Middletown transcript., 1869-02-06
: Correspondence !; RS. ofMe Niletown r,qn.eript.
KENT CoUvrY, Nd. Jan. ~, 1860.

KENT County, Nh. JAN II, 1860.
1Iy Dear Transcript :-Resuming my account
of the ancient town on the banks OF the Chester,
/ notice the still prevalent idea entertained by its
citizens, that it is, and ought TO be- the metropo-
lis, if not of the State, at least of the County.
As result OF this idea, there has always been
feeling of jealousy between the town and coun-
try In all political movements, the town has
sought TO rule has dictated the nominations
and sometimes in defiance of right and justice i'm
posed its nominees upon the people. 1t is thus
able to do because the party leaders residing in
the place can be gathered at short notice, while
the rank and file in the county are SO remote that
no speedy concert of action is easily obtained.
Hence many of its people live either by office, or
on the blessed anticipation ofgettng office. Some
do,a thriving business as brokers; though il Is
not certain that the State gains largely from their
| licenses. A few are industrious mechanics,
though there is no special branch of industry to
| give growth and expansion TO the town. The
mercantile interest is so divided as to be almost
nothing-so attenuatcd as to be reduced to mere
habcrdashery and huckstcrng. Almost every
family has its little garden patch for supply of
vegetables and sundry cows, straying about the
suburbs, furnish milk and butter; while the en-
vrons are bestud with glorious galaxy OF pig
sites in which sundry swnish tenants promise to
repenish the larders of the happy owners.
The consequence of this condition is, that the
ancient town las a miscrably poor market.
1 Man wants Dul ltlle ueIe pclOW --lhc ioihs vi
| this time-honorcd town want less. The produce
of the surrounding country mostly seeks other
| markets, and what little finds its way into its
| contracted market-house produces a chronic glut.
But, one institution deserves more than pass
ing remark. Washington College is located on a
beautiful eminence North of the town, and COM
mands q really splendid view of the river (so
called for the want of name) and the surround
ing country. '+
Its faculty at present consists of two scholarly
gentlemen, neither being President of the College
The government is in the hands of a Board of Wis
itors, some of whom take as much interest in lis
affairs rs Brigham Young may in the celibacy Of
the priesthood. Either from this cause, or somt
other the old College does not prosper lti mo-
deficient in resources, as the real estate belong
ing to it, if properly managed, ought to suppor
its two professors,
This, however, has been leased, at mere nomi
nal rates, for long time. The institution ha
long enjoyed liberal benefactions from the State
Another cause of its stationary condition may b'
found in the many grog-shops about the town
and its large number of fast young men. 4
number of young men OF brilliant talents, wh'
might have attained honored positions, hav
graduated at the College and the dram-shop at tn
same time. / mention one other cause often as
signed for the long-continucd depression of Wash
ington College; and that is, the idea of its in
salubrity. ! think this notion is greatly eXag
gerated, yet if the town could be relieved Of it
old graveyard and Its lnnumerable plggerleS
more healthful atmosphere would probably b
secured. You have had the Rail Road projeC
under discussion. need say but little concern
ing it,. We need q road The interests OF iii
whole country require it. Chesterown seems d.
termiped that unless it shall be constructed /
suit her fanced interest it shall not be built a
, ALL 1t is the old spirit which has inspired tn
town for forty years. The road they say must b
DETECTED from its natural, best and shortest route
to go into the town. To say nothing of the cos
, of this deflexion, it would be ruinOus to Chester
, town, Did any one ever know Railway TO pas
through little one-horse town without injury t
it. Will not every old lady who wants an ounC
of tea, or pound ofsoap, send for it to the city
But what is there about Chestertown to supper
! a Railroad? Nothing is manufactured
, produced-the travel will not do it, What will
1t Is preposterous to suppose that farmers, SUI
rounded as ours are, by naxigablc waters, wi
0 transport their produce on wheels to Chestertow
D to be trapshipped to distant markets at Railwa
freight, AS for the town itself, single trai
would take every surplus commodity in i
/" But" say some, give us the road into tow
. and manufactures will grow."-Grow! upo
q what? There is no water power, and not onl
the capital but the energy is lacking to give SUI
cess to any great enterprze. The whole trut
a is, that the town is anxious to moRopolize IL
: Rail Road, as it docs every thing else, and ha'
ing done so, to put upon the little parsimonioI
scale of every thing else about il. What matter
. the justice of the procedure? What if the who
county has been burdened with taxes TO build ii
road-if there is only funds enough to secure IL
road to Chestertown--all below may pay an
: pay-and-whistle. Yours SNAPS.