Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

CHAPIER XVIII.
1831-1841.
The Era of Railroad Building. — Canal and Railroad Advocates. — The Old Western Road.
A Mass Meeting at Springfield. — Hartford's Rival Scheme. — Stock Suhscriptions.
Seeking State Aid.— Democratic Party Opposition. — River Boats. — Chicopee and
Cabotville. — School Districts. — Activity in Real Estate. — A Washington's Birthday
Celebration. —Visit of Henry Clay. — William B. Calhoun. — Temperance. — Elliot-
Buckland Murder Trial. —Revolutionary Pensioners. — George Bliss in Politics.—
Springfield's Bi-centennial. — Fourth of July at Factory Village. — George Bancroft in
Local Politics. — The Fifteen-Gallon Law.— Marcus Moi'ton. — A. Harrison Demonstra-
tion. — Slavery. — Dr. Osgood. — Springfield Statistics— Newspapers. — Dr. Joshua
]7i-ost. — Churches. — The Fire Department. — Military Companies.
On the 23d of June, 1831, the Boston & Worcester Railroad Corpora-
tion was chartered. On the 21st of December, 1841, the raih-oad from
Albany to Chatham Four Corners, N. Y., was so far completed
tliat trains passed through to Worcester, thus joining Boston and
Albany with a continuous rail. This, then, was the decade of pio-
neer railroads. The project of a canal over this route had fallen
through. Governor Eustis had favored it early in 1825, and Governor
Lincoln later in that year viewed it with equal favor after a commis-
sion had gone over the ground, although he took occasion to speak
of railroads as a promising means of transportation. The commis-
sioners' report of 1826 had favored a canal route through Worces-
ter county, up the Deerfield river, and through Hoosac mountain by a
four-mile tunnel; estimated cost, $6,824,072. But at this session
Senator Mills, Representative Calhoun, and the other members of the
committee on roads and canals recommended that railroad commis-
sioners be appointed to investigate the subject. The House refused
to do so.