Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-04-12
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RAIL ROADS IN VERMONT.

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RAIL ROADS IN VERMONT.
1t is undoubtedly true, was well said in Of
the resolutions at the Keene Convention, that the
time has now come, when rail roads neces-
sary common roads were fifty years ago. This
truth should be felt as well as said and the convic-
ton Of it should lead to action. The section Of
country that negects these great improvements,
and has no natural water communication to do
away with their necessity, is burdenng itself with
a tax, in comparison with which all the taxes now
paid for highways-for schools-ior supporting the
government and administering justice, sink into in
significance. The tax is not so tangible-so easily
to be counted-as il il was paid in money directly
TO collector, but il is certain and inevitable. 1t
comes in the shape Of reduction Of price upon ev-
cry article Of produce manufactures sent TO mar
ket, and in an increase upon every article Of pur
chase and consumption brought from market. As
yet, Vermont is paying this immense tax. There
is not within the State rod Of rail road or a foot
Of canal. The markets she used to supply with
her abundant products, have by means of these ia
ciltes, been opened TO extensive regions Of coun-
try that previously had no market, or very poor
one. The cheapened cost of transportation in con-
gions of country TO supply the markets with pro-
ducts at prices far below those that Vermont has
been won't 10 receive, and still to realize good
profit. This has operated severely-dsastrously
upon the productive industry of Vermont The
cost Of producing, manufacturing and transporting
has remained the same, while the market price has
been greatly reduced, and instead Of pocketing
reasonable profit for their labor and the Of their
capital formerly, Vermonters have pocketed no.
thing-or if any thing-losses.
The only remedy is for Vermont to provide her
self with rail roads, that the products of her in
dustry can be sent TO market as cheap as the pro-
ducts Of other sections Of country. None Western
New York, Ohio, Michigan, and even Illinois and
Wisconsin, can send their products to market, 10
the Boston market cheaper than we can.
The speedy extension Of the Ftchburg road TO
this place, would be harbinger of a new era for
Vermont, In this extension the whole State is
deeply interested.
The whole history of rail roads has shown con-
clusvely that rail roads carry within themselves
the principles of extension. Once started they go
forward with growth almost as certain and as reg
ular as the terminating seed, advances 10 the full
grown tree, and with far more rapidty.
The great Eastern road was FIRST built to Salem
then to Portsmouih--then to Saco-then to Port
lsnd and that it will still 90 on is as certain as its
progress far. The road TO Concord first came to
Lowell-theE TO Nashua-then 10 Concord A few
years since there short piece Of rail road be-
tween Albany and Schenectady, and il was the on
ly piece between Boston and Buffalo. Now there
is road the entire distance, and the line will, in
few years, be completed to Chicago.
The progress Of rail road can no more be OBJ
when pointed towards a region where
there is any body to travel, any freight produced
than common highways can be kept from extend
ing themselves wherever the pnhc good reanirss
them.
A road TO this place would extend itself in two
directions. One branch would 60 up the fertile
valley of the Connecticut TO the Passumpsc, and
up that valley through country that only needs
to be relieved from the oppressive tax of transport
tation TO and from market, 10 be OF the richest
sections of the Union. Another will go up the
valley OF the West River TO Rutland and Burling-
ton, thus linking Western Vermont and the Cana
das with Boston, and by the two, accommodating
the whole state.
The early commencement and completion Of Ell
Their of these branches will of course depend upon
the early completion of the road 10 this place
Which of the two branches will be first common
ced and first completed, will doubtless depend
greatly upon the enterprise and public spirit Of the
inhabitants along the two routes, and the early in
terest they may take in the matter
If the Vermont and Massachusetts, road TO this
place succeeds, the immediate will have been
owing in great measure to the early interest Ia
ken in, and the early subscriptions 10 the Fitch
burg road, by the citizens of this town and region
But for these, slight that interest and
small as was that subscription, the Fitchburg road
would either entirely have failed, or would have
dragged along at ''poor dying rate" and our
prospects OF an extension would have been as base
less "as the fabric of dream,' or far in the dim
obscure future. But these had double effect
They gave an impetus TO the road that ensured its
triumphant success, and at the same time awaken
ed an interest in its extension that will We truct
as triumphantly secure that extension.
The inhabitants along these two great lines
stand in the same position towards US that we a
short time since did towards Fitchburg. Our sue
cess is necessary 10 theirs. The road cannot go to
them unless il first comes to us. They may by their
aid, promptly and literally given, ensure the mme-
diate completion of the road TO this place. and thus
greatly hasten the extension beyond, and at the
same time by their aid given, awaken an interest
along these lines that will have much to do with
ensuring the rapdty of that extension.
We have firm and lively faith that the road 10
this place, and the extension beyond, will both
coed, without any such present aid from the inbab
itants on these two great routes, but this aid may
have something to do with the time of the compile
ton of the extension to Brattleboro, and much TO
do with the time Of the extensions beyond.
We trust then, that we have convincingly shown
that the immediate success of the Vermont and
Massachusetts, rail road is matter of deep interest
L. IL Al. al.