XXIX. RAILROADS IN THE UNITED STATES. The following list of Railroads in Massachusetts and the adjacent States, and in New York, is very complete and accurate, being compiled from official returns made near January, 1846. But the remainder is quite imperfect, though more full than any thing which has been given before. We insert it in the hope, that, by the kindness of our correspondents in the several States, and of the officers of the Railroad companies, we may obtain materials for a far more perfect enumeration in our next volume. 1. RAILROADS IN MASSACHUSETTS AND THE ADJACENT STATES. The Woburn Branch, two miles long, belongs to the Lowell road; the Medford Branch, two miles, the Lawrence Branch, two miles, and the Great Falls Branch (in New Hampshire), three miles to the Maine; the Dedham Branch, two and two-fifths miles, to the Providence; the Saxonville Branch, four miles, the Millbury Branch, three and one-fifth miles, and the Milford Branch, twelve miles, to the Worcester; the Marblehead Branch, three miles, the Gloucester Branch, twelve miles, and the Salisbury Branch, three miles, to the Eastern; the Fresh Pond and Watertown Branch, five miles, to the Fitchburg. The Worcester Branch road is half a mile in length, and the Quincy road three miles. Including these, the total length of what may be called the Massachusetts roads is 763.97 miles. Besides these there are numerous roads, in process of construction, leading from the main lines in Massachusetts into other States. During the session of 1846, the Massachusetts legislature chartered eighteen roads and branches with an aggregate capital of $5,795,000; and during the session of 1847, sixteen, with an aggregate capital of $4,822,000. * Costs, &c., included in the aggregate of the Eastern Railroad in Massachusetts. † Six miles more in Massachusetts. A portion of this road is in Massachusetts. The total length of railroads in New England is 1,074.77 miles. *Including the Brooklyn and Jamaica road. †This is all that is finished; the whole length of the road from Piermont to Dunkirk is about 450 miles. The total length of the New York roads, now in operation, is 758 miles. The costs, &c. of this road are included in the aggregate of the Western Railroad, to which it belongs. § For 1845; no returns for these roads in 1846. |