1

OF

THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE,

OF THE

State of Pennsylvania,

FOR THE

PROMOTION OF THE MECHANIC ARTS.

DEVOTED TO

MECHANICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE, CIVIL ENGINEERING, THE ARTS
AND MANUFACTURES, AND THE RECORDING OF AMERICAN
AND OTHER PATENTED INVENTIONS.

EDITED BY

JOHN F. FRAZER,

Assisted by the Committee on Publications of the Franklin Institute.

Reporter of American Patents,

C. M. KELLER, late Examiner, Patent Office, Washington.

THIRD SERIES.

VOL. XXI.

WHOLE NO. VOL. LL.

PHILADELPHIA:

PUBLISHED BY THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE, AT THEIR HALL.

1851

JOURNAL

OF

THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE

OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA

FOR THE

PROMOTION OF THE MECHANIC ARTS.

JANUARY, 1851.

CIVIL ENGINEERING.

Extracts from the Fifth Annual Report of the Superintendent of the Vermont Central Railroad Company, October 31st, 1850.

GENTLEMEN:-As anticipated in my last annual Report, the road was opened into the town of Burlington in all the year 1849. Regular passenger and freight trains commenced running to Middlesex on the 30th day of August, distance 84 miles from Windsor; to Waterbury on the 29th day of September, distance 89 miles; and to Burlington on the 31st day of December, distance 115 miles.

The track has been extended during the present month to the wharf on Lake Champlain at Burlington, making the total length of the road 117 miles, from the north end of the Sullivan Railroad Bridge over Connecticut River in Windsor, to Lake Champlain at Burlington, including the branch of one and a half miles in length into Montpelier.

A large portion of the track was either laid at final grade, or has since been raised to grade. About 30 miles of track yet requires raising from six inches to one foot, and 10 miles from one to two feet, to bring it to final grade. When this is done, the track throughout the whole length of the road will be in perfect running order. The material used for grading is of a superior quality. At a few points, however, it is rather too fine, but may hereafter be coated over with a coarser material at a moderate expense if deemed advisable, (and I think it will be,) to prevent the dust from arising in dry weather, while the trains are passing. Most of the track, yet requiring to be raised to grade, lies between Montpelier and Burlington, and was laid in mid-winter, when the ground was frozen so hard and deep as to prevent its being laid at grade. Besides this, the time set for opening

VOL. XXI. THIRD SERIES. - No. 1.-JANUARY, 1851.

1