The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-02-22
Addison Railroad.

Addison Railroad.
We have, this week, to chronicle pro
gress. Bridport has voted to bond TO
the sum of S45, 900 in the event of the
eastern terminus being located at Mid
dlebury. Middlebury, on the same
condition, votes, with great unanimity,
to bond for the sum of $4,000. Private
subscriptions to this fund are Increasing
1t materially. All we now need to in
sure success in this enterprise, is little
lift from adjoining towns, which Will
be largely benefited by the building up
of an important town at this point.
Salisbury, Cornwall, Weybridge and
New Haven, although not equally ben
Gifted with Middlebury and Bridport,
are vet to receive very material benefit
from junction of important lines of
railroad at this point, in the creation of
n center of business, in the enhancement
of the value of their woodlands and
their products generally.
All these towns center in at
Middlebury, naturally. Salisbury and
Cornwall and portion of Weybridge
and New Haven have, with us, com
mon interest. The mere distinction of
name can hardly be allowed to distract
us from realizing the benefits of ma
tural unity. Beyond the advantages
to these towns, referred to above, we
might add that large town here, would
soon call for the development of the
valuable peat deposits of Salisbury and
Cornwall, and Immediately bring into
use the water power in Weybridge' and
New Haven. Itshould be remembered
that Weybridge shares with US In the
ownership of the valuable water power
at Papermill village, which will be
within one half mile from the junction.
The influx of capital consequent upon
the development of that power, will
aid largely in all the enterprises the
town of Weybridge may undertake, and
the increment to her population and
influence will not be inconsiderable.
But matter of more tangible import
ance to the people of both, Cornwall
and Weybridge, is the establishment
Of depot, very much nearer large
portion of the people, easy of access,
perhaps in the Fair Valley, where they
can receive and ship heavy freight.
The matter of freights is more impor-
tant than it may at first seem. To H.
lustrate, take the one little item of coal
consumed in the village of Middle.
bury. The amount now consumed Is moi
far from 700 or 800 tons per year and Is
rapidly increasing. Mr.. Marshall esti.
mates that very soon after the compile
ton of the Addison railroad the amount
consumed will be more than 2, 900 tons {
year. Taking this estimate as the basis
and his other estimate that at leas
81 so per ton will be saved in transpor
tation, and we have the snug little sun
of $4,000 per year, saved to the village o
Middlebury on this one item But thi
is only a small part of the heavy freight
age that now comes out of us, either il
bringing from, or Carrying to, market
Weybridge also shares with New Ha
ven in the possession of the valuabl
power at Belden's Falls, and still fui
ther down, Peck's Falls, and besides, ha
the immense power all to herself, c
the Lower Falls . Un2dega and the b jnTi1ls
enterprise at Middlebury and vicinity
the power now expanding itself in lash
Ing the rocky sides of its own channel
would he gathered up and applied t
the uses of man and business. an
wealth would be created or, at least, ar
propriated. 1t is awicked waste of tn
opportunities the God of nature ha
given us, to allow the 5000 horse power
which is a low estimate Of the power {
these falls, to go longer unimproveC
when the opportunity is open to us, G
1t now is, of securing the benefits of tbs
improvement, by simply putting OF
our hand and taking it.
We expect something from thes
towns, and something generous, to,
Their citizens have never been foun
to be "half penny" men and empha
ically so when any measure of publ
benefit invites their attention. If
was matter of uncertainty about IL
value of the stock when the road
built, the matter would be differen
But we presume that matter is settle
in the minds of all concerned. III
guaranty by the Rutland road for IL
interest of six per cent. make the Walt
OF the stock par before it is built. I'll
credit of the towns, and the paymel
OF the interest the first year perhaps,
probably all that is necessary to enab
us to realize the advantages of this rot
and iupcfiop