The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-02-15
Addison County Rail Road.

portant advantages would accrue from the
construction of a railroad through coun-
try which possesses abundant resources
and is only fettered in their development
by the lack of facilities for transportation
Yet everybody knows that, less than
fifty years since, while George Stephenson
was laboring with all the enthusiasm of
his great and earnest heart to secure the
construction of England's earliest thread
Of the labyrinth of railways which now
covers the land, many OF the best and
most intelligent of his fellow citizens
sneered at him and opposed his project.
The first bill for tie charter of the road
was rejected by large majority in the
House of Commons. The second bill was
carried through only by much argument
and with much expense against the wish
es Of a large portion of the people. But
he succeeded and the result indicated
the wisdom of his policy. England then
took long stride forward in the advance
ment of the material success in which she
has outstripped all competitors, except
our own United States, where her larger
development and more rapid growth has
been equally dependent upon her facilities
for ready communication and cheap trans
portation.
So universal has been the rule every
where, that material prosperity has follow
ed the establishment of railway through
countries possessing resources for devel-
opment, that there are few among the in
telligent, thinking classes of our people,
who do not earnestly desire to secure
those advantages for themselves, by the
building of such a road. And whenever
this has been effected the expected result
has always followed. Prosperity has been
increased through the whole country, for
miles, on either side. For instance, the
farm lands from two to four miles from
the line of the R. d B. Railroad through
Addison County which sold, previous to
the construct on of the road, for $40 per
acre, now bring $40. If we allow for
premium on gold as we should do, the
value of these lands are 1898 per acre
with much more ready sale than before
at $40. 1t will be conceded that our es-
innate of the present value of the best
land in Addison County, is a low one
but it is large enough to show an advance
Of 90 per cent, after making deduction
for the premium on gold This advance
has occurred along the line of the road
where it has not been affected by the de-
velopment of manufacturing interests, or
the promotion of the growth of commune
ties Now let us see what has happened
near functions. Take those nearest us on
either side, for example. At Rutland,
without the advantages of cheap power,
town Of no mean Importance has sprung
up, all the resources of the country are
being developed, the value of property is
largely enhanced and the growth and
prosperity of the whole community insur.
ed The value of farming lands for miles
out has been increased, not go per cent,
but at least 100 per cent. At Burling.
ton the result has been similar. At St.
Johnsbury, St. Adams, Bellows Falls,
Grotcn Junction, and everywhere else
where two lines of railroad have come to-
gether, there have sprung up towns and
villages, as if by magic, distancing our
old, time honored town of Middlebury in
growth and every material prosperity.
live were to 60 to the west for examples
We should find far greater difference,
but those cited are sufficient for our pur-
pose.
We apprehend that there will be no
difference of opinion on this point, even
without discussion, and we will state the
idea in general terms. The junction of
two important lines of transportation nee
eessarily confers opportunities for bust
ness advantages and advancement. Es-
pecially is this true when the point of
junction is central in rich district which
possesses within itself all the elements of
growth.
Middlebury is the shire and geograph-
zeal center of the county, naturally invt-
ing to herself all the county interests, and,
with Or without facilities, compelling the
transaction, in this place, Of all the county
business. 1t is also the literary center,
rendered permanently so by the presence
of the College, established on the enduring
basis of a valuable endowment. Within
her limits lies a deposit Of the purest and
best marble on the continent" superior"
says Greenough the sculptor, "both in
quality and character, to the best Greek
and Italian MARBLE and exhaustess in
quantity. The importance of any enter
prise which shall tend to draw capital and
develop these resources, can hardly be
over-estimated. Within little more than
mile of the proposed junction, is a success
sion of falls in Otter Creek, amounting in
the aggregate to more than one hundred
feet, which may be readily utilized to
every variety Of industry. Here is cheap
and permanent power, sufficient for the
needs of larger business than is carried
on in any inland New England town.
The proposed line, running through the
heart of this county, connects with the
exhaustless iron deposits of Essex Co.,
n. Y, the products of which, even now,
equal fully one thousand tons per day.
This great interest is only in the first dawn
of its development. One firm, or compa-
ny, alone shipped, last year, to Boston by
rail, via Burlington, eighteen thousand
tons of iron.
With all these resources as yet unde-
veloped, we are warranted in supposing
that the future of Middlebury is measu-
rably assured, if her citizens only have
the courage to seize her opportunity. 1t
is always true that immigration seeks
such points of junction. Confidence is
inspired in the future of such place.
Capital and enterprise and intelligent of
fort flow towards it. Already it is COM
mon talk through the length of our val
ley, that " the junction will be a great
thing for Middlebury and the county,
too"
The agricultural interests of Addison