RR Co. may sell a part of its road Oct. 27, 1848 Extends time for completion. Oct. 31, 1844 May unite with any Co. from N.II. or Mass. Oct. 37, 1843 Charter revived: 20 miles to be completed in 5 Nov. 5, 1845 Divided into two companies; divided by White Oct. 20, 1846 No railroad from N. Hamp. to enter from, con- Nov. 14, 1851 May connect with Atlantic and St. Lawrence Nov. 15, 1851 Act of incorporation. Corporate Titles. *ISLAND POND & ST. JOHNSBURY... 66 *LAKE CHAMPLAIN & OTTER CREEK *MIDLAND. 66 แ Nov. 3, 1854 Act of incorporation. Nov. 9, 1847 Resolve approving Asa Whitney's plan of a Nov. 23, 1852 Authorized to purchase franchise of New York Dec. 1, 1853 Time for construction extended. Nov. 13, 1850 Act of incorporation. Nov, 14, 1851 May connect with Atl. and St. Lawrence RR. *MONTPELIER & CONNECTICUT RIVER. NOV. 13, 1849 Act of incorporation. 66 *NEW YORK & BENNINGTON แ แ Nov. 19, 1851 Act to extend charter, etc. Oct. 13, 1851 Act of incorporation. Nov. 23, 1552 May sell to Lebanon Springs Company. *NORWICH & HARTFORD FORWARDING NOV. 14, 1836 Act of incorporation. *PERKINSVILLE........ RUTLAND & BURLINGTON.. Nov. 14, 1856 Act of incorporation. See Champlain and Connecticut River. Nov. 13, 1850 Repeals act 1849. May extend road to Swanton. Nov. 9, 1831 Act of incorporation. Oct. 26, 1833 Time extended for commencing and completing Nov. 1, 1838 Time extended, etc. Oct. 24, 1840 Charter revived and continued. Nov. 13, 1848 Act of incorporation. Nov. 7, 1851 May construct a branch. Nov. 13, 1847 Act of incorporation. Nov. 12, 1849 May construct a branch to the west line of the Dec. 6, 1853 Act of incorporation. Nov. 13, 1848 Act of incorporation. Nov. 13, 1849 Act of incorporation revived and continued. Dec. 2, 1853 Act of incorporation. Nov. 18, 1851 Act of incorporation. Nov. 15, 1853 Time extended for construction. Nov. 6, 1833 Time extended one year. Oct. 31, 1845 Act of incorporation. Nov. 15, 1817 Repeals part of sec. 1 of act of incorporation. Nov. 18, 1858 Seventeen years allowed for completing road. Nov. 10, 1835 Act of incorporation. Oct. 31, 1843 Act of incorporation (2). Nov. 13, 1850 Act of incorporation. Nov. 8, 1848 Act of incorporation. Oct. 26, 1849 Time extended. Nov. 11, 1850 May issue additional stock. Nov. 12, 1858 Authorized to mortgage road. Nov. 13, 1851 Act of incorporation. Nov. 13, 1854 Act to extend charter. Nov. 12, 1852 Act of incorporation. Nov. 5, 1845 Act of incorporation. Nov. 6, 1849 Time extended for construction. Nov. 17, 1851 May connect with Rutland and Burlington. The Railroad first constructed in Massachusetts, and one of the first in the United States, was the Granite Railroad, connecting the quarries in the town of Quincy with the Neponset River, a distance of about three miles. It was chartered in 1825, and opened in 1827. It was constructed with a flat rail, 3x inches, laid upon longitudinal wooden sills, for which stone sills were afterwards substituted. The road had an inclination of 27 feet to the mile, with a plane of 380 feet long, having an inclination of 1 to 44. With the exception of the plane, up which the descending cars drew the empty ones, it was worked by horses, and bore a relation to the railroads of the United States similar to that borne by the tram roads of England to the railways of that country. It was not, however, till 1830 that public attention in Massachusetts was seriously turned towards the construction of railroads. In 1831 several important lines were chartered, among which were the Boston and Lowell, Boston and Providence, and Boston and Worcester. The construction of the first was commenced on the 28th November, 1831, and completed and the road opened to the public on the 26th June, 1835. It is one of the most productive roads for its length in the United States, and has returned to its stockholders dividends which have averaged 6.75 per cent. since its completion. The next road opened was the Boston and Providence, the construction of which was commenced in December, 1832, and completed in June, 1835. The southerly terminus of the road was changed in 1848, largely increasing its cost. It has been a productive work, having returned to its stockholders dividends averaging 5.5 per cent. annually. The fourth road opened in the State was the Boston and Worcester, the construction of which was commenced in August, 1832, and completed on the 3d July, 1835. The road has been uniformly successful and productive, and has paid dividends averaging 7.40 per cent. for twenty-six years. In 1836 