to apply to the Legislature for leave to build a railroad over the route above named, and have obtained a charter for that purpose,

Resolved, that a railroad on the east side of the Connecticut river is needed as imperatively now as when the charter of the Northampton and Springfield railroad was granted in 1842, and as when, in 1844, the time for construction was extended, and that a road on the west side of the river does not afford us reasonable accommodation;

Resolved, that the route of the Mount Holyoke and Hampshire and Franklin railroads is feasible, that they can be built at reasonable expense and in our opinion would pay good dividends;

Resolved, that the interests of the people on the line of the road, in the valley of the Connecticut river, and the interests of the public generally, require that a railroad should be built from Grout's on Miller's river to Willimansett at the earliest practicable period, and that we will exert ourselves to the utmost of our ability to accomplish this object.

He

After brief discussion, these resolutions were adopted by unanimous vote. Professor E. S. Snell addressed the meeting, giving the results of his investigations as to the feasibility of constructing a railroad around the west end of Mt. Holyoke, illustrating his remarks by drawings. expressed the belief that such a road could be built at reasonable expense. Hon. James White, president of the convention, stated that in his opinion the proposed road between Grout's and Willimansett would prove an important part of the river road and that in many respects its interests were identical with those of the Vermont and Massachusetts road. A committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions for stock in the towns through which the road would pass; those appointed from Amherst were John Leland, Thomas Jones and Charles Adams. The Express, under date of May 14, 1846, announced that stock subscription books had been opened in Amherst, May 7, and in one week over $72,000 had been subscribed, with the prospect of a considerable increase. Within three weeks, at least one-fourth of the capital stock of $425,000 was subscribed for in the towns of Amherst and South Hadley. June 25, 1846, announcement was made that Amherst citizens had subscribed $90,000 of the amount needed. These subscriptions were made by no less than 200 individuals; the largest amount subscribed by any one man was $6,000. Hadley citizens had subscribed to the amount of $20,000. All this time a fierce controversy was being waged between the residents of Northampton and those in Amherst over the merits and demerits of the railway lines projected on the east and west sides of the Connecticut. The weight of money, if not of argument, rested with Northampton. The Connecticut River road was opened for travel, from Springfield to Northampton, Dec. 13, 1845; the extension to Greenfield was completed in November, 1846.

In October, 1846, the Express announced it was probable that the Hampshire and Franklin and Mt. Holyoke railroads would be united and the line definitely located that fall. Oct. 27, the stockholders of the Hampshire and Franklin road met at Sweetser's hall in Amherst and proceeded to organize under their charter. The following persons were chosen as directors of the company: Charles Adams and John Leland of Amherst, Horace Henderson of Sunderland, John S. Ward of Montague and Samuel Powers of Hadley. The directors chose Hon. John Leland president and John S. Adams, Esq. clerk and treasurer. On the same day, the stockholders of the Mount Holyoke railroad company met at Smith's hotel in South Hadley, for organization, and chose as directors, William Bowdoin, Alonzo Bardwell, Erastus T. Smith, Moses Montague and Hiram Smith, all of South Hadley. Hon. William Bowdoin was elected president and E. G. Bowdoin, Esq. clerk. Nov. 4, 1846, the two corporations agreed to unite under the name of the Hampshire and Franklin railroad company. The united companies chose as directors Hon. John Leland, Luke Sweetser, Esq. and Charles Adams of Amherst, Hon. William Bowdoin of South Hadley, John A. Morton of Hadley, Horace Henderson of Sunderland, John S. Ward of Montague, Hon. Otis Everett of Boston, and George W. Warren, Esq. of Charlestown. A party of eight or ten men was set at work, under direction of A. F. Edwards of Fitchburg, civil engineer, to make the preliminary survey and locate the road.

Early in December, 1846, the surveys of the road had been completed from Grout's to Hockanum. At a meeting of the stockholders held at Sweetser's hall, Jan. 28, 1847, a report was submitted of the location of the road. The route at Sunderland passed from 80 to 100 rods east of the church, thence crossed Dry Brook near the house of Zebina Hunt, passed a little east of the house of John Wiley, some 80 rods west of the "Plumb Trees," crossed the North Amherst and North Hadley road a little east of the home of E. Spear, and continued to a point some six or eight rods west of Elijah Boltwood's house, or about a half-mile west of the Amherst house, thence turning to the west. The length of the route as surveyed was 23.11 miles. The estimated expense of building, equipping and putting it in running order was a little more than $437,000. In February, 1847, the directors levied the first assessment, of $1.00 per share on the capital stock, payable before March 24.

The enthusiasm shown by the projectors of the road was shared to some extent by the general public, but while the residents of Amherst and South Hadley subscribed liberally to the stock the inhabitants of other towns along the proposed route failed to supply the money needed for carrying the enterprise to a successful conclusion. Earnest, almost heroic efforts were made to raise the necessary funds, but they were unavailing.

In April, 1848, the General Court passed a special act extending the time in which the road might be constructed to Feb. 1, 1850. At a meeting of the corporation, held in Amherst, July 3, 1848, to take action on this measure, $85,000 of the capital stock of the road was represented. After a full discussion of the matter, a vote was passed not to accept of the provisions of this act. The directors were instructed to collect all assessments and settle all claims as early as practicable. Thus came to an inglorious ending the first railway enterprise in which Amherst men and Amherst capital engaged. It is interesting to speculate on the possible results had the road been constructed along the route proposed. Sunderland and Montague Center would have been placed in railway connection with the outside world a half-century ago; what this might have meant to these towns in the way of progress and development can only be estimated by the stimulating effect of railway facilities upon communities of like character. Although the Hampshire and Franklin railway had nothing but corporate existence, the labor expended in its behalf was not entirely. fruitless. A popular interest was aroused in railway matters, and the public was educated in regard to the value of railway facilities so that when, a few years later, another road was projected it encountered but little of the opposition against which the original enterprise was forced to contend.

The next railway enterprise to enlist the attention of Amherst citizens was the "Amherst Branch Railroad Company." By an act of the General Court passed April 10, 1848, Samuel L. Hinckley, John Dickinson, Jr. and Jason Stockbridge, their associates and successors, were incorporated by the name of the Amherst Branch Railroad company, with power to locate, construct and maintain a railroad, with one or more tracks, from some convenient point in the town of Amherst, within half a mile of Amherst College, through the town of Hadley, to some point on the Connecticut River railroad in Northampton, or in the southerly part of Hatfield; they might also construct and maintain a bridge across the Connecticut river between the Northampton bridge and the site of the old Hatfield bridge. The capital stock was not to exceed $250,000, and unless the road should be completed in 18 months the charter would become void. The company was authorized to unite its road with the Connecticut River railroad. The company was organized under its charter at a meeting held in Amherst, Aug. 25, 1848. Samuel L. Hinckley served as chairman of the meeting and J. W. Boyden, Esq. as secretary. It was voted that the capital stock of the company should be $160,000. Subscription books should be opened in Amherst, Hadley and Northampton. As soon as the subscriptions to the capital stock should amount to $75,000, a meeting was to be held for the choice of directors, who should hold office until the cor