Boston and Lowell Railroad Corporation

The route for the Boston and Lowell Railroad was surveyed in 1829; one year later the Massachusetts Legislature granted approval for the project. In June 1835, a single track linking Boston and Lowell was completed, making this one of the earliest steam railways in the U.S. In 1895 the Boston and Maine Railroad, lessor of the Boston and Lowell Railroad, decided to eliminate a dangerous grade crossing at Prison Point St. by building an overhead viaduct and bridge connecting Cambridge and Charlestown. The City of Cambridge, which was helping to pay for the bridge, claimed that the railroad was combining the expenses of a freight yard with the expenses for the bridge. The court appointed an auditor to monitor the finances so that the expenses were distributed fairly between the railroad, the City of Cambridge, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

From the description of Records, 1896-1909. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70974262