Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-01-20

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The people ought to take hold and do wha
they can in aid Of this project. 1t is {
benefit to the communities through which
it runs, as well as to the Rutland railroad
He closed with his opinion of the propo
sition Of the Railroad to lease it and it,
security as an investment.
Col. Merrill said this question was worth
the consideration of the locality for two
reasons. First-The interest of the rail
road already built. Second-The interes,
it was to yourselves. 1t was mutual in
terest, and you are expected to look upon
it with an eye to the main chance before
you embark in it. It is span in great
line and you are invited to become par,
Of it. When it is built you will receive
four times more than you will expend. A
guaranty of 6 per cent. is given to say
nothing of its advantages to yourselves
Contrast your condition in former days
with your present standing and it ought
to be a convincing argument. All the in.
terest have is to see the day when the
salt and other merchandise from Port.
land and the tea from China shall be
brought to your doors and traverse the
great thoroughfares.
Hon. John Howe of Brandon was
called upon. He said he remembered
well the day of the opening of the Boston
and Providence Railroad, and had wit.
messed the changes that had taken place
under the influence of railroads since that
day. He also we'll remembered the ex-
press business in this country by Mr..
Harnden of Boston, then ticket seller
in the office of the Boston and Worcester
Railroad. He made three trips to New
York week He remembered walking
to the depot with him when he started
on his first trip, and he carried only a
small satchel in his hand. He was doubt
full of its success, but to what expansion
has the express business grown from this
small commencement. So has it been
with railroads, and the business that has
grown up under its fostering influences.
They have given Boston great trade in
the progress of business, and that city has
more wealth than the whole States of
Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont
together. All this has been done by rail-
roads. More than one-eighth of the en-
tire railroads of the country had been
opened and travelled in the year 1869.
When he first came to Vermont, potatoes
sold at II cents bushel, good COWS could
be purchased for ST or $18 dollars, hay
was but few dollars ton. How differ
ent are all these things now under the in
Huence of railway transportation. These,
with great many other things, conspire
to effect these towns off the lines of COM
munication. There is no one can fail to
observe and appreciate all these things.
1t should be remembered that this line is
twenty-three miles shorter to Boston.
These northern towns should be awake to
this subject, as a movement is already
being made to .Isurvey line from Bran
don through Sudbury and Orwell to the
Lake.
Col. William +. ICalkins, of Ticonderoga,
was next called upon. He came to see
what was going on over here in Vermont,
and find out if he liked our movements
He was only three'year old in railroad
ing, but he had been anxious to learn how
they upon the other side of the lake were
to get out. He had traversed this county
in his younger days with pack thrown
across his horse, or on horse that had
such claim, as John G. SAKE said he had,
at Saratoga one day. ga gentleman came
up to him as he was lazily leaning against
one of the Spring establishments, and
asked him if he was the proprietor" He
replied 'He had a lean on st." So he
had lean on his, ,horse. and he could but
contrast the condition Of tie country then
and now. His people were anxious to
have this link built. They had road on
the other side of the lake and wanted to
get out. He concluded his remarks with
q description of their efforts in building
their road, and the amount of business
that invites connecting link of railway
that will enable them to reach the mar
kets with their products.
Henry Clark, then addressed the assem-
bly, upon the methods of aiding railroads
adopted by our State, and reviewed the
several features of this enterprise.
Ira w. Clark, Esq, of Middlebury was
called upon to address the meeting, He
had fine opportunity to contrast between
towns off from the lines of railroad and
those in connection with them. He COM
menced the practice of his profession at
Fairfax, and fully appreciated the disad-
vantages of living away from railroad
facilities. Since his residence in Middle
bury he had appreciated the luxuries Of
being upon line of road and it's adj
vantages. He urged the people of Corn
wall, with whom he was intimately as
ISOLATED in business relations, to avail
themselves of its advantages. These
meetings and the propositions made to
the people of this locality meant bust
ness, and they should avail themselves of
the golden opportunity. They offered
sure guarantees for their investment. He
thought Middlebury should be the termi-
nal point of this road, and it if could be
secured, that town would do her proper
ton even to the extent of one hundred
thousand dollars. Its advantages to them
would be immense in developing her in
dustries and resources. They already
began to feel the impulse given by the
little Belden Falls Branch Raasesd, and
Middlebury had full appreciation Of all
these opportunities, and if the chance
was offered them they would be sure to
step in and take it. In conclusion he ap-
pealed to the people of Cornwall to take
hold Of this question in earnest, and
secure the prizs tnat was held out to
them.