Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-05-06

Editors Herald.

length, according to its location, it is not
strange, where there is difference Of
opinion as to the best route for the same
all things considered, that selfish and un.
worthy motives should be charged upon
the respective advocates of the different
routes, or that personalities. should be in.
dulged in, or that the argument of ridi.
cule should be invoked.
IL is, however, important that the pub
lie mind should not become distracted or
diverted from the main question. The
people of Vermont, very largely and very
deeply, feel the want of railroad con-
necting the great railroad centres, so to
speak, Rutland and White River juno
ton, thereby bringing the people of the
eastern and western portions of the State
into closer alliance and more intimate ac-
qusintance, and affording mutual advan-
tage, and effecting increased development
of their resources. The people want this
none the less, because some individuals
will, quite likely, reap greater political or
business advantage from it than Others
BY such road, it is generally conceded
that the town of Rutland would DO very
largely benefited, perhaps more largely
than any other town; and it is expected
that Rutland will have to contribute cor
respondingly to secure the road. This is
an objection urged to the project. The
inc airing of debt is often, if not always,
but it should be remembered
that public debt decreases relatively,
without being paid, in proportion to the
increase of public wealth, and that
nothing has tended so much to enlarge the
national wealth as railroads; so that a
large debt incurred by us now might be-
come trifle III comparison when payably.
An illustration will show this forceably.
In 1880, prior to the building of the first
railroad in this country, the accumulated
wealth of the country, for a pc
riod of more than two hundred years,
from the landing of the pilgrims, was es-
timated little over two and one hall
billion dollars; in the thirty years follow
ing, from 1880 10 1860, during which
over thirty thousand miles of railway
were built III the United States, our ma
tional wealth increased to over sixteen bill
ion dollars; so that, in 1880, debt of
one half billion dollars would have re-
luited about one fifth of the entire prop
erty of the country to pay it, while the
same debt in 1860 would have required
only about one thirty-second part to pay
It.
Our own town illustrates the same pro-
position. Twenty years ago our grand list
was about ten or twelve thousand dollars;
i is to-day from forty to forty-fve thou
,and dollars A debt of : 900 then with a
grand list of ten thousand dollars, would
nave required tax of ten cents on the
lollar of the grand list; the same debt
low with grand list of forty thousand
dollars, would require tax OF two and
,ne-half cents. Our town was never
growing SO rapidly as at the present time.
Does any one expect or believe that Rut-
and will not continue TO increase as rap
dly for twenty years to come, as it has
or twenty years past. a duo -rr-.~;a-
ion of our opportunities, and correspond
ny action on the part of our people, will
ause development and growth in the
uture, far greater in proportion than we
AVE ever had in the past.
Our capabilities to meet an investment
n the proposed railroad, should be looked
t, then, from stand point in the future,
nd our vision not confined to the present
lew alone,
But the objector says, l agree to all
his; l am ready to subscribe and push
II, so far as | am concerned, but don't I
hink 1t Is right for one portion of the /
to compel the other portion to /
invest in railroads against their will. This l
rgument is more selfish than sound No
ne declines to reap the advantage of a
abroad. All, in fact, concede the neces-
ity and advantage of the proposed road,
nd that the advantage must in the main /
e general, but portion may, forsooth,
ettle back and say, we don't propose to
clip in the project; if the rest Of you
7ant it, you may pay out your money
nd build it, but don't take our money /;
hat is the way railroads used to be built,
uild this in the same way if you want
!. The selfishness and unsoundness of
his position is apparent from statement
f it. That all must be benefited by the
Dad, is reason enough why all should
ontribute toward it, provided con-
ribution must be made. That all
ave grown rich by the sacrifices of few
a the past, is no reason why the sacrifi-
es should be renewed for general benefit
n the future. Toll-bridges and turnpike
prevailed once, but we have
rogressed to better system of building
nd sustaining highways 1t is also OBJ
,cted by few that the proposed action of
rutland will not aid in securing a railroad
D Woodstock that if it is for the inter-
sts of other corporati--s to have this
Dad, they will build it irrespective of our
elton.
1t is true that Rutland can contribute
ut small portion, comparatively. to-
yard the whole expense of the enterprise.
nut it must be remembered that Rutland
nd the other towns along the line are
skiing for the road, not other parties ask
,g these towns for it. Railroads are not
sually built except under the leadership
nd desire Of the people along the pro-
,cted route. The magnitude of this en-.
srprisc renders it necessary for united
fort on the part of all parties interested
/, or to be benefited by it. It needs
and management. To whom
oes this work more properly belong than
!, the people of the towns through which