Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-02-10
THE RUTLAND HERALD.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1870.
New York OH n Side Track-To Port
land Direct

Although matters in reference to the
construction of the Rutland and Wood
stock railroad are at present quiet, yet
other sections are alive to their own in
terests. The people along the line from
Portland 10 White River Junction, are
busy, determined that no local or foreign
obstacle shall lay in the way of progress
sive and enterprising people, in the build
ing of their part of the work The sur
veys on the Oswego route from Fort Ann
are under way, and the people all along
the line are awake, contributing of their
money and energy to the furtherance OF
the continuous route. Chicago is awake to
the question It's press and people are
looking eastward to the Atlantic sea-
b0ard by way of Rutland; and yet Rut-
land, like IA dog in the manger, hedges up
the way Is it an honor to Rutland, the
town most in interest of any on the whole
line, except the terminal points, Portland
and Chicago, to stand in this odious posi-
tion befpre the public? Our position as
tSHn IN reference to the road, Is being
oanya--od in neigboring communities and
by the press of the country in no very
4 Complimentary terms They see, as our
people ought to see, that the construction
ofoHr part of the link would make Rut-
land to Vermu4t what Springfield is to
Massachusetts, aud that Rutland with
this road would Don become an important
distributing point, with population of
tHfrty or forty thousand. Yet amid all
thisathe people sit down with their hands
in their pockets and allow few men
TO hedge up this great enterprise. We
may be alone in our views upon this sub
iect, and leave ourselves open to sharp
ocriticism for the position taken. We care
not for that, for fhe day for earnest talk
hasA comeo no matter what may be the
personal consequences, and hesitate not
to 0y that our town in its management
is2etting very unenviable reputation,
whicR ought to awaken US to our duty in
tbs matters At present it may be an
amusing thing for some of our citizens to
set around in our places of business and
4oast that they have aided in blocking the
wheels of progress in this enterprise, but
thJg{uture will show Rutland and those
gentleman especially, how they stand in
tde view 81 history. Those who by po-
litical action or by devising schemes,
brand every one who faVors the Rutland
o and Woodstock Railroad as fanatics and
lunatics, with railroad on the brain, will
ere a few years have cause to regret the
course they have pursued. Rutland needs
all the railroads that it can get, and II
anv one doubts it let them go among
q tho business men and ask what the
business prospects of Rutland are In
view of their experience, and conclude,
zach one for himself, whether railroads
are not necessary to protect them from
the paralyzed condition that now hoVers
oEgr them. These afe earnest words, we
are aware, and know full we'll that denun-
ciationowill follow, but we are perfectly
content to compare positions on this sub
eot with taose who differ from us in the
judgment of future history.
owe commend the following from the
Chicago Post to the careful consideration
of our readers:
We are very much afraid that in the
marvellous growth of our great continent
al valley, and of its commercial empo-
rum, Chicago, &he city of New York
will have to be left out on a side track.
Portland harbor is better than New York
hafbor. 1t is quite as extensive, quite as
well sheltered from storms, and no less
defensible against any naval force that
might assail it, while in depth of water
1t Is sufficient to float vessels of the largest
class Had New York harbor been as
good in all respects as Portland harbor,
there would now be we have little doubt,
many vessels like the Great Eastern, and
a revolution in oceanic transportion would
have been by this time an accomplished
fact. New York interests were against the
safer and cheaper means of transportation,
and the postponement of the revolution
was the result. Whatever shall tend to in
crease the commerce OF Portland Will be
of value, because it will do something to
destroy the most injurious commeroial
fogyism of the country, that being the
undoubted character of our chief city in
direct trade with foreign countries, and
which has constantly kept that trade far
behind what it would have been had the
spirit of progress which animates the
commerce of Chicago animated the COM
merce of New York. New York belongs
to the past. We want city on the At
lantic seaboard which shall represent the
present and not be fearful of the future
which can see what wonderful things are
gong on in the world, and can foresee
what Wonoerful things may be going on
hereafter. We want city which shall
gridiron the ocean with the wakes of
countless ships, as Chicago has gridironed
the Northwest with iron tracks for count
less railway trains. - .s.....
There is now scheme for railway
directly from Portland to Chicago, which
Is so far developed that it may already be
said to be but question of time as re-
CARDS its actual construction. 1t is
known as the Portland, Rutland, Oswego
and Chicago railroad. The name will in
dicate, to those familiar with the locali-
ties, the general course of the route,
which is nearly direct line from Port
land, through New Hampshire, Vermont,
Northern New York, Upper Canada,
Michigan, and Northwestern Indiana, to
Chicago. There is no more direct great
line of railway in the country; none
which may more truthfully be said to be
an importsnt highway of commerce. r.
conMderable portion of the proposed
route already has railways in being,
whose linos'ar embraced in this project.
The Rensselaer, and Saratoga Railroad.
and the Ontar;o Taka Shove Pal &c..