The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1867-03-15
EdiifOad Meeting at Ddncille.


at the town hall in DanyiIlc on tuesday,
the 18th inst. The hall was filled to over
flow me- with the citizens of Danville and
adjoining towns, quite delegation going
over from this place. The weather was
vcry stormy; had it been otherwise the
room could not have convened the people
who would have come together.
The meeting was called to order by
Hon. Calvin Morrill,, who read the hand
bill inviting the people out on this occa-
sion. On motion. Hon. Bliss y. Davis
was elected chairman and Chas. l.. Nor
rlll, ESQ. secretary OF the meeting. On
assuming the chair, Mr.. Davis spoke brief
". He said probably the citizens OF Dan
Vile had never been assembled Oh an
occasion when such momentous consequent
ces depended on their proper action. The
Question whether there should be a rail-
road through this section of the state and
through their town depended III 4 great
measure upon the spirit and action of the
meetin" this day. For the purpose OF
elucidating facts bearing upon this great
enterprise, he would call upon Hon. {.
". Willard OF Montpelier to address the
citizens assembled.
Mr.. Willard came forward and said
that he appeared before this assembly to
and especially the value OF railway COM
nunication. He spoke particularly Of the
advantages of any road-and 4 railroad
wa, better than 4 highway as it was quick
O. and cheaper. One value of railroad
communication was the exchange Of ideas,
and another the exchange of commodities.
lis value in the latter case was beyond
computation. He spoke of the great
advantages to farmers OF having a market
at their doors for their produce. To have
a railroad through Danvillc was cquiva-
lent to moving the farms of that town to
within ten miles OF Boston The value
OF farm depended upon its nearness to
OF rcmoteness from market, and as rail
roads annihilated time, the farms near a
market had np especial advantage, over
those more remote which had good rail
road facilities He illustrated the value
of railroads to Vermont by citing the
Wet The farmer on the prairies of
illinois sells his corn for from ten to twen-
ty-live cents buslcl, and not unfrequent-
ly burns it for tuel-and why? Because
the cost of transportation to market would
eat up its cost. The cry from the west
for wears has been for better transporta-
ton iacilitieS and though the steamers
aud railroads have been crowded with
ircights, they are inadequate to tie de-
mand.
Some may say that railroad within
seven or nine miles is near enough. but it
Is better for any community to have a
railroad hrough it. 1t is a benefit too, to
have more than one outlet and more than
one market. One outlet sometimes be-
comes a monopoly. This railroad from
Montpelier to st. .Iohnsbury is but part
of great trunk line 1t is to reach from
the Atlantic to the Pacific This should
be great consideration to these who con
template taking stock in it.
Another consideration was its advan-
taoes to Vermont The prosperity of our
state was of great importance. What
would induce our citizens 20 do without
even the railroad facilities they now haze,
and be put back twenty years Mr..
Willard then spoke Of the difficulties in
bennington county. by which they had
been cut off from direct communication
with New York, and the deep feeling this
interruption was making in that part of
the state, and the means they were adopt
ing to speedily have new road to connect
with the Harlem.
The speaker also compared the wealth
OF Vermont and Massachusetts, and quoted
the expression that Massachusetts, minds
rule the nation. What has caused this
great wealth in money and brain! 1t is
railroad facilities TO every community, the
wealth derived from which has gone to
strengthen the state.
Mr.. w. also spoke Of the amount Of
idle capital laid away in government
bonds, which should be invested in some
important enterprise He considered it
unfortunate that rates of interest are SO
high. If it were not for this-if govern
ment did not pay more than three or four
per cent, capital now lying idle would be
put into manufacturing, and we should
thus open avenues for wealth and expan-