rails by May succeeding, and that if no unforeseen obstacle interposed, the whole of this part of the line would be in successful operation by the first of October last.

"This anticipation was realized. The grading, masonry, bridging, superstructure, and depot buildings were sufficiently completed, the engines and cars were delivered, and the road opened for the conveyance of passengers, on the first day of October, and it has continued in operation to the present time.

"Regular merchandize trains were established on the 23d of October, and they have been continued to this date.

"Throughout the greater part of the road, it is graded for a single track only; and but one track has been laid down, with the exception of the necessary turn-outs at the nine stations. The engineers, at an early period, recommended the grading of the entire line for a double track. But, under the uncertainty then existing, of procuring funds for the completion of the whole road, the Directors, upon full consideration, deemed it prudent to order the grading generally for one track; at the same time. giving the engineers "discretionary power, as to the cuts, embankments, and bridges, to make them of such width and construction, as should best subserve the interests of the corporation and the public, taking into account the contingency of a double track hereafter."

"Under this authority, the deep cuts, the heavy embankments, nd the masonry and bridges have been constructed of full width. for two tracks.

"The exact length of the line, from the junction with the Boston and Worcester Road, to the east bank of Connecticut river, is 54 miles 184 rods. The intermediate distances are given in a table hereto annexed.

"In the construction of this part of the road, the Directors have endeavored to make a permanent and substantial structure.

Great pains have been taken to remove from the road-bed, all materials which would be seriously affected by frost, and to supply their place with gravel or sand. The superstructure is of the most substantial character; and the masonry will not suffer in comparison with that of any other road in the country. In the erection of Depot buildings, and the construction of cars and engines, the Board have consulted usefulness, convenience, and durability, with little regard to ornament or show. And with the short experience which they have had, the undersigned are satisfied that these objects have all been accomplished; and they are happy to congratulate the stockholders and the community upon the successful result of their labors thus far.

"Although the road was sufficiently completed to be opened for use on the 1st day of October last, many parts of it were so unfinished as to require some force to be kept upon the construction, nearly to the present time; and it is not now found practicable to state the exact cost of this portion of the line. This will be presented in a future Report, together with such other information as is required by law.

"The accounts for these expenditures are, however, principally liquidated and paid. And it is believed that an estimate, generally correct, may now be made, of such claims as are yet outstanding. Upon this basis, the following will be found to be a nearly correct statement of the cost of the road east of the river. But it must be borne in mind, that these items may be varied when the final statement is given.

Graduation, masonry, bridging, and superstruc

ture, for main track, 54 m.

3036 ft.

Turn-out and depot, do.

2.

1310 ft.

or 56823 ms.

$1,633,122 60

Brought up, $1,633,122 60

64,518 93

Engineer department, surveys, instruments, &c.,

for four years,

8 engines, 5 long passenger cars, 10 short do., 2 forward, do., 3 baggage, do., 50 merchandise, do., 40 gravel, do., and 3 hand, do., Depot buildings for 9 stations, furniture, aqueducts, wells, machine shop, &c.,

Land damages and fencing,

Depot lands at 9 stations, about 18 acres, Miscellaneous expenses, including salaries, printing, stationary, office rents and expenses, clerk hire, collecting assessments, postages, &c.,

Total east of river,

100,004 83

54,412 18

89,037 47

6,638 43

25,251 53

$1,972,985 97

Being about $36,135 per mile.

The estimate for this part of the road, made in

December, 1838, was

Surplus cost above estimates,

$1,864,729 12

108,256 85

"This excess above the estimate, being a little less than six per cent., is not caused by the extra cost of the items actually estimated; for, except in one or two cases of small amount, these, in fact, have not cost more than was anticipated. But the principal difference arises, in the first place, from the fact, that, at the time the estimates were made, the work of graduation was in progress, and the cuts were in a rough state, and could not be measured with any great degree of accuracy. The quantities returned as excavated, were deduced, in most cases, from the previous monthly estimates, and the estimates were put upon it according to those results.

Since it has been com

pleted, it has all been re-measured for the final settlements, and it is now ascertained that the quantity of materials excavated, much exceeds that actually estimated.

"In the next place, as the work has advanced, it has been found necessary and economical, in order to accommodate the business of the road, to procure larger quantities of many articles for its equipment, than were supposed necessary; to increase the number and size of the buildings at the depots; to add to thein expensive aqueducts and fixtures, and to enlarge some of the bridges. The length of the track, including turn-out and depot tracts, proves also to be about eight-tenths of a mile more than was estimated for-the wheels and springs of the cars, are more substantial and expensive than was originally intended; and in one or two cases the cost of grading a section has been necessarily enhanced in consequence of the failure of the contractor, and his inability to finish his work.

"The following is a statement of the principal items of cost not estimated, viz.

Excess of excavation above estimates-addition

to bridges increased length of track, and improved switches, and extra cost of finishing a small part of the grading,

Additional number of cars, and improved wheels for the whole,

Increased number and size of buildings, and ad

$80,766 13

12,946 67

"And in view of these expenditures, it should be borne in mind, that the depot arrangements at Springfield are designed, and are

on a sufficiently extensive scale, to afford the necessary accommodation for the business of the road west of the river. The same remark applies to the machine-shop, tools, and fixtures, and in part also to the engines and cars already provided.

"The whole of the expensive depot arrangements at Springfield, will be as necessary to the western as to the eastern portion of the road, and the cost of them ought in fact to be apportioned upon both sections of the line equally.”

Since the road has been in operation, the Directors have voted to establish an additional depot in the town of Spencer, provided the local inhabitants give a part of the aid and facilities which they had previously offered for the purpose. And, at the same time, the Board directed the Engineer to prepare and lay down a turn-out track for the merchandize cars at the village of EastBrookfield.

"At the date of the last Report, the whole line of the road westward of Connecticut river, a distance of 62.6 miles, had been definitely located, with the exception of a few miles in Westfield and the south part of Russell-about 344 miles of the western part of it had been under contract for grading from March, 1838; and, excepting 10 miles immediately east of Pittsfield, the work had been commenced in June and July succeeding, and was then in successful progress.

"In March, 1839, the Board, after a full and personal exami nation by a committee, directed the definite location of the road through Westfield and the south part of Russell, to be made entirely upon the northerly side of the Westfield Great river, and as near the village of Westfield as was practicable without two crossings of the river.

"Early in the last season, the grading was commenced upon the 10 miles east of Pittsfield; and upon this, as well as upon the residue of the 344 miles between Henry's and the State line, the work has been vigorously prosecuted to the present time.