Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-07-30


800 Omaha and San Francisco are on
the same parallel Of h,i'ude aud the
business Of the nation demanding rail-
road from the Atlantic O the faeihe sea-
board, what more popula route could be
chosen than the projeote ! one from Port
land 10 the western termi aus OF the line,
through Rutlund. The harbor Of Port
land Is the finest ON the Atlantic coast,
accessible at all seasons Of the year 10
craft IL the largest tonnage, while the
facilities for unloading and loading from
vessels 10 ears, for inland transportation
and vice versa, is unequaled in any port
In the world That port is already be-
ing placed in direct line of eommuni,
cation with the British Provinces east Of
il hy the construction OF the European
and North American Railway, which will
bring through thar city merchandise des-
ipnated Or the West landed in those
Provinces That city was looking for the
most dirsct western connection, and il
was sought through Rutland rs the most
direct route, Its distance from Boston
is III miles, while, from Rutland to Port
land by the proposed route II Is no far
Their than BY existing routes 10 Boston,
aud as all freights 10 Portland from this
place now must pass through Boston, this
distance can be saved. One Of the mem.
bers of petroleum firm, whose oils were
refined in Portland had told him within
the past year that the said firm lost $780,
900 annually 10y being compelled 20 for
ward their froights over such oircuitous
route. Eleven thousand barrels Of Hour
| last year passed through Rutland and
Boston, 10 Portland, while the buildings
| OF the latter city, rising PhpniN-like
from tho ashes, were being hoored with
our Rutland marble and rooted with Rut-
land county slate, on W this freights
were paid an unnecessary distance of Ill
miles.
The speaker next made illusions 10 the
numerous lines already built which would
act a. feeders to the proposed line were it
completed, showing that business unpar.
allied in the history of Eastern roads
awaited il, and clearly showing the vast
interests that must accrue 10 the people
of Rutland by opening it. OF the entire
route we were asked but TO build the con
Meeting link between Woodstock and Rut-
land. South and west of us the through
line was either complete or in course Of
construction, while east of Woodstock a
railroad is being completed 10 White
| River Junct ON from that point as fas, as
/ 200 lriShmCn can drive il, and the link
from Portland to Danbury needs no help
from rs, as ITS construction is already
pledged. Moreover, the new route was
important to Vermont as Il common
wealth. The Green Mountains formed a
barrier dividing the east and west section,
OF the State socially and politically, and
as little intercourse existed between the
two portions OF the State as between YER
mont and New Hampshire. Build the
proposed route and the barrier would be
broken down. Then all northeastern
Vermont could reach Rutland easier than
Montpelier or Burlington. Rutland
would then he the geographical and bust
ness center Of Vermont, and the attain
ment of such an object was well worth
I looking to. Where now day is con
sumed in reaching Rutland from Wood
stock and adjacent towns by rail, if Rut-
land does her duty, two or three hours
would accomplish the same end.
The railroads already centering in Rut-
land had in brief period comparatively
increased our taxable property 175 per
cent, and who could tell what would ac-
crue TO us from the business of this great
route. We must become not only the
railroad center of Vermont, but of New
England, through which traffic from ocean
to ocean would flow Then We would
have larger population, more business
Ronses, and property would increase,
while our marble would meet with more
extensive sale and our slate would find
other markets. Our young men who are
now peopling the West would remain at
home, because they could find lucrative
employment, our sons would remain to
solace our old age, instead Of seeking
homes in remote sections and becoming
imbued with feeling to leave New Eng
land "out in the cold"
The speaker recounted the difficulties
of procuring subscriptions TO Railroad
stocks which he himself had latterly ex-
perlcnced, saying that men met him with
assertions that they had invested money
in other roads and lost it. To such lac
said, Look at the grand list of your
towns There they would find their
subscriptions had been repaid, and with
interest We, who subscribed, might not
get our money back but we owe duty
to the future generation, and should act
as literally for them rs have our forefath-
ers for US. Acres always remain the i'm
provements effected by railroads are per
maneht, and the money invested in them
Is sure to return either to Us or our pos
tcrity. :,
Tho object of the meeting in Portland
next week, to which we were assembled
to choose delegates, was the perfection. of
a route from Cape Canso and Halifax TO
the Pacific, through Portland. This
meeting Is iii the interest of Rutland and
We are bound to attend il, and how much
better would it be for us could we attend
It and proclaim to that convention that
the Rutland and Woodstock Railroad, the /.
principal uncompleted link in the new
route had been organized, and was in the
hands OF energetic and perseyering men.
1t was necessary that 100000 should be
raised before the corporation could be or
gained. This amount, Mr. v ashburn
thought, could be raised in Rutland in
- hours, as we had men OF sufficient
wealth and earnestness among us. He
concluded by eNhorting the people OF
Rutland To do their whole duty, that the
Rutland and Woodstock interest could be /
idyorably and appropriately represented .
at the approaching convention.
j. r. Randall, the chicf-cngineer Of the
survey of the Rutland and
Woodstock Railroad, next made state
ment that, some months since, he COM
monced the survey OF the route from Rut-
land, through the towns of Mcndou, Chit
tenden, Pittsfeld and Sherburne 10 WOOD
stock. He found the line far more prac-
tic3blc and feasible than had been antici-
patcd. There are heavy grades and hard