From the very start of railroad, according to the records, its early association with the granite company was anything but pleasant or profitable. If the records are correct, the railroad lost money hauling granite under the first contract. Under the original terms of 35 cents per ton, the railroad received less than it cost to have the blocks moved.

In a letter written in 1828 by Solomon Willard, Superintendent of the quarry, explaining his displeasure over the operation and numerous delays, through mismanagement, he had to say:-

"Quincy, (date left blank) 1828

Dear Sir, --

"I have enclosed a copy of the instructions which I received from the Building Committee a year ago. It will be seen by these instructions that the committee had authorized me to make all the contracts which were required in the prosecution of the work of erecting the monument for the season past. In one case, however courtesy induced me to refer back the power given me, and I allowed the committee to make a contract which I considered injurious to the interests of our employers. I refer to that made with the Railway Company. This appeared to me unskillfully made in two respects: The Railway Company were neither accountable for the fracture of the stone, nor bound to fulfill their agreement. And this contract has not only proved an expensive thing to the association but a source of infinite trouble to me.

"There has been a strange misapprehension respecting the importance of the railway to us. The following statement, I think, will illustrate this point: The whole quantity of stone carried from our ledge to the water, is 2287 tons, which at 35 cents per ton comes to $800.45. The price offered by a respectable company for hauling in the common way, was 50 cents per ton, -- so that, all the gain that was ever expected, provided between 35 and 50 cents, on 2287 tons, $343.05, in a work where $28,000 had been expanded.

"On the other side of the account we must reckon the loss of two years in waiting for this company to perform a job which amounts to little more than $800. For loss in time no estimate in money can be made. It has been, however, an injury which is irreparable. The loss in cash paid to men with their hands tied in consequence of the delinquency of the railway company, (I should say, to speak within bounds,) was ten times the whole cost of carrying 2287 tons to the water, to which must be added the sacrifice of the invaluable quarry.

"It would have been much better for my own interest and reputation, had I paid the $343. and carried the stone in the common way, and it would also have saved thousands to the association.

"It will be seen by the above statements that the railway has been of little consequence to us, nor can it be, provided the company were well disposed, as it costs them to carry our stone twice what we give them for it."

This last statement, repeated on the authority of Mr. Bryant, probably accounts for, if it does not excuse, some portion of the neglect or mismanagement alleged against the railway company, which appears to have been so vexatious and troublesome to Mr. Willard who, undoubtedly we think, is somewhat to blame in this matter. He encouraged the building of the road and making of contract, and while he asserts that "the agreement was made by the committee contrary to my wishes", he also says "I allowed the committee to make a contract which I considered injurious to the interests of our employers." On this statement he was blamable - though possibly he "allowed" what he could not prevent in the hope that his apprehensions might prove groundless. Mr. Willard was probably wrong also in supposing the railway company not well disposed towards the monument association as its president was one of its earliest and firmest friends.

Even though the letter bears out the fact that Willard was much displeased and concerned over the delays and extra costs, they were ironed out to everyone's benefit.

Another source of trouble to the railroad causing delay and extra expense were the boats. In a letter written by Bryant August 9, 1830 to L.H. Perkins, President of the Granite Railway Company, he wrote in reference to the steamboat:- "This is a part of our works that from the beginning to the present times, has caused more delay and trouble than all the rest of the concern." By purchasing a new boat, Bryant hoped conditions would improve; however, this proved unsatisfactory, as he writes further. "Beal tells me that it takes from 11 to 12 hours to make a trip, and that she burns 2 to 3 ½ cords of wood. She never ought to take 6 or 4 hours, at most, this would allow the men proper time to sleep. He says that they have to be up all the time, night and day, and that it is impossible to pass the bridges without injuring the wheel houses, for the weight of one man on the side will bring the top against the bridge. I have always urged the necessity of the greatest care and attention in loading as well as in passing bridges and coming against the wharf, when any damage is done to the boats, it is charged to the men that were in fault, and from what I see at Neponset Bridge, the vessels that pass do more damage to themselves and the bridge, than our boats do."

An interesting feature in connection with hauling the granite blocks was that in the event of any breakage the railroad was not held responsible. Needless to say, this also was another bone of contention.