Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-12-22

&
Perhaps one result Of the Athol convention to-
day may be 10 facilitate the determination of the
"spirted" one 10 be hold at Burlington, as 10 the
best route to Ftcbburg. Getting the rail road in
10 Vermont is the first object. Though the con-
venton here "resolved" that Burlington should be
the termination of the road when II should have
gone through Vermont, il left that first matter un.
decided. The meeting at Athol will attend to that
II may argue some narrow mindedness in our peo-
pie perhaps, but it cannot be denied that this first
point getting into the State, is that in which they
feel the deepest interest just now. They think
step at time is much as they can make well,
and il is for this reason we would say in reply TO
the Sentinel, that more has been said here about
the routes West and North of us. Moreover as ev-
cry school boy knows that getting into Ne,o Hump
shire is not getting into PermOnt the is OBJ
vous whyyto the proessed surprise of the Sentinel,
we say no more about the road from Fitchburg TO
Keene. To be sure that road may be extended
from Keene through New Hampshire TO Bellows
Falls, " charter be obtained, If the land can
be got of every proprietor at price within reason,
and last no, least if the $40 feet rise and fall
the height OF land between Keene and Connecticut
river, 10 be overcome in distance of IL miles, is
obstacle But the Legislature of Vermont apparent
ly (Mr Prentiss says it is a question for Yermoni,)
did not relish these ifs, and looking with single eye
10 the first and main object getting into Vermont
granted special charter for a road from BratlebOr0
1--WE are sorry TO offend the sensitive Of the
Sentinei) to the southern or eastern line Of the
State to meet road from Fitchburg. Thus in the
prominence which we have given TO our route, and
in doing, have wrought upon Keene
friend, we in some measure countenanced by
the State doubtless from the consideration that tho
not in a direct line between Boston and Burlington,
this place is, what is much more to the purpose the
nearest considerable town in the State, both to the
line Of Massachusetts and TO its capital.
But our Keene friend (who we see by the way is
in correspondence with the Boston AtlasO says,
that by going through New Hampshire $50 miles
may be saved between Fitchburg and Burlington; !"
the road between which points, he adds, is 'the
main object" now engaging the attention of Yer
mont and in reference to which, he supposed the
convention here was called. ain word" he says,
"Vermont is deeply interested in the most direct
and feasible route; TO Burlington and will con-
sent to go 30 miles round, only If obliged 10 90
round New Hampshire"
Now here join issue with the Sentinel. First
we say, that the road between Fitchburg and Bur
!
at this time, nor was the convention here called in
reference 10 that road secondly If the reverse of
these propositions were true, 30 miles would not be
saved by going through New Hampshire.
To dispose Of this last matter FIRST we would say,
that though it is too early in the enquiry to give all
the distances with precision, our information is
probably as full and as authentic that at Keene
and il is certainly sufficient to correct so gross a
A..
is in the correspondence with the Atlas. We learn
ed from of the delegates here from Bellows
Falls that the distance from Fiichburg 10 Bellows
Falls, on the route contemplated, was 63 miles
We think il must exceed that, but this estimate pa-
ces Bellows Falls and Brattcboro, following the
route by Miller's River, which has been surveyed
by Mr. Whitwell, with the exception of few miles
in our own town, both at the same distance from
Fitchburg II is % miles from this to Bellows Falls
Here miles 10 be deducted from the 80 at the
outset, But why should we go up the Connecticut
to Bellows Falls 10 get TO Burlington We have
always looked up the West River as the route 10
Rutland. Ii 90 miles to Rutland direct, up West
River, and 20 miles by way of Bellows Falls. Be.
cause we bend in Massachusetts, 10 follow river,
it does not follow that we shall bend in Vermont
avoid one, and then the Mountains at worse
point Here is saving Of 10 miles more, which
is also to be deducted from the 80. So have
30-7-l0=l3,-giving Is miles instead of 30 as
the saving in distance by going through New Hamp-
shire. Quite difference, MIR Sentinel when we
come TO count the cost per mile, you have done.
Now TO the object for which the convention
here called. This is to be shown by the circu-
lar of invitation. We think Keene friends
liked the wording of this better than that of the
newspaper notice. That circular invited people to
together in reference TO ''the project OF Rail
Road between Vermont and Boston" Every name
upon it was Of one living on the Millers River
route, in this village, or in towns just around
The iorbearance ofthese gentlemen aud OF the 9th
er delegates from the section consttu ting ,ac-
cording to the Sentinel "the present. in urg-
ing the great advantages presented to Vermont at
least by their route has been taken advantage of by
those in rival interests Ii is not the first instance
on record of courtesy's being thrown away. The
convention was called in reference to all Vermont
and not, as the Sentinel supposed, sin reference to
Western Vermont and the Lake" alone.
We now come To the question, what is the great
and main object to Vermont in the matter of Rail
Roads. This requires fuller discussion than we
can give it in this article. We will barely say
now, that il is not merely to get from Fitchburg to
Burlington by the shortest possible route, but de-
veoPe the resources Of her phoio territory, TO en-
rich, physically and morally, her aehOie people
How this may be most effectually and advan-
iageously accomplished we shall consider next
week.
J
'The above height and distance was obtained d.
rectly from Mr. Parker, who has just been survey
ing the route
| We learn that Col. Chase has purchased the