"known energy of the contractor to whom that
~”worl< is committed, offers a sufficient guaran-

v

This. ‘contract, by -the terms of which, 30

Since then the force has been augmented,
amounting now to nearly 1,000 men, and is
about being furtht-.1‘ largely increased.

724

The company have done a wise act in secnriing
ample ground at Ogdensburg, and other places, for
depots——at Ogdensburg, (52 acres, with a water front
of'4,000 feet, accessible to-any vessel navigating the
lakes. This is as it shouldbe, as it will never be
worth less than its cost to sell, though it would cost
the company many times what they have paid foriit,
it‘ they wanted to enlarge,-after the road is in use.

We are pleased to find our old friend, Col. Schult-
ter at the head of the engineer department. He will
ensure to the company a vigorous prosecution of the
work, and to the public, agood work when it is com-
pleted.

. This road is to be connected by a bridge at Ronscs
Point, across the outletof lake Champlain, with the
Central Vermont railroad, and Rutland railroad,
erctertsion beyond Burlington, by which a train of
cars may pass frotnOgdensburg direct» to Boston,
and to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Portland,
intMaine, without unloading, when the road from
Concord to Portsntottth, I-Iew Hampshire, shall be
completed--—thu.-3 giving a choice of three seaports
for shipping their contents. We give the report en-
tire, except the details of rightof way.

Report of the cli7‘ecz'0rs of the N02‘!/zc2'7t —7‘(LIil

A road compaizg/, New Y0/'/c.~—tS‘itbr/tittecl to

the .cioc/c/tolrlers, June 511a, 1848.

_To the stockltolders of the Nari/Lem miload

conzprmy.
The report, submitted to you at your last
annual meeting, detailed the measures adopted
‘by your board,-in the location of the North-
ern railroad, through St. Lawrence and 'a

‘part of Franklin counties, from Ogdensburgh

to M-alone,ia distance of 62 miles. The pro-
grass of the surveys has since enabled them
to complete the location 52 miles further, to
Dewe_v’s farm, a point in Clinton county,
four miles from the eastern terminus of the
road at Rouse’s point. The fitral location
of the remaining short distance, having been
deferred only to admit of the exercise of every
due precaution in concluding negotiations for
grounds and privileges so important to the
company there. These are now in themain
secured, by a liberal grant from the general
‘government, and some minor arrangements,
in the course of immediate settlement, alone
delay public notice of the location at this
point, fully decided upon by your directors.
At the meeting ofyour board, in October
lasgicontracts were entered into for the grading
of the whole line of your road, under two
contracts with resposible parties, about equal-
ly dividing the distance, and by the terms
‘of which, the entire, -line, by given instal-
ments, is to be completetl, ready for the super
structure, by July, 1849. The worlc done
under these contracts, contrnencetl on the
westerly half of the road, in December. It
was neccss.-,1rily limited, during the season of
frost, to such points as would admit of it.

On
the easterly halfof this line, ground was only
broken on the 19th of April, but the well

‘tee for the proper and timely performance of

miles, beginning at the'lake,'are to be graded

and ready for the rail ‘by October next. A
third contract had been entered into by your
board, for the extensive masonry of the
Chateaugay and Salmon river crossings, the
fortner the most importantfeature in the
road. The unexpected difiiculty in finding
a‘ suitable foundation for the heavy structure
here projected, has necessitated an entire
change in the plans for overcoming, this
chasm. The new plan, being to turn the
river through a tunnel under the embank-
ment, compares favorably with the one first
projected, in pointo!°expense,and titne neces-
sary for construction, and has the recom-
mendation beyond, of superior safety and
solidity, it has, therefore, been adopted by
your directors. This needful change in con-
struction, has led to some delayiand modifi-
cation of original contract, by which this
portion of the work has been retardcd—bu'
not sutliciently, it is hoped, to prevent its
completion by the time originally intended.
During the past winter, contracts have

rials, snfficient for all the requirements of
your road for such material, until new sup
plies can be obtained next winter.

At the meeting of your directors, in March,
contracts were closed, on favorable terms, for
six thousand tons of iron; also for chairs and
spikes; further, for a sufiicient number of
cars and engines, to cotnmence running the
road; and a contract l.as also since been
made, for the‘ delivery of, the iron at Ogdens
burgh, and Rouse’s point.

