PUBLIC SERVICE. T STEAM RAILROADS. HE first railroad communication with Worcester was in the opening of the Boston & Worcester railroad in 1835. At that time such undertakings were new, and before their utility was practically demonstrated were regarded with disfavor. Much opposition was manifested during the period in which this railroad was being constructed, and once a meeting of the stockholders was called, for the purpose of putting a stop to the operations in progress and abandoning the enterprise. But the faith and persistency of a few strong minds prevailed, and all obstacles were overcome, and the road to Worcester was opened to travel July 6 of the above-named year. Immediately steps were taken to extend the line westward, as the main purpose of the Boston capitalists, who had originated the project, had been to open a highway to the west to connect with the Erie canal, and divert some portion of the traffic through that great waterway eastward, and also that from the western part of New England from its threatened tendency to flow to New York. But Worcester people felt at that time that there was a local advantage in keeping the place a terminus of the railway, and so at first opposed the extension, but without effect, and the year 1839 witnessed the opening of the western railroad to Springfield. Two years later the road to Albany was completed. The two corporations, though in reality sections of one system, were nominally separate concerns, and were operated as such until 1867, when a consolidation was effected under the name of the Boston & Albany Railroad Company, which is now one of the largest and most successful corporations in the country. It is the most important route through New England to the West, the New York Central being virtually a continuation of this line, affording direct communication with Chicago and the Pacific. It controls a total length of 388.68 miles of line. This railroad is equipped with 242 locomotives; 247 passenger cars; 60 baggage, mail and express; freight (box, 3,434; stock, 29; coal, 1,528; flat, 802), 5,798; caboose, 80; other, 449; making a total of 6,693 cars of all descriptions. The total assets of the company as given in the last report of the Railroad Commissioners are $36,518,008.60. The next railroad out of Worcester to be constructed was the Norwich, running south fifty-eight miles. This route became very popular, as being the most direct to New York city, connecting with the Sound boats at New London. The Norwich & Worcester railroad was leased in 1869 by the New York & New England Company for a period of ninety-nine years. It is now a part of the New York, New Haven & Hartford system, which had previously obtained control of the Providence & Worcester road. The Providence & Worcester railroad was opened in 1847, entirely superseding the old Blackstone canal, which had been constructed. twenty years previously, and which had promised so much in the beginning. Over fifty miles of track are now used on this section. In 1888 the road was leased by the New York, Providence & Boston Company, and was operated by that corporation until it was absorbed by the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company, of which it now forms the Worcester division. The demand for a line of communication with the north early became imperative, and in 1848 the Worcester & Nashua railroad was put in operation. In 1885 the road, with its extension to Rochester, N. II., was leased by the Boston & Maine, and is now operated as a part of that great system. The Boston & Maine railroad covers the northeastern part of Massachusetts, nearly the whole of New Hampshire and parts of Maine and Vermont, and also has through or connecting trains to Montreal and the provinces. Its service is of great importance to Worcester, being the great northern and eastern outlet for passengers and freight. The Fitchburg & Worcester railroad was built from Fitchburg to Sterling Junction, where it connected with the Worcester & Nashua road. It was opened to travel in 1850. It is now the northern division of the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad, which has absorbed and operates the Old Colony system. Owing to its position as a bond of union between the northern and southern parts of the county, this railroad is especially valuable, and annually attracts to this city many thousands of tons of freight that would otherwise go to Boston or Springfield. The Fitchburg & Worcester branch of the Old Colony railroad has aided materially in establishing a sharp competition for Western business. The Boston, Barre & Gardner Railroad was incorporated in 1847 as the Barre & Worcester Railroad. It was opened to traffic in 1871, and was designed to open another route to the West. While it had a fair local business, and was a great accommodation to shippers along the line, it was never a paying undertaking. It was dependent upon the Fitchburg Railroad for its through traffic, and in 1886 it was sold to that corporation. The change of management marked the beginning of a new era for the road, and to-day it undoubtedly contributes a handsome sum to the Fitchburg road's net profits. It will be seen by the above summary that all the roads entering Worcester are operated by four large railroad corporations- the Boston & Albany, the Boston & Maine, the New York, New Haven & Hartford, and the Fitchburg. The switching-yards of all the roads are ample, the city having all that could be desired in what are called terminal facilities. The freight-houses are capacious and convenient, and, in the main, the approaches are equally advantageous. It will be seen that every point of the compass is reached by the railroad lines leading from the city. By means of these roads and of the electrics, the people of surrounding towns become patrons of the various industries of Worcester. The Worcester Union Passenger Station is one of the finest owned by the Boston & Albany Railroad Company. The movement for its construction was inaugurated in 1873, when the company decided by unanimous vote that their old quarters on Foster street were inadequate to accommodate their largely increasing business. The station was begun in 1874, and completed the following year. By a legislative act all the railroads coming into or passing through Worcester were required to enter it. The other roads pay rent to the Boston & Albany, the latter furnishing all the employees about the station. The building is 250 feet wide, 450 feet long, the whole structure covering an area of about four acres of land. The general architecture is Gothic in style, with a clock tower on the west corner. The internal arrangements are a model of convenience, combined with a reasonable economy and space. There are in the station a first-class dining-room and news-room, and also a parcel-room, with which is connected a baggage-transfer, and which is the headquarters for all carriages at the station. Tickets for all the railroads entering Worcester are on sale at the Union Station ticket-office, covering all points in the United States and Canada via all routes. Number of passenger trains leaving Worcester daily: Boston & Albany railroad going cast, Boston & Albany railroad going west, 19 18 New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad (Provi- New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad (Nor- Boston & Maine railroad, Fitchburg railroad, Total, II 7 10 5 70 There are also the same number of passenger trains arriving in Worcester daily, making the total number of trains arriving and departing each day 140. Of the eighteen trains going west via the Boston & Albany railroad, four are through trains to New York city, and five make through connections for Chicago and the West. In addition to the four trains to New York city via the Boston & Albany railroad, making western and southern connections, there are two boat lines in winter and three in summer for New York city, with which through trains from Worcester via the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroads connect. They are the Norwich line and Stonington line, running all the year round, and the Providence line, running during the summer only. Three trains daily via the Fitchburg railroad connect at Gardner with through trains for the West. There are also three trains daily making |