The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-02-07
G!ra TDGrS1GBY@%s
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7,1s4G.
Connecticut and Passumpsic
Rivers Rail Road.

Rivers Rail Road.
Mn CHApwIcK:--I wish to say a few words
through your paper about this great and inn
portnnt enterprise. 1t is not my design TO
puff, nor would raise false colors; but from
long, thorough and minute examinations of the
subject, having convinced myself of its prac-
ticablity, utility and absolute necessity, wish
TO convince others, if there be yet any doubtful
ones. It is great work surely; but though we
mortgage our land, vineyards aud houses;
though we work with one hand and hold n
weapon in the other, and though we labor
'from the rising of the morning till the stars
appear" the end justfes the MEANS and the
work must 20 on. 1t ,cW 90 on
| 1t was not sir, ns you are aware, until about
u year since, that u come xion of Boston and
Montreal through our fertile valley, by rail
way, wns seriously named. And even then,
/ if named, il was with the same doubtful ex-
preston, generally, as the prospects of the inn
mortal Fulton and De Witt Clinton, in their
| incipent stages; a matter at least of doubtful
experiment, if not impossibility. But what
has one year wrought A few unconquerablc
| spirits with untiring zeal have effected an or
:
vornblc prospects. repeat ,rih the mos, ia.
uorGbIc prOspectS--and who that attended the
meeting for organization at Wells River on
the 18th ult. will not fully agree with mc2 /
have seen nor heard of no one. But
it is desirable, indeed necessary, that an
throughout our whole section, "erery man, ,co-
man and child" should have faith in the enter
prise, be excited to extraordinary diligence, re.
trenchments and almost every sacrifice to car
! ry on tho work to its contamination. And
why not be encouraged The guarantee at-
fordrd US at the meeting referred to should
! dssipate all doubt and inspire full confidence
! in the minds of the most incredulous and war
rants all in making the most interchangeable cx-
crtions. Fifteen hundred choice spirits togcth
cr, representing more than hundred times
| their nnmbcr, the ''bonc and muscle of rich
and fertile, though crlminaly neglected coun-
try-all intent upon obicct-and not less
favorable, backed up by the presence of fir
teen or twenty Boston gentlemen, who gave
not only by their presence, but their word and
action indubitahle proof of their sincerity in
proiTerng US ''three dollars fast as we would
ruise one dollar to build the road to Derby
line" | would ask who noic can reasonably
doubt But it is still asked by here and there
an individual, ''will not these Boston chaps fail
us' My uncquivocal answer is, no. have
known them for years, and l knop that
| they have the virtue and ability to perform
and redeem all their promises and that they
,oiN do Il. These men ncpcr take a step in the
dark they ''look before they Leaps" they con-
meet the end with the beginning" they cannot
fail Such are the men ,ohO hare come to orr
aid, who huvejoined hearts and haGds with u.s.
and shall we desert them in this hour ofnccd,
at this moment upon which are suspended all
our hopes? Surely not. 1t would be suicidal
nothing hut contempt would rest upon us, and
our doom be to rust out in the degradation
had chosen. 1t is again asked, will not the
road be builtto Wells River and stop? To this
would say, let the road be built to Wells
River and the cataract of Niagara might as
well be stayed and forced back to its source
andrqriet resting place in the shades of the
North West Territory, that IL should stop
there. American enterprise never retrogrades.
1t is ercr UPWARDS, al,oays successful. And
when we consider what our fathers hare done
IN TINS isolated pent-up-reglon, Without nelp,
under every encouragement, what cannot
their sons do, what should they not do, with
their proffered help and and encouraging pros
poets? Surely we are not worthy of the name
Of our fathers if we do not carry out what they
have so fearlessly and nobly begun, and save
this interesting and fertile valley from utter
desolation and ruin.
AS farther guarantee ofour rights, interests
and prospects in this noble work, the charac
ter of our Directors is sufficient. They are
men of probity and espectability-capable and
efficient--conversant with the world-fnmiliar
with busness-capablc of graphing with diff
cultes and ofpioneering an infant property to