only one road, the Taunton Branch, was opened. This has been a successful work, having paid its stockholders dividends averaging 7 per cent. annually. For sixteen years past they have averaged 8 per cent. No roads were opened in 1837. In 1838, on the 23d December, the Nashua and Lowell Railroad was completed, its construction having been commenced in 1837. This road has paid its stockholders dividends averaging 8.25 per cent. annually from its opening. The West Stockbridge Railroad, a short link of 2.75 miles between the Berkshire and the Hudson and Boston roads was also opened in 1838. This road has been leased to and worked by the connecting lines. The Eastern Railroad was opened in 1838 from Boston to Salem, a distance of 13 miles. This, for many years, was a productive work, but, in 1854 and '55, largely increased its capital account for branch lines and other expenditures. No dividends have been paid since 1854. For several years to come a considerable portion of its earnings will be absorbed by the payment of its indebtedness. In 1839, a portion of the Western Railroad was brought into use-the division between Worcester and the Connecticut River, 62.6 miles having been opened on the 1st October. The object of this important work was to form a new route between the city of Boston and the New York lines of public works. It has been eminently successful in the principal object of its con struction, the promotion of the manufacturing and commercial interest of the State, and at the same time productive to its stockholders, having earned dividends equalling 5.28 per cent., besides accumulating over $2,100,000 in sinking funds. For the past sixteen years it has paid dividends averaging 6.88 per cent. annually The New Bedford and Taunton Railroad, 20.59 miles long, was also opened in 1839. This road paid to its stockholders dividends averaging 6.4 per cent. annually. The Charlestown Railroad, 1.3 mile long, afterwards united with the Fitchburg, was also opened this year. In 1840, 34.33 miles were opened: the Western Railroad, 15.01 miles; the Eastern, 2.82 miles, and that part of the Norwich and Worcester, 16.50 miles, which lies in the State of Massachusetts. In 1841, the Western Railroad was extended to the western boundary of the State, 40.20 miles. In 1842, only 6 miles were opened-the Charlestown Railroad having been extended this distance. In 1843, 26.17 miles were opened, viz: the Berkshire, 21.14 miles, and the Fitchburg, 5.03 miles. The Berkshire Railroad was leased to the Housator ic Company, in perpetuity, from the date of its opening, at a rental of 7 per cent. annually on its cost. The rent has been regularly paid. The Fitchburg Railroad has been a successful work, having paid dividends amounting annually to 5.8 per cent. In 1844, 44.71 miles were opened. The Fitchburg Railroad was extended 34.22 miles. The Worcester Branch, designed to connect the railroads entering the city of Worcester, was opened, 0.55 miles; the Con necticut River, 4.07 miles, and that portion of the Hartford and New Haven Railroad lying within the State of Massachusetts, 5.87 miles. The Worcester Branch was subsequently united with the Worcester and Nashua Railroad. The Connecticut River Railroad was finally completed in 1848. It has paid dividends averaging 3.66 per cent. on its common stock. In 1845, 98.33 miles were opened, viz: the Old Colony, 37.26 miles; the Stoughton Branch, 4.07 miles; the Fall River, 12 miles. The Connecticut River Railroad was extended 17 miles; the Fitchburg, 10.09 miles; and the Boston and Maine, 17.91 miles, the new line from Wilmington into the city of Boston having been completed. The Old Colony and Fall River Railroads have since been united under the name of the Old Colony and Fall River Railroad. Since the consolidation the new company has paid dividends averaging 5 per cent. annually. The Stoughton Branch, a local road, has been a productive work, having paid dividends at the rate of 6 per cent. annually. In 1846, 78.55 miles were opened. The Pittsfield and North Adams, 18.65 miles; and the Lexington and West Cambridge, 6.64 miles, were completed. The Fall River Railroad was extended 29.83 miles; the Connecticut River, 17.18 miles; the Fitchburg, 2.37 miles, and the Boston and Worcester, 3.88 miles. The Pittsfield and North Adams was leased to the Western Railroad for a period of 30 years from the date of its opening at an annual rental of 6 per cent. on its cost. In 1847, 91.03 miles were opened, viz: the Vermont and Massachusetts |