The settlements involved in securing the
right of way. and requisite land for stations
and other purposes, along the whole line of
your road, have had the unremitting attention
of Messrs. Russell and Horton, upon whom
this very arduous and responsible duty was
devolved. These show, that from the termi-
nus at Ogdensburg to Champlain village, a
distance of 114 m‘les, nearly all the lands
necessary for roadway have been secured,
and of a width throughout sufiicient for the
demands ofa double track. A T A

Of thewhole 1,206‘O‘09 acres, taken for
the 114 miles of roadway:

808432 acres have. been voluntarily re-
leased: .

262001 acres have been secured by agree-

ment,.at thecost of _ $6,296 67
23974 acres have been apprais-

 

ed by la\v, at - - 1,195, 31
Leaving
112575 still to be settled for, in-
Z volving an estimated ex- t
1,206'009 penditure’of  - 2,000 00
Adding to this the estimate of 4,000 00

for cost of roadway still to be se-

cured, from Champlain village

to the lake, 4 miles, equal to 40 ~————--———-
acres, and we arrive at less than $14,000 00
as total cost ofroadway, for lands, (about
1,250 acres,) wl"tich’wtth usual costs and
damages, underlegal appraisal, would have
cost the company probably notless than ten
times that amount.” Besides, these grants for
merenorninal considerations, give the com-
pany a title in fee, relieved from restrictions
of legislation.

been made for ties, timber, and fencing mate;.
‘the table, for further details on lands and

AMERICAN IEAILROAD JOURNAL.‘

The lands ptu'chttst-.d for other purposes
than roadway——l'or stations, materials for
construction, and to avoid a larger expense
for farm crossings, consist of 285 acres, at a
cost of $15,344 42. The principal expendi-
ture, under this head, is at Ogdcnsburgh.—
At that point, anarea, of 62 acres has been
purchased, promising a terminus every way
worthy the importance of your road, by of-
fering an ultimate water front of 4,000 feet,
accessible the entire distance to any vessel
navigating the Western lakes. This probably
unequalled location, must, inevitably con-
stitute the future centre of the harbor of the
“ city” of Ogdensburgh, and become of in-
calculable value to the stockholders, and to
public accommodation. ' ‘

At other points of the line, the most eligi-
ble grounds for stations have been secured;
and whenever these wants of the company
could not be definitely determined, as at
l~’touse’s point and Champlain village, refusals
for similar lands have been obtained.

The directors refer to the schedule, laid on

stations.

The location of the Northern railroad,
made in strict conformity to the true interests
of the stockholders, has nevertheless been a
source of disappointment to a few localities,
and been made the cause of some unfriendly
proceedings on their part, against your coni-
pany. These the action of our legislature,
and theexpression of public opinion, has
finally and satisfactorily disposed of; and
what remnant of disappointment still remains,
would seem to be wearing off, if the in-
crease in the voluntary payment of assess-
ments is any proof-——for here we find of 2,161
shares registered in Canton, Potsdam, and
south, 802 shares as having complied with
the assessment. Your directors feel encou-
raged-, therefore, to express confidence in the
gradual, voluntary liquidation ofthe balance,
and in an amicable and friendly reunion
with some of the earliest and most ardent
friends of the road. Under any circum-
stances, the solvency of the amount due on
this part of our local stock, from the charac-
ter ofthe large majority of the holders, need
not be a subject ofdoubt.

Our applicationpto the legislature, for the
grant of the privilege of connecting your
road by a bridge at Rouse’s point, with the
Vermont shore, was retarded during the last
session, by reasons partly connected with the
just. mentioned causes. This has afforded

the opportunity ofa thorough investigation of

the subject, and givenrise to several reports,
all favorable to your application. - The time
consumed thereby, and the short session, pre-
vented final action on the bill. Your direc-
tors hesitate not, however, to state, as their
utigualified conviction, that the legislature is
prepared to pass this bill, at the coming ses-
sion ; and not as a favor extended to Northern
New York, but as an act of sound policy
and interest to the state at large.

The importance of a connection between
the Northern railroad and the city of Moo-
treal, has long had the attention of your
board, and led to negotiations, the satisfactory