Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-01-19
RAIL ROAD MEETING AT MONTAGUE.

RAIL ROAD MEETING AT MONTAGUE
At a large Town Meeting Of the Freehoders
and other Inhabitants of the Town of Munta-
que, in the County of Franklin and Common
wealth Of Massachusetts,, qualified TO vote in
town affairs, holden at The town house in said
Montague. on Monday the tenth day of Janu-
ary, 1874, 10 take into consideration the subject
OF the contemplated extension OF the Boston
and FiIchburg Rail Road on the route of
AlIer's River and Mortified, 10 the line of
the State of Vermont, DR.. David Bradford was
elected Moderator. Voted 10 accept the fol-
lowing Preamble and Resolves, TO wit:
"Whereas, from our knowledge OF the real
wants OF the citizens of the county of Franklin
of more expeditions and less expensive mode
of transportation of the products of their soil
10 the Boston market, we cannot hut ardently
desire the extension of the Boston and Fitch
burgh Rail Road 10 some point within the
County OF Franklin, that would afford TO all as
near as practicable, equal advantages. And
in view of the whole subject matter of the
grand design, II seems 10 Us most fortunate
circumstance that the point where the contem-
plated route turns Northward from the Miller's
River, approaches within a short distance Of
the true geographical centre of the County,
This appears TO be the place designated by ma
ture before all others for the accommodation of
the whole County TO enter upon said road for
the purposes before mentioned. Then il fol-
lows of course, II this be granted, that the in
terest of the County and the interest of the
Stockholders at this point harmoni7e What
inducement then can be held out to foreseeinr.
prudent and enierpriSing men 10 push this en-
terprse out Of the line of its ultimate dcstina-
ton! Nothing, IRE beiiepe nothing. Yet an
application is To be made TO you the guardians
for the time being, of the rights, interests and
prosperity of the citizens of the Common
wealth, the Legislature, for an act of incorpo-
ration, for the extension of the Boston and |
Fiichburg Rail Road to the South line of the
State of Vermont, with Gas appears to us) such |
an unwSe provision. And then lorsooih you !
may be called upon TO put your hands into the |
treasury of the Commonwealth to old bv the |
peoples money the construction of this unwise |
because unnecessary, extension. Still further |
this majestic thoroughiare of States if not of
Nations, thereby heightened more than ten
miles, will operate practically as an unjust tax |
upon every mans pocket who may have oc-
raSon OF using the whole of said highway,
through all future time. To carry this i'm
Drovemenl through Greenfield and thence TO
The line of the State of Vermont, cannot in
our estimation fall short of million of worse
han useless expenditure. The route by Mil
ers River, thence through Mortified, does
Montague, therefore we feel that we are the
better qualified to give our testimony in the
'ase. We have said that the Western termin-
ltion of said road down the MeI's River
where it turns towards Mortified, oil things
aiken into account, is the very best for the
whole County of Franklin, the Traveller, and
he Stakeholder
Prospective means as well as present means
II encouragement wherever found on or near
he line OF said road: cannot be unworthy the
ttention of stockholders in such an undertake
ng as the one under consideration. We there
ore feel emboldentd TO say, that there is not !
o be found within the limits of the Common /
wealth greater amount of water power for I
lechanica and manufacturing purposes, than I
re TO be found within a short distance Of che =
turn in said road towards North a
cid, to wlt-IurneT's falls in the Connecticut :
ver, over ninety feet descent in the space off i
1ree miles; Fall river, which enters the Con-
ecticut at said falls; Miller's river iust above.
nd the Saw-mill river a short distance below; b
esldes many other streams of less notorietv' |
Therefore IN view of the aforesaid reasons II
nd many others not enumerated in the afore- v
nd preamble, a
Resolved, that we ardently desire that mea- =
res may be provided whereby the Boston and +,
iichbnrg Rail Road may speedily be extended e
own me Mller's River, through Mortified &c
the line OF the State of Vermont. al
Resolved, further, that ,pe can find no GOOD
,ason Tor our cooperation with any portion
our fellow citizens to press this route more oil
AN Ten miles oui of the track OF its ultimate s
,slnalion, TO crafty the ambition of any class g
our fellow men. W
Resolved, lastly, that the Town Clerk he DC
'reby directed 10 enter the aforesaid preamble %
ID resolves in the Town Book of Records, VI
ID transmit true and attesled copy thereof q,
the Legislature now in session at Boston, ii,
thout delay. c.