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

SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886. 417
to be authorized to subscribe for 10,000 shares of the Western road,
the bank to retain one-half the bank tax on its capital, and the in-
come on the stock in tlie road until the assessments on the road
were refunded. The democratic party declared war against the bill
on account of the provision for sucli an immense bank, and they
succeeded in putting througli a substitute bill, authorizing the State
treasurer to subscribe $1,000,000 to the Western stock, provided that
three of tlie directors be chosen by the Legislature. George Bliss
had the pleasure, as he tells us, of carrying this bill to Governor
Everett for his signature. The following year the State treasurer
was authorized to issue scrip to pay assessments and to establish a
stock sinking-fund. The Massachusetts Bank project meantime fell
through.
Hartford was still an applicant for a Massachusetts charter for its
road, being supported, too, by many influential men in Worcester
county ; while Berkshire furnished a respectable petition for a road
from West Stockbridge to the Connecticut State line toward Hartford.
Mr. Bliss was appointed to oppose the Hartford scheme, and after a
heated contest in committee the petitioners were given leave to with-
draw. Surveys along the Western railroad route were actively
pushed during 1836, and the first grading was begun in the following
winter.
The manner of entering Springfield furnished occasion for many
local heartburnings. The four routes discussed were : (1) Cabot-
ville, a little south of Chicopee Falls, with a bridge just south of the
mouth of the river ; (2) End brook, crossing the Connecticut midway
between the village and the Chicopee river ; (3) Garden brook, very
much as it was finally built ; and (4^ Mill river, thence north below
Maple and Chestnut streets to the Garden brook line. When it was
thought probable that the Worthington property would be the site of
the depot, an agent secured of the New York owners the refusal of
the property at a certain sum. A charge of speculation was subse-
quently made. The present route was approved by the directors in