The Caledonian

RAIL ROAD CONVENTION AT WINDSOR.

The Convention assembled at the Court House, and was organized by the appointment of Hon. Carlos Coolidge, President Pro Tem. and Dr. Torrey, Secretary Pro Tem. A committee appointed by the chair nominated the following named gentlemen as officers of the Convention, to wit:

President, PHILIP RIPLEY, Hartford Conn.
Henry Smith,
Vice Presidents,
CHARLES STEARNS,
D. H. SUMNER.
Secretaries, J. D. HATCH, and C. L. WALKER.

The President addressed the convention upon the several R. R. projects south and extending up the valley of the Connecticut.

On motion of Mr. Price of Windsor the following persons were appointed a committee to prepare business for the action of the meeting. Erastus Hopkins, Northampton, Asa Keyes, Brattleborough, P. R. Chandler, Putney, Foster Sturtevant, Hartland, E. Cleveland, Coventry, C. Stearns, Springfield, J. W. Hubbard, and S. H. Price, Windsor, S. W. Thayer, jr., Thetford, and John H. Morse, Shelburne Falls.

The Convention then adjourned, till 2 o'clock P. M.

AFTERNOON.

The committee upon business made a lengthy and elaborate report detailing the transactions for several years in connection with the various R. R. projects which have attracted public attention during this time, and closing with resolutions to the effect that, since the union of the Fitchburgh, Cheshire and Vermont Central R. R. Companies the aspect of things touching the Connecticut Valley project has been changed, the friends of the enterprise, at this meeting, make arrangements to avail themselves of the failure of the above union to consummate their design, and be in readiness, in the happening of such an event, to push forward a road up the Connecticut valley. This is the substance of the resolutions, and they amount to a postponement of the northern portion of the enterprise for the present—and for the purpose of awaiting the result of other projects now prominently before the public. At the same time it was proposed by the report to raise a committee to co-operate with the Commissioners to act hereafter, as circumstances may dictate, and that the commissioners proceed to open books for subscriptions as previously announced. The Report was unanimously adopted, and a committee as above was appointed as follows:—Philip Ripley of Hartford, Keyes of Brattleborough, Henry of Bellows Falls, S. H. Price of Windsor., S. W. Thayer, jr. of Thetford and D. H. Sumner of Hartford.

Mr. Hopkins of Northampton addressed the convention at considerable length upon the resources of the valley and the importance of opening a road through it, and in which he maintained that the intersecting projects would not affect this unfavorably, and that the Valley road would certainly be constructed.

A resolution was also passed declaring that there was an ample quantity of iron ore in Vermont to build all the rail roads in contemplation in New England and recommending the opening of other beds for this purpose. Some interesting facts were stated upon the subject of this resolution.

The President stated that bills are now before the Connecticut Legislature for chartering roads through the State of Connecticut, as connecting links in the great chain of roads which is to connect the City of New York and other roads north, and that early in 1846 a road would be completed from Springfield. Mass. to Greenfield. The Connecticut roads south are designed to meet the Harlem road which is now in operation to the extent of 30 miles from New York City.

The Court House was filled in the afternoon and mainly by men of large wealth and of known enterprise. Letters were read from several gentlemen—one from Mr. E. Fairbanks, recommending no action now which should seem to embarrass other enterprises, and so the Convention acted. A dozen or more of gentlemen beside those I have named addressed the Convention.

Windsor, June 11, 1845.

P. S. After the Convention adjourned Mr. Baldwin, of Montpelier, made a statement in regard to the Central road and opened books for subscriptions.— In answer to an inquiry why the friends of the Central route left the Lebanon road, he stated that the Concord R. R. Corporation gave them to understand they did not wish for a continuation of that road beyond Concord. They therefore looked for a connection with the Fitchburgh road.