Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-12-29
Ttrmomt aobotmtr.
Friday, DEC. 20, is4a.

this time not to connect the two points, Fitch
burg and Burlington, by the shortest possible route
/. but to begin such system OF internal improve
ments as would best developc the resources Of her
whole territory, and benefit the largest number Of
her people. How this will most efTtciually and
advaniageously be accomplished, is to be the sub
icct of our remarks now.
If it is by the capital and labor Of hepown citi'
zens that our State is to the facilities Of Rail-
way transportation, il is important that the routes
chosen should be through the most productive and
papnious portions Of H. If foreign capital is to be
called in to aid the enterprise and the absolute ne
cessty Of such aid denies, is surely great
object to be able TO represent the whole Of the
travel and freight of the State. near this as
may be- as likely TO fall on to the road The great
er the distance traversed within her own borders,
no other important consideration being lost sight Of
the better The travel from Burlington and from
Canada is Of vast Importance and the securing il is
ever TO be kept in view, in any plan for connecting
Northern Vermont with Boston. But il cannot be
made the main object at the outset, unless indeed,
the capital of Montreal or OF the Cunnrd company
in England is to be asked and promised at the same
time We do not hear Of this being expected or
suggested II is idle, moreover, to talk of project
ing at entire road from Burlington to Fitch
burg. lf these two points ever to be connected
by railway, this must be built in successive and
perfectly independent portions each rs Il Is success
sivey added TO the parent road, sustaining itseh.
The striking failure in economical point OF view,
Of the only road in New England built in disregard
of this principle, we mean the Western Rail Road,
will be sufficient warning TO capitalists if not to
those the route, against second attempt OF the
kind Relying first ourselves then, and next on
Massachusetts, aud its capital, what plan is likely to
subserve the widest interests and pay best as goes
The raphcal position Of our State and the d.
rection Of its rivers and its mountain range, and
the relative wealth and resources Of the country,
all point TO its south western corner the place
where rail road from the sea-board should enterit
An extension Of the Concord road to the mouth
Of White River thence along the vallies Of that
stream and the Onion, TO the Lake, would take the
northern travel, but would traverse a part Of the
State al present neither the most productive nor
populous and be forever useless to the southern and
weaithiest portion, including the whole mineral re-
gion. An extension OF the Fitchburg road through
New Hampshire 10 Bellows Falls, crossing directly
west TO Rutland, would put great water power
within reach OF Boston capitalists, and afford an
outlet for the iron and other vast mineral produce
tons Of western Vermont. Yet the whole OF the
fertile valley of the Connecticut, below it to the
State line distance Of thirty three miles, would be
out Of reach Of its benefits and .eft in condition
even worse than its present one, for some time 10
come. But let the Ftehburg road be extended to
the Connecticut by the Niillers River valley,
entering this State at its southern line, and thence
on to BraitebOro the whole valley is from
MI I'm 49, h. -
of over 30 miles. For we need scarce remind the
reader that freight Of all kinds mny readily be float
ed do,on the Connecticut 20 miles, but that il mus,
be of rare value to pay for being Aoated up stream
the same distance. Once here the road would be
extended either up the Connecticut valley far a
its prOduciveness and population might demand or
admit; branch, If not the main road, following
the valles of the White and Onion to Burlington
oil ON the more direct route up the West river,
(known to be perfectly practicable,a natural route
indeed TO Rutland and Lake Champlan either at
White Hall or Burlington. Charters have been
granted for roads all these routes. We are too
sangune, perhaps, but we have no doubt that roads
would be sustained on all and believe that
should the road once come here, some among US,
and they not the youngest, may live to the con-
s,ructon of roads each Of the great lines hence,
northward. Which would be first made we will not
venture to say. The importance of speedily secu-
ring the Canadian travel, the facility with which
the Lake could be reached from Rutland, (say with
in 20 or Is miles, making so or IS miles from this
place } and thus vast line of ntercommu ncation
by steam be opened, would seem to point 10 the
western route the most desirable. Yet the Con-
vention here, when the resolution "fxing Burlng
ton as the western terminus of the Fitchburg road
was under discussion, rejected by very decided
vote proposarto amend by inserting 'via Rut
land" thus showing that they considered it too
to declare by what route the distance between
the Connecticut and Burlington should be over
come. Where they paused, should we presume to
60 on'
If then the object be to afford outlet for the
productions of the valley Of the Connecticut, road
by the Mllers River route 10 Bratteboro will do
this for fifty miles Of il, than from Bellows
Falls through Keene possibly do; if il be 10
connect Lake Champlain with Massachusetts, Bay,
this road effects this as well and accommodates so
miles on the river beside. but, il may be said, al
though this is the best project for Vermont, il may
not be such for the stock holders and if foreign cap
ta is to be brought in, the interest of the owners
must be consulted. The chief, and far we are
aware, the only objection brought against entering
Vermont by this route, is that il is longer and
would add some fifteen miles to the distance be-
tween Fi,chburg and Burlington. In other words,
il would put Montreal at half three quarters of
an hours travel farther from Boston The greater
length of road, every mile of which will supply
freight aud travel enough TO pay for its own con-
struction, cannot any other ground be an objec-
ton, but is rather recomme ndaton. Increase Of
sThe Bellows Falls Gazette Of Saturday last, I'M