Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-02-13


much feat that our citizens are not sufficiently
awaresofits great-may not justly say, its al
most vital importance to the future growth and
So prosperity of our CITY, How many are there, who
are aware Of The fact, fact which may be
shown beyond the chance ofgainsaying, that this
road, if constructed, will control greater
3 extent of country and secure 10 US greater
amount of businessman is done by any one of
the various roads that centre here9 And how
many are aware of the other fact, which a careful
inquiry must satisfy them Of, that if this road is
no, built, a considerable portion Of the business
Of this section, which yet remains 10 US, will, ere
long, be diverted by other means Of communica-
ton, 10 other places? IA qvs
For the last6 fifty years, till a short time past,
the section Of country through which the route
for this road passes, aud 10 which it leads, has
supplied Worcester and the adjacent country with
nearly all their lumber, and with very consider
able portion of their country produce, and, in ex-
change have taken their stocks Of goods of various
kinds from as. They would do so still, as this is
their natural and best market if their facilities of
communication with us were such as they should
be. Fifteen, twenty. and thirty years ago, dur
ing the winter season the amount Of trade coming
from that quarter, extending even TO Vermont,
was very large; but, who one of those large
loaded Vermont teams now in our streets The
railroads have cut them all off.
An Inspection of the map will show, that, be-
yond circle Of about fifteen miles, in north
west direction, ii is even now better for the peo~
pie to leave US and go to poorer market, on &C
count of the difference in expense-having rail-
road conveyance in the other direction which they
lack, except by circuitous route, if they wish
to come here. 1t will show, too, that, If the pro-
posed road from Palmer, up the valley Of the
Ware river, should be extended n,as is contem-
plated, to the Vermont and Massachusetts, road
in Westminster, it will narrow down out circle
still more, leaving the trade Of only some three
or four towns in that direction.
The question, then, becomes serious one for
the people of Worcester TO consider, whether
they will sit down and submit quietly TO the loss
of the trade already diverted from them, and to
the narrowing of the crcle,by which what yet re-
mains is bounded, and bringing it still nearer TO
our limits, by new avenues Of trade, leading in
other directions; or whether, by the effort which
shall benecessory for the immediate construction
of the Barre and Gardner Road, they will retain
what they have, aud recover all that they have
lost, and with ii gain new acquisitions There
can be no doubt, that, with this facility, all the
northwest portion of the county, together with
several towns in Franka County, on and near
81 the Vermont and Massachusetts RaiIrosd, would
find this the best market for their products and
the most convenient place for procuring their sup
plies. The construction Of the road would also
open 10 as direct avenue to the trade Of all
southern Vermont and this probability is. that
most Of the products of that part oil the State
would come in this direction 10 market.
Are not the advantages, thus presented 10 our
grasp, worthy Of great effort. if SO we can Sc
theml We think they are. But we fear
that citizens lulled into security by the pros
g perty which has SO far almost uniformly attend
sssled our growth, becoming careless Of the
4, means which alone can continue it and make ii
sgo permanent. The spectacIeOf city, once active
and prosperous, arrested in its growth and DOOM
cd to decline, is sad one, but it is one that has
often been witnessed, and doubtless will often
happen again. If it do happen in our case, it
will be our own fault. We are beautifully and
fortunately located, with combination of favor
able circumstances rarely falling to the lot Of any
place. But these advantages may be couteracted
by the superior enterprise of others; or they may
be improved and amplifed, 50 as 10 secure enlarged
and continual prosperity, al our oaon option. No
other thing, that we could dowith the same out.
g lay, would do muchor the continued prosperity
.ga Of the place, the construction Of this road.
But, the question is asked, sWhere are the
means to accomplish this work to be obtaned.''
We might perhaps content ourselves with answer
"a ing, that, ''wtere there is will, there's way"
in a community SO abundant in resources as this,
and when The sum required to insure the work,
above what is already secured and what will be
= obtained from other sources, is only about ttoo
hundred thousand dollars; but we do not choose
to leave the subject Wesay, very decidedly,
that, in our opinion, the city ought to come for
8 ward, and loan the road the necessary amount,
either in money, or their credit, (which would pro-
badly be better even than the money. The road. if
q undertaken and carried through with sufficient
means, SO that it shall be economically done, will
be paying road. If the credit Of the city is
loaned The money can unquestionably be obtained
on "a long time for is per cent The one per cent
SO saved, together with one per cent. to be pledg-
~ ed by the road, from its income, would make a
+. sinking fund which would pay of the whole
debt, without the ciiy's ever paying cent. and
without embarrassing the road in its operations.
ssle There are those, we are aware, who object TO
the citys taxing the inhabitants giving its cred
it for any purposes except those embraced in the
usual objects Of town and city corporations. But
we claim that this comes strictly within the scope
of those objects, as originally understood. The
establishing and maintaining of highways for ia
and