Near the close of 1869 the selectmen of Somerville ordered the removal of the track to the middle of the street from the Medford line to Broadway. This order was the occasion of serious complications and embarrassments, and resulted, about the first of May, 1873, in the revocation of the location, and the removal of the track of that section. of the road, by the authorities of Somerville. The cars, of course, ceased running to Medford at that date; and the company failing to secure an adjustment of its difficulties with the Middlesex Company and the Somerville authorities, so as to warrant the hope that the track from Medford Square to the Somerville line would be further useful, the location was revoked, and the rails ordered to be removed, by the selectmen of Medford.

The company continued in being till April 30, 1880, when under an Act of the Legislature, passed that year, all its property, rights, powers, and privileges were transferred to the Middlesex Railroad Company.

Dividends were declared for one year only, and the rental ($2,240 per annum) was afterwards appropriated to meet current expenses and the cancellation of bonds issued in payment for the Winter-hill Branch; which Branch, as soon as paid for, became nearly worthless, from a new order issued by the Somerville city government.

The stock of the company was substantially a dead loss to its possessors, there being nothing for division when the company was dissolved.

The abandonment of the road was a severe disappointment to the citizens of Medford.

In 1883 the question of the revival of the Medford Horse Railroad began to be agitated. The Middlesex Horse-railroad Corporation offered to re-open the road, on the condition that the town should pay the expense of paving the road-bed. At the March meeting in 1884, the town appropriated the required sum of eight thousand dollars, and the road was constructed, and the cars commenced running to the Square, Sept. 15, 1884. It was afterwards extended to Malden; and the line was opened for use, June 27, 1885.

The Boston and Mystic-valley Railroad was chartered in March, 1879, with the following gentlemen as corporators: Stephen Dow of Woburn, S. W. Twombly of Winchester, Charles M. Barrett of Medford, H. Blanchard, jun., of Wilmington, B. E. Gage of Lowell, P. W. Locke of Boston,

and others. The length of the road was to be about fifteen miles; starting at Wilmington, and passing through Woburn, Winchester, Medford, and Somerville.

The construction of the road was commenced at once; and nearly eleven miles of the grading was near completion, when, in consequence of misfortunes or mismanagement, the work was suspended, and was not again renewed. The charter was lost by the expiration of the time given in which to complete the road; the Legislature declined. to extend the time, and the Mystic-valley Railroad ceased to exist.

What the future may do to avail itself of the work accomplished under the charter, we may not predict; but many still hope that the money expended may not be wholly and finally lost; that, some time, the locomotive may bear freight and passengers through Medford over the line of that partially constructed road.

Bridges. The first bridge ever erected across the Mystic River was at the point where the Stone Bridge now stands, in the centre of the town. The primitive structure was rude and frail, so that repairs were demanded in less than four years. At that time the land at that place, on both sides of the river, was low and swampy; and the bridge, from that cause, was necessarily long. Doubtless, the business of Gov. Cradock's men was the most imperative demand for that first bridge; for his agent had commenced an extensive fishing-business in Medford, and he needed a bridge over which heavy teams could cross. But did he demand that the town should build it? The town records are lost, that otherwise would give us light on that matter; but we find in the records of the General Court certain statements that enable us to know that Mr. Cradock commenced the enterprise at his own expense, as early as 1638. We learn, also, that he did not complete the bridge without assistance; yet it is said that he taxed the travellers who crossed upon it, and was prosecuted, through his agent, for hinderance of boats, and for demanding toll. The statement is as follows:

"At the General Court, Boston, 22d of 3d month, 1639, Mr. Mathew Cradock is freed of rates to the country, by agreement of the Court, for the year ensuing from this day, in regard of his charge in building the bridge; and the country is to finish it at the charge of the public. Mr. Davison and Lieut. Sprague to see it done, and to bring in their bill of charges."