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

420 SPRINGFIELD, 16S6-18S6.
Hudson and Berkshire company. Albany raised more funds, the
total bonds of the city reaching $1,000,000, less ten per cent, to the
sinking-fund. The cost of the road was estimated at $1,412,804,
which deficiency was met by the Western company.
General extravagance Avas charged upon the directors of the Western
road, and in the winter of 1840 an investigation, extending over a
month, took place, Henry Sterns, of Springfield, and Edmund
Dwight, of Boston, appearing as complainants, while George Bliss
defended the road. It was, in fact, an investigation of George Bliss
himself, as he was charged with quite an extensive scheme of land
speculation ; but it was proved that instead of making money out of
the location of the road it Avas the corporation that was benefited by
his liberal terms. Other officers emerged with equally clean skirts.
A third grant of scrip was asked of the Legislature in 1841, which
was secured after the usual fight. Thus the funds were provided
and the trains running between Boston and Albany before Christmas
of that year.
George Bliss soon became interested in railroading. He was event-
ually chosen president of the ]\Iichigan Southern road, which position
he held until the road was completed to Chicago. He also became
president of the Chicago & Mississippi road, one of the projectors
of the Hartford & Springfield road, and director of the Chicago
&. Rock Island road. He was instrumental in building more than
six hundred miles of the through liue between the Mississippi river
and Boston.
The Connecticut River Yalle}' Steamboat Company were in trouble
in 1832, and some of the stockholders withdrew from the concern,
which was $17,000 behind its accounts. The river traffic was certainly
not flat at this tune. The " William Hall " and "John Cooley "
brought from Hartford, June 2, twelve boats with two hundred and
fifty tons of merchandise, one-half for this town. But the Valley
Steamboat Company failed in August, 1832, and boating was carried
on by smaller companies and concerns.