Litchfield enquirer., 1867-10-31
Railroads.

At the railroad meetlng last week Mir. Theron the capitalists at the ends of the proposed route were going to shell out. Mayor Briggs, of Spring field, replied that Springfield was already provided with an outlet to the Hudson, as well as in every other direction and that she can hardly be expect ed to build road for the accommodation of these country towns, unless they showed pretty good disposition to help themselves: MT. George B. Brown, from the other end, made similar state ment. And they arc doubtless correct Every man in this country would have railroad run ming right by his pig-pen and hen-coop if he could get capitalists from abroad to build it for him. But he cannot. He must take hold for him. self.
 The survey from Fshkin to Norfolk shows that there is no grade sleeper than g 4-5 feet, coming east and one of about 62 feet going west. Mr. Barnes, the surveyor, gave it as his opiniou that coal could be brought to Winsted by this route at least g per ton cheaper than at present and flour, lumber, iron, &c., at correspondngy re- duced rate. Mir. Butler, of Norfolk, believed that the building of this road would prevent the exten- sion of the Boston, Hartford & Erie road to the Hudson, on any route south of us.-- Wtnsted Her.
 The foregoing statements confirm our belief that the proposed road from Fish kill to Springfield must be built by the in terests bet,reen those places without much help from either.
 The railroad fever seems to be novelty north of us. It is 8 disease people may take second time, but, as with most epi denies, subsequent attacks are not so SC we're as the first. We remember meeting in this not very excitable village, where il was unanimously resolved that "we aUoulc have railroad" That was some time ago, and it isn't here yet. We have at last begun to suspect that the best resolution. won't build railroads.
 The preliminary skirmishing before the great Air Line battle of 1868, is even now commencing. The Air Line people lead off in the Tribune as follows:- ,....
 The great Air Line route which shortens the distance between New York and Boston 27 miles is only retarded by Hartford opposition that can not long prevent the cOnsummation of the enter prise It is the most important route in the State which is yet unbuilt
 The Hartford Times and New Haven Courier open thus:-4
 "Our Middletown friends assure us that under these votes contractors in New York are ready te take hold of the road Immediately and construc it from New Haven to the Connecticut river. this is done, it will be impossible for any selfish and Boston But it behoves the friends of tn, M route to look in time to the nominations of botl political parties for the next campaign. Last yeal Hartford ploughed very deep, and defeated tho bridge by securing the nomination of men in it, own interests. That must not be practiced again. Courier. s.
 The last part of this paragraph lacks the meri of simple truth. Hartford meddled with no nom nations last Spring-lifted not finger till tn, question was brought into the legislature But i is well for the people to understand this threat and to be prepared for interference in the nominations on the part of those who propose tc obstruct the navigation of the river. Who packed the Conventions in the 18th and 16th Senatoria Districts last spring against the will of the people of those districts? Can the friends of obstruction tell?-Tinles.
 Sympathizing as we did with Hartford in last summers contest, we must, neverthe. less, contradict the charges implied in the last sentence of the above quotation. The notion that either of the Conventions allu. dsd to was packed in the Air Line inter. est, is an absurd mistake