Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-12-30


to Boston, Lowell and Lawrence, md thus secure
the advantage Of competition in reducing frcights
both ways between Central Vermont and her chief
markets, while it will also open II choice of mar
kets by q direct railway connection with Portland
and Portsmouth, as well as with the other impor-
taut places we have named.
Still again as we all know the Lam5ille Val
ley is jealous for a railroad and worthy Of il, but
it needs &c most not for the West though it needs
that for It's breadstuis nor for Portland though
that in time will develop an Importance il docs
not now possess but for Boston and the great
manufacturing towns in the neighb1rhood Of that
city A junction at MarshGeld with the Mont
pelicr and Wells River road will accomplish that
purpose, and that thot junction is feasible has
been proved by the preliminary survey of the
Lamoie Valley and Montpelier and st. Johns
bury lines. We bespeak then for the Montpelier
and Wells River Railroad the layornot only of all
the towns and counties through which il must 90,
but Of all the region in the vicinity.
The action of Montpelier is, We think, we'll
timed II is not only true, us the wise man Of old
said, that there is time for all things, but there
is also the best time for every thing and the
greatest poet of our race proved greater wisdom
than Solomon's when he told us there is a tide in
the allahs of men which taken at the food leads
on 10 fortune. 1t is Aood-tide now for railways
! between the Fast and the West and the tide is
likely to carry more than one new line through
| Vermont, Portland is determined upon a road,
and has begun the work with liberality which
not only deserves but will certainly command sue
cess. Gov. Washburne has written that y the first
Of january. 1869, the Portland and Oglonsburgh
company will have one million Of dollars of stock
subscribed which is enough TO ensure the con-
structon Of road from Portland to the New
Hampshire line at Conway and more than enough
to secure its construction 10 the junction of the
Ossipee and Snco Rivers The Rutland and
Woodstock road is inviting Portland to take either
the Ossipee route or the Portland and Rochester
and Winnipiseogce route, arguing for either line
as very much less in cost than the more northern
route, while st. Jolmsbury and the IAmoile
Valley are urging the Northern route
Now Montpelier steps in with Rutland, and
urges the cheaper route, which will give Portland
two strings 70 her Western bow IL she ikes-yia
Wells River, Montpelier and the Central and Og-
densburgh roads, and via White River junction,
Woodstock, Rutland and the New York Central
road. Surely we have not the slightest objection
to the views Of our neighborS in St. Johnsbury
and the Iamoille Valley in fact we were for the
Montpelier and st. Jolmsbury road two years ago,
and still believe that Montpelier ought to have
gone in for it. The mistake of our fellow citizens
then was, not in prelerIing competing line to
Boston via Wells River, but in not seeing that the
Montpelier and 81. JohnsbGry road would newt
ably have brought up the road from Wells River
to Marshfeld, and 50 to Montpelier Now what
we have to suggest to st. Johnsbury and the La
noble Valley is, that st. Johnsbury may have its
two Western routes, via the LaIqoille Valley and
Montpelier, and its Portland route By Wells Riy-
err while the Lamoille may have both Portland
and Boston route via Wells River. But chief
~ our desire is that Portland may see and realize
the superior advantages, in point Of time, expense
and facilities, of what we will call the middle
ground, which will touch the Boston, Concord and
Montreal road at Wiers, or in that neighborhood,
with choice between the White River Junction
and Wells River routes. Pie advantage Of the
latter over the Northern route in time is years, in
capital millions, and in the economical working
of the roads we believe material. In short we
are to be found in what we call the middle ground,
and Montpelier has offered the invitation to Port
land ut the right moment.
i Beyond the aid which Portland ought to give,
we have to add that two successful railroads are
materially and deeply interested in the Montpelier
and Wells River road, and have given assurances
Of material aid We refer to the Boston, Mon
treal and Concord, and the Boston and Maine
roads--both successful, and the last named one of
the most successful in New England, or indeed in
the whole country These roads now have no di-
rect through freight to and from the West BY
n few miles only OF track on the Southern shore
of Lake Winnpiseogee, the Boston ane Maine
road can connect with the Boston, Concord and
Montreal, and then by forty miles of track from
Wells River to Montpelier, both of these roads
will have direct connection with the Central
and Ogdensburgh roads for Western freight
Montpelier invites them to the feast and expects
a hearty reception of the invitation,
Finally the notion of Montpelier is both pru-
dent and wise With grand list of $4,000
representing assessble property to the amount o.
something more than a million and quarter o
dollars the gift of one hundred and six tllousanC
dollars by the town looks large 1t is large it is
libeml but we hope TO see individual citizens o.
the town add thirty forty or fifty per cent. nor,
| ii necessary. Nobody here thinks the amount to-
!, large, but if anybody in other towns thinks th'
same proportion is too large for them, we sugges
that no good expenditure, however large over i'm
4 poyerished or distressed anybody. For eA...aple
in 1915 and few succeeding years, citizens o
Montpelier gave more than double the amour
g for the Central road that is now required of he
for the Wells River road, and il was apparent,
!, no better than money shot into the moon, on SUM
in the sea. Ii was sunk so far that not diyi
dend has ever come up to vouch for the existenc
Of the capital anywhere. Nevertheless it was NJ
I. excellent Investment for the town. albeit Montpe
l. lier has been not 50 much as way station ON tn
road, but an altogether out-of-fhe-iray station
Within the last twelve years Montpelier has ad
ded to that S2G0,OOO in expenditures for Stat
l. House, churches, bluntes to soldiers, &C., fo
= which not dollar of cash dividends could be re
turned, aud East Montpelier has done her part i
= the same line. Now let US see how the cash az
count stands in 1915 the grand list Of Montpelie
y (then embracing what is now East Montpelier)
= was $40 ,700,79, representing $l,07s 900 Of asse
sible property, while in 1868 the list OF Montp,
! ler and East Montpelier was SIS, 5i5, represent
ing assessible property to the amount of 81 1854 ,0C
an increase of more than $4,000, notwitl
standing the extraordinary expenditures for IL
:; Central road and the other objects we have name'
Nor is this all for 10 day the U. S. Bonds
:. these towns amount TO one million of dollars [
{, this sum about one-half is taxed as bank stool
- leaving half million dollars that does not go il
to the list at all except us the annual income
added to the personal property of the holder
Adding this half million to the above increase
: assessible property, we find that the total ga
- since 1915 has been 81 10000. Thus, notwit
~ standing the extraordinary expenditures Of Il
\ towns, the real and personal property is mo
i, than double the sum of 1916.
We will only add that the Montpelier plan