Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-06-26

Railroad talk is the order Of the dly and from
present indications there appears to be no doubt
but what there is 10 be a railroad built from Port
land through the Northern part OF Vermont TO the
West, aud there seem to be two practical routes /;
one from st. Johnsbury, through DAnvile and
Marshtell 20 Montpelier. and still shorter route
from ST. Johnsbury down through Hydcpark, to
connect with the Vermont Central at or near
Georgia. Now we have the advantage in one re-
spect for the road to connect at Montpelier with
the Vermont Central, as we have a charter, aud
are only awaiting the requisite funds to commence
operations The Lamoiile people will by aud by
have It In their favor as that is the shorter route.
The question is every day asked-ls Montpelier
going TO take hold of this enterprise or let 1t slip
until it is too late, and let the road 60 down the
Lamollle? | understand it is argued by some of
the Montpelier people that a railroad through their
place from Portland is going 90 be damage to
their place, rather to their business. IL might
in some respects change some parts of the busI-
ness OF Montpelier II man there is selling salt
to neighboring towns north, he would undoubted-
lv lose it ii some capitalist should settle in Marsh
field Perhaps flour aud corn might be shipped
through from the West direct TO MArshisld and
towns on the line, but that is hardly 10 be expect
ed az present. Bnt in my view of the case the
general business OF Montpelier would be enl lTged
ii il had easy and quick conveyance from the
northeastern portion Of the State to the capital.
! have lived in Marshield for years, and if have
heard lt rtmAFktl once presume nave MY
times, Nv ell, IT 1t did not cost so much, would
like to 20 down to Montpelier and trade But
they have got TO pay about $500 for a team, and
expenses there, so that when they got home they
would be about 50 80 besides time out of pocket.
Now if they could just step into the cars aud 60
60 Montpelier and back for say one dollar, there
would be five persons go to Montpelier 60 trade
where there are two now. Well. suppose the road
goes the other route, then how does Montpelier
stand? With two roads leading to Boston freight
would most likely be as low from Boston to West
Danvlle as it would be from Boston to Montpe-
Her OF course all business north Of Plainfeld
would 20 that way Now citizens Of Montpelier,
inst take hold of this enterprise ia earnest before
IL +. too late and secure an easy and quick access
10 your place from the northeastern portion of the
State and you will be very likely always to keep
your State House and save you from regretting,
in after years. that you have let this opportunity
pass by. CITIZEN.
A THOROUGHLY REcoNsrRUcrED YRGINrAN.
Col NJ Ilarman, who is part proprietor of the
Natural Bridge property, in Rockbridge county,
Va aud who also owns a large estate in the val
lev near Staunton, has farm of 300 broad acres
of the most fertile land on the continent He tells
me that he has 600 acres in wheat and 500 in corn.
and that both crops are the finest he ever saw.
Col Harman is one of those men whom it is real
pleasure for a loyal person TO meet in the South
of those men who accept TIE situation not with
n sullen and niggardly acquiesCence but in hearty
good faith, and with changed convictions touching
all the issues out Of which grew the war. He was
formerly the owner Of IA slaves, and since the
war has been employing AZ black hands; and he
told me some remarkable facts illustrative of the
immense gain u&the free over the slave labor sys-
tenn. when | asked him why, as il was plain
question in political economy, he had not appre-
cated this advantage before the war he said frank
ly; "Why, ! never thought Of t-wc, none of us,
ever viewed il in the light OF political economy
we simply knew it was our institution and we were
bound 10 maintain il bat own | have changed
my views He also mentioned point in the
/ governance o. his black employees that was new
TO me. IL is this instead Of paying his hands
their full wages of 80 or $40 a month. he pays
them one half every month, and the balance at the
end Of the year. For, he says if the negro gets
his full wages every month he will Immediately
spend the whole amount in some trumpery non
sense but ii at the end of the year he receives
fifty or sixty dollars in hand, it is which to
him is tangible and which he feels like saving,
and be is immediately disposed to re-engage, In
his own experience he has never had an employee
leave him. Col Harman has been solicited 10 60
into the Republican Charlottesville Convention
as a delegate, bat he did not say what his deter
mnaton was. When said TO him at the end @
our talk, that did not see that his principles diff
iered from those Of the Republican party he re
plied' "Wel, don't think they do differ ant
all | want the Republicans to do is TO 20 to worl
practically and sensibly, without any fooling Of
nonsense and with political recuastructon ou
material reconstruction will be very speedy--lnucl
spccdier than you at the North imaeinen
Correspondence Of The NeU fo,k Times