Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-03-29
THE KEENE SENTINEL AND THE RAIL
ROAD.


ROAD.
Our friend of the Keene Sentinel seems to have
worked himself into quite a rage at the defeat OF
the Keene and Bellows Falls rail road bill. We
are sorry for this for we have no doubt il is very
uncomfortable feeling. But il seems to have one
rood effect, il inspires him with great courage, and
he promises in his wrath TO do many valiant things
that in cooler moments he would never dream Of
He discourses thus of the Massachusetts Legisla-
ture. 1.-THE postponement Of the bill in the Mas
sachusetts House of Representatives, is diSereditd-
bic to her representation awe counted too much
on the merits of our case and the intelligence and
Lberality of Massachusetts, A system OF lobbying,
trckery, and pitiful appeals to Massachusetts, pre-
iudices, combined with the indifference of the ma
iority has caused this decision That the Keene
people counted TOO much on the merits of their
cause, is very apparent for they greatly Oyerated
them--but whether the rest Of the statements are
as true, we shall leave the Sentinel to settle with
Massachusetts,. Such an nmable state of feeling
towards that state, will doubtless greatly aid our
Keene friends in their projects.
Among the many funny things that the Sentinel
proposes TO prove, we greatly surprised that 1t
does not offer to prove that Gov. Steele is Wing
and no Radical that there is Wing majority in
the New Hampshire Legislature, and that they will
get favorable charter for a road in their own
State.
We shall wait with all becoming patience for the
proofs TO the assertions that the Sentinel in its
wrath has put forth, and in the while shall
only notice two of its statements about
which il offers proof 1t says the result Of the
investigation before the committee of the Massa-
chusetts Legislature, "was report and bill in our
favor" The investigation in regard to the
best route for the extension Of the Ftchburg road
towards Burlington. The result, was a bill for a
road 10 Ibis place. The committee also reported
a bill for branch towards Keene, TO run into the
main trlnk-thus making our road The road, and
making the branch pointing towards Keene tribu-
tary thereto And this, the Sentinel calls report
sin our favor" Verify, the Sentinel is easily con-
tent And we opine that even this crumb was
thrown out to Keene by the committee, not with
any sangune expectation that it would become a
law, but for the purpose Of leaving the responsible
lily of the matter with the House.
I The Sentinel says again
"rhere are many other facts which point out the
route through Keene the route 10 Burlington
, and we would here state what few who have not
the Green Mountains shut ia upon the Connecticut
River nearly the whole distance from Brattleboro
TO Bellows Falls, rendering II doubtful whether a
rail road can be built within any reasonable ex-
pense much more one that viii be secure from the
: mountain freshets The Brattleboro people failed
before the committee of the Massachusetts, Legisla
ture 10 show that road could be carried beyond
them either the mountains on the West River
route, or up the Connecticut"
There are so many absurd falsehoods in this par.
lagrppb that their very absurdty makes an answer
; unnecessary. The Green Mountains do not ''shut
in" upon the Connecticut any part of the distance
between Brat,leboro and Bellows Falls, but are IL
or 20 miles distant the whole way. The perfee
feasibility Of the route for road at ga reasonable
expense kas been ascertained by actual survey
] and careful estimate. The Bratileboro people die
: prore before the committee of the Massachusetts:
Legslature-and to their perfect satisfaction too
that road could be carried beyond them, both by
West River and up the Connecticut, and acting
upon that proof they gave us The road-the main
r0od-for the express purpose that il might be ex
tended on to Burlington. We proved, too, not on
ly the road might be extended by West River, bu
we proved that that the best aud cheapest rOut
= across the Green Mountains
, When the Sentinel says "that il is thirty mile.
: further to Burlington via Brattleboro than via
, Keene," it states what is well known to be also
iutely Jaise
We are perfectly willing that the Sentinel shoulC
, give vent to its chagrn, by many of It's harm
less falsehoods as it may choose to utter, but We
have doubt that il would find il decidedly pleas
anter TO keep good natured-at least To keep cool