The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1867-03-01
Railroad from Montpelier to Port
land.
From the Montpelier Freeman.


1t will be seen, by the proceedings
which will be found in another column,
that the railroad from Montpelier to
Portland is progressing, so far as the or
ganization of the Montpelier and St.
Johnsbury, and Essex county railroads
are concerned. The gentlemen who con-
stitute the board of directors are we'll
known and energetic men, who are not
accustomed to put their hands to the
pillow and afterwards turn back. General
Pitkin, who represents this end OF the
route on the board of direction, is one OF
our most active and wide-awake citizens,
of great executive ability, and heartily
enlisted in the enterprise. Mr. Dwlnnell
will ably represent the interests OF the
towns along the route in this county, and
Messrs. Fairbanks, Morrill,, and Hatch
will be as effective and successful mana
gers as any gentlemen who could possibly
have been named. 1t Is understood that
engineers are at once to examine the
route, and estimates are to be made, while
meetings to awaken a public interest and
secure subscriptions for the stock, are to
he held as soon as convenient, along the
proposed route.
We have already expressed our convic-
ton of the necessity for this road but Its
convenience and value impress themselves
upon us the more we consider the project,
as they will, we think, upon every one
who considers the benefits OF the proposed
road. The mountain barriers in this
state have divided our people in more
than a geographical sense. The east and
west are not as near neighbors, nor as
well acquainted with each other, nor as
intimately related in their business inter-
ests, as the people of one commonwealth
ought to be, nor as we should be II rail-
roads ran across the state, as we'll as
through it from north to south. If st.
.Johnsbury was but ride of an hour and
half from Montpelier, or three hours
ride from Burlington, the inhabitants OF
these towns would become infinitely better
acquainted with each other than now.
We therefore think it exceedingly de-
sirable, both for good neighborhood and
more intimate acquaintance, as well as
for community of business interests, that a
railroad like the one projected should be
built at the earliest possible moment.
But there will be no road built unless
the people along the route and its termlni
interest themselves to the extent of taking
stock literally in the enterprise Foreign
capitalists and other railroads will, of
course, help, where they think the road
will aid them in return and we may
therefore reasonably expect that gentle
men in Portland, and roads between here
and Portland, and possibly the Vermont
Central road, will materially contribute to
the success Of the project. They will not
do this, however, unless those along the
route show interest enough in the success
OF the undertaking TO give it liberal aid.
The gods help those who help themselves,
and they seldom help those who do not
help themselves. There has been much
money invested in railroads in this state
which has never paid dividends, and yet
the state could better afford tospay quad
ripple the amount of every dollar invested
in railroads in Vermont, than to have the
rails taken up on the roads now in exist
ence. And while this is true of the roads
already built, it would be equally true ifa
road should be built from here to ST
Johnsbury. The whole state would be
greatly benefited as well as greatly ac-
commodated by such a road, and those
along the line would find it resulting in a
sure increase of wealth to them ALL 1t is
gratifying to know that the enterprise is
in the hands of men who will make it sue
coed, unless success is impossible.