Mr. Farren commenced work under his contract about the 20th of October. At this time there were about four miles of track,--exclusive of that which had to be removed with the trestle-bridges,--built by Mr. Haupt. Some portions of the track were in fair condition; but the larger part of it must be relaid. Many of the ties are of hemlock; they are all decayed and must be removed, and new ones substituted. None of the bridges were strong enough to be used, and the timber of which they were constructed is too much decayed to be used for building purposes: There is on hand in addition to the track laid, chairs, or connecting joints, sufficient to lay five miles of rails; also about ten thousand chestnut ties. Such of these as had been properly piled are sound. Many of them, however, are so much decayed, as to be unfit for use. The road-bed has in many places been injured by rain and frost. At exposed points near the river, it is entirely destroyed. Comparatively speaking, there was little masonry on the line. With the exception of one pier, the bridge masonry at Green River will be taken down. All the deep ravines were crossed by trestle work, and consequently there were but few culverts. Of these some small ones are still standing in good condition. Of the bank wall built, about one-half remains,--the remainder has either fallen down, or will be taken down and rebuilt. Very little alteration will be made in the general location of the line or its gradients. The curvature will be very much modified and improved. Some sharp and reversed curves will be entirely saved by the substitution of straight lines. Others, where the expense of reduction is not very heavy, will be materially changed. The alterations below Shelburne Falls are substantially as follows:-- A straight line substituted for one 2°, one 4° and one 6° curve. One 2° curve substituted for one 4° curve. Four 4° " " " four 6° " One 3° " " " one 6° " Three 3° " " " three 6° " Five 5° 30' " " " five 6° " One 3° 30' " " " two 6° " One 4° and two 2° curve substituted for three 6° curve, saving 45° and 60 feet. One 5° 40' curve substituted for one 7° curve. One 6° " " " one 7° " Three 7° " " " three 8° " One 5° " " " two 5° and one 6° curve. Two 3° " " " two 6° curve, saving 30° and 40 feet. The same plan for improving the line above the falls will be pursued, so that when completed, the road combining the alignment with the gradients will, in the judgment of the engineer, be "superior for doing economically a heavy traffic, to any railroad in New England which runs east and west."