Litchfield enquirer., 1870-09-15

l eT Desiring to allow local sentiment regarding
 matters of local importance the fullest expression l in our columns we print the following communi- lcation. We wish it to be understood, however,
 that we are in no way: responsible for the state- Imentso of fact and for the opinions therein con
 tained, many of which we know to be entirely er-
 roneous.-ED. ENol
 | NEW PRESTON, Sept. 9th, 187O MIR. EDITOR The railroad is now the topic of
 conversation. It has reached the point where it's
 construction seems to be an absolute fact and the
 question now to settle is which way shall it be
 built. Of course each person consults his indiyd-
 uaI interest in expressing his views but it ishoped
 the interest of the enterprise will be considered in it's various connections by those who have power
 to locate it. rather than the interest of the few in
 dividuals who may subscribe few thousand dol
 lars to it's stock. In the first place, to build the
 road and put it in operation down the river to Haw
 leyvile will doubtless cost not less than one mill
 lion dollars. The amount now raised is four hun
 dred thousand dollars which will not grade the
 road through on that route in my opinion. But to
 New Milford, through New Preston, think it will
 and considerable more. When the money is laid
 out and the work done as far as can be for what money has been raised, what it's condition will be readily be seen, unless larger amount is rais- ed to commence with. I think it is safe to say, that the money sufficient to build the road from Ltchfeld to Mine Hill will build it from Ltchfeld to New Milford. Now from Mine Hill on it is not far from eleven miles farther to go and the Housa
 tonic river to bridge besides before you reach con- nections. If the parties who favor that route can
 see money enough to complete it it. may be well enough, but from the basis on which they propose to start, think it would be best for them to can didly take sober second thought. I think the basis is sufficient to guarantee the road from Ltch- field to New Milford. But if commenced down the river this bass after the money is spent that is now raised, and the road half graded, and more town bonds called for to carry on the work, they will not be forthcoming. This think can safely be said of the town of Washington. The next plan will be then to mortgage what work has been done and gel. perhaps 50 cents on 8 dollar and spend that, and what then why, sell it out for what you can get and let some other company finish 1t and run it, and the towns lose all they have put in and SO~~N>Se AA~AS ">~~ the result where more is undertaken than can be done, in any enterprise. Either raise more money or build the road to New Milford with what you have got But after road is built and in running rig, certainly as much business can be done from New Milford to Litchfeld as from Hawleyville, and doubtless double, but if the same there is eleven miles of railroad more to build and keep in repair, more bridges to support, more workmen, more cars and engines needed, and no more business to support it. Besides we think it will be decidedly better for the people of Litchfield if the road is date the people who wish to travel to the County seat. It has been argued that Ltchfeld is in dan ger of losing the county seat unless railroad IS built to better accommodate the travelling public. How serious an argument this may be am not able to say but if it is argument worthy of any think it is worthy of some in con nection with which way the proposed road is built, for if built down the valley to Hawleyville it will tend sooner to move it than if not built at a it will not be of any particular advantage to any one in the county except Roxbury and part of Wash ington, but if built to New Milford it will decidedly be great accommodation to large portion of the inhabitants in the western towns of the county. It is said we cannot raise any money to build it this way. How does anybody know that. Not dollar has been asked for except the bonds of the town, and we responded to that. Not subscription pa- per has been offered to single individual eitherin this part of the town or in Warren or New Milford. If an opportunity is offered doubtless as much as the amount of the bonds of Roxbury and the con- ditional subscription of Washington can be raised It is hoped that the parties interested most in this enterprise will canddly look the matter in it's various aspects, and not be governed by complete selfshness, but by good reason and sound judg- 1 ment. AsPETUCK.