Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-12-11
VONE MdTTFRS
THE BURDEN RAILROAD

The freeman, while It would hail with pleasure
any legislation which would build up mauufactur-
ing any where in Vermoua Il quite willing to be
found in company with any newspaper which re-
grets and condemns Legislative action which would
make every manufacturing enterprise pay tribute
to railroad mouopoes, whether those monopolies
be in central or south western Vermont. When
the iron and marble and copper of Vermont seek
their shortest and cheapest road TO their most
profitable market, the freeman will not be deterr-
ed from expressing the opinion that they ought to
have such road, even it in that COURSE it should
find itself in company with the burlington Times,
and the newspapers of the rapidly growing cities
OF neighboring states, and should be obliged re-
luctantly. to disagree with its neighbor, the Daii
Journal. fireman.
The question was not whether the Burdens
should have all needful facilities to develop the
resources Of that section of Vermont, for the Leg
slaturc would give them these nor was the par
ticular line asked by the Burdens refused for the
purpose of making them pay tribute to railroad
monopoles,n but rather to condemn New York
Railroad that has tried to monoplize entirely the
railroad business of Western Vermont. II the
Freeman wishes to hang at the tail Of the New
York monopoly we won't begrudge it all the hon
or it can get by it. We COPY the following sum
mary of the case from the Burlington Free Press:
The Freeman and the Times seem quite incn-
ed to fight over again the Burden railroad case,
after it is all disposed OF and are reiterating the
Arguments on that side Of the question which were
ahundantly exploded before the Legislature. The
editor Of the Freeman who is also a lawyer, was,
as of course lac had perfect right to be, the paid
counsel of the Messrs Burdens during the session
OF course, his sympathies wholly on that side
and it is natural enough that they should find ex-
preston in bis paper. But we cannot very we'll
see why any intelligent and unprejudiced person,
acquainted with the facts, should take the part Of
the Troy & Boston railroad in the matter.
We have always tried to look at the case solely
in the light of tho pablo interest and where
those interests lie seems tolcrably clear
In the first place, it is not for the public good
that the Railroads should feel at liberty in further
ance of the animosties of their managers, to in
terrupt great public lines of communication. They
were chartered and given their extraordinary pow
for the public convenience and it is not for
the public convenience that they should pull up
their rails, refuse to trains over them.
When, therefore, the Troy IL Boston railroad
undertook to carry point by the hgh-handed
measure Of stopping all railroad communication
between Bennington and Troy, we sympathized
wholly with the indignant inhabitants of Benning-
ton County, and were glad to have the Legislature,
at the extra session, grant them the means OF
breaking the blockade.
Again, the interests Of the public are opposed
to monopolics and the business and travelling
public have narroly escaped having the control Of
/ every avenue to the south from this side OF the
| State, for many years to come, monopozed by
/ single corporation
| The Rensselaer, Il Saratoga Railroad Company
own the road from Whitehall south, and the road
from Rutland to Whitehall. They control the
Rutland 6 Washington road. They have been It
is understood, the virtual masters Of the Troy q
Boston road for year past; and will soon, VT
suppose, have actual and absolute control Of it b,
an open consolidation. They intended, doubtless
TO secure control Of the Western Vermont road
but, without that, they hold, to-day, control o.
every outlet from the west side of the State south
The sole check on this monopoly is the connection
with the Harlem road now being rapidly pushed
through; aud that the monopoly is not absolut,
and permanent is due 10 the pluck and energy o
Mr. Park and his associates-the business %
Bennington County. While fighting their owr
fight, they have also fought for the public and
entitled to the thanks of the public.
To talk, therefore, of the Legislature being un
der the dictaton of the railroads in this matter
and of the State being aytbing more Of "NewJer
sey," for the action Of the Legislature, is not t.
talk senslbly. The Legislature has sared a larg,
section of the State from railroad dctation ant
monopoly, and that from foreign railroad cor
poration.
It is equally absurd to talk about injustice t,
the Messrs. Burden The representatives from
Bennington County, perhaps did not feel yer,
friendly TO those gentlemen after they had mxeC
largely in the attempt to carry the elections il
that County last fall, by combination of the cop
perheads rummies, and Troy and Boston adhe
rents but nobody else in the Legislature had an,
prejudice against them, or objection to granting
them the charter they sought, till it became per
fectly evident that they were representing tn,
Troy ~ Boston road in the business. As it was
the Legislature stood ready to grant them all thu
facilities they needed for the furtherance of thei
business. They were offered charters for roads {,
connect their mines with the now unused portion
of the Troy & Bennington road, by the shortes
aud most cheaply budt routes, and they toouid no
take them; for apparent reason except tina
under that arrangement, the Troy IL Boston road
TO secure their freight, would have to reopen it
communications with Mr.. Parks road. which it
managers have declared they would not do; bu
which, we venture TO predict, they WiH do befor
long. The Legislature sustained the rairoa
committee by vote of over five to one. We be
lieye the intelligent sentiment of the State sup
ports the Legislature by an equal preponderance,
The people OF Lamoille Valley are debating ia
bond question, and the debate is opened first o
the negative side. 1t is announced that the Yer
mont and Canada and Central managers canno
aid the Lamoillc line. We know not on wha
authority but it is tolerably clear that the La
mobile valley road will not aid the interests repre-
scented by the Trustees of the Central, &c.
t Minister Brook Worcester, Vt.) Mining CO
is to be organized Gold has been found in cor
t siderable quantities with imperfect working. BET
ter arrangements will doubtless secure better Re
ward, but we suspect that gold can be earned frol
the land, through its crops, as eheaply as from til
brook.
3 PooR PoRK,-Three hedgehogs aud three coor
were killed in Randolph in one day by two hun
ters
) Fifty thousand pounds of poultry were ser
from Randolph in three days preceding Thanks
/ giving day
SCHOOLING AT HALF-PRICE. Rev. DIR. New
man, of Ripley Female College, Poultney Offer
to take Soldiers daughters to the number OF ten
and give them two quarters schooling, from Jar
I to July 10, at a reduction of so per cent. fc
board and tuition both. lie invites churches
communities, and individuals to aid the daughter
of the soldiers on these terms. The time is
I hand aud the work must be done at once.