Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-11-01


the West. 1t would also be of great
advantage to the towns through which
it would pass in this State, in afford
ing them increased facilities for trade
and travel. 1t had been surveyed at
private expense, and found to be en-
tirely feasible, and he knew of no OBJ
lection to the road on the part of the
other roads of the state. The grade
would not exceed 60 feet to the mile,
which was much more favorable than
other roads. 1t also runs through
the towns and villages on the Lamoilie
river, where were as good facilities
for manufacturing establishments as in
any part of the State, and all that
prevent their being improved was the
fact that there were no facilities for
transportation. Foreign capitalists
had already offered to bring their cap
ital into the valley and improve the
excellent water power all along the
Lamoille river if we can only secure
this road. We can only secure it by
the passage Of this bill, and when built
it will increase the value of property
in the towns through which it will
pass more than the whole tax that
would be required He hoped the
legislature. would pass the bill.
Mr.. Herrick briefly opposed the
bill on general principles, and object
ed to some of its provisions in rela-
ton to guardians and wards.
Mr.. Ross Of St. JohDsbury, said he
thought it too late III the history of
this State to say that it will not char
ter railroads, and he hoped it never
would The railroads have been a
great public benefit, and the grand
list of the State had been greatly in
creased, if we foster the building of
railroads. But who is to build the
roads unless the towns themselves aid
in the enterprises. 1t would be a
public benefit to them, and they were
willing and were asked TO be allowed,
to tax themselves to a large amount
p to aid in building them. Those towns
t that have no railroad facilities see
A.; that they are at stand still, or retro
' grading, while other towns in the
!, State are outstripping them i'll pros
/ perity and wealth; and they have
asked the legislature to allow then
to aid the construction OF roads il
their midst. This had been granted
Y in certain cases, and we ought to give
0 the people of this valley the same ia
5 ciitie8. The bill was suitably guard
d ed in egard to the objections RAISED
10y the gentleman from Brattleboro
= and required a majority not only ol
D the voters but of the grand list, au(
T. those who did not give their assent t,
o the bill would be counted against il
l. The people OF that section Of the Stat
v ask no more than should be accorde,
4 to them feely, and allow them to dc
/. velop the resources of that part OF tn
he State, and thus add to the genera
n prosperity Of the whole State. Th
D. interests Of the people were sutlerin
v for the want of railroad outlet. an
~ he hoped the legislature would gran
n them this facility by passing this blI
Mr.. Hubbard of Stockbridge wa
III aware that the objection to this bi
L. arose from feeling OF opposition 1
n the principle OF bonding the towns
ne The constitutional convention OF Ne
Id York have Just adopted u propose
provision in their constitution prohij
iting towns from bonding themSelyt
for building railroads, and the pri
ciple was not settled in his own mine
every town however, should be pc
rd mitted to control its own affairs. II
to thought the argument that had Dec
he put forth in certain quarters, that ii
N railroad corporations OF this State hi
lst increased the wealth of the State, W;
ig- not exactly correct. 1t would
he strange if the expenditure OF $4,000
900 in our midst should not great
he increase the wealth Of the cOmmul
he ties in which that money was eXpe
ley ded; but he thought it was atJribut
BILE more to the progress IN agricultul
lid and the educational interests OF t
to state, and that the railroad corpOl
ght tions had no right to claim for the
lot selves all the benefits that had q
ad- parently accrued to the State fro
)re those other and more important pI
ere ducing causes. He sympathized W
err the people Of the Lamollle Valley,
his we must not create corporations a
ing so intermingle them with the every d
rly affairs of the state, that our legislati
use will come to be controlled by the
the corporations. He thought that tht
were constitutional objections to
sed bill, such as that it provided for t
the ing the poor-thc widows and
ley phans-to increase the value of
ON landed interests Of the towns, but
and would waive those objections, a
ors thought that taking the matter in
lea its bearings, he could not 90 agai
ere the car Of progress, but should
} as pose the dismissal of the bill {
- favor its passage.
cor Mr.. Ross replied to Mr.. Hubbar
no constitutional objections, by citing
her hearing recently had before one
n in the Supreme Court Judges, and t
al the principles of the bill had th
Id a been sustained.
ate; Mr.. Proctor Of Rutland was will
oily to concede to the towns all the rig
ami and privileges they could legally ;
this but there were provisions in this
end which were opposed to the dis
g up gushing democratic features of \
'hen England towns. He objected to
hese manner in which the votes of
and towns were to be obtained, as in
ltrol position to the established usage