Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-11-01

their times Of trial and discouragomont
Those who were warm friends at first become
cool Afterwards. They allow small vacations
20 trouble them AMI prevent their hearty 60.
operation. Those who were Indifferent be-
come hostile, and those who were hostile at
first, become boastlul and triumphant. y.
in spite Of them ALL the work goes on, and
comes out successful and victorious at last
One Of the most melancholy Of all the mani
lestations Of human nature is seen when
those who prc.emiuenty should give their
aid to a noble public object, retire from the
ranks Of It's supporters, among whom they
ranged themselves at the outset, and firm pro-
Tossed friends turn into ayowed opponents. III
would seem as if worthy objects, that build
mp communities, might command the support
at least, Of those who are pledged to them
that the public good should override all private
feelings Yet it never is so, and it is not
worth while to expect it, but il is best to ex.
poet to the contrary, and to provide for just
such emergencies We say these things in
order that the real friends Of tho Montpelier
q Wells River Road may not be dscourag.
cd. The thing which is common to all such
enterprises, has come upon this-the day that
tries the devotion and energy Of its friends
the day that summons them to the use Of all
their strength and makes sure the success Of
their work. This great enterprise, loaded
with SO many benefits to our town, cannot
and will not fail There are too many rea-
sons for its ultimate triumph. If only the
subscribers to the stock, who made no
condition to their subscription, aud who can
plead no excuse for not paying, will meet
their payments as they are called for, the
work will go on without delay, and with GER
tain success The loss of ten or twelve thou
sand dollars from the subscription, If it is
lost which is yet by no means certain, will
thing needful is for the stockholders to pay
the balance Of their subscription at once.
That will secure the road beyond all contin-
gcnces. The contract is of such nature,
that when the Directors have paid in a GER
tain amount Of cash. the contractor is to COM
plcto the work-and to secure its completion,
he has given the Directors a good and reliable
! bond in the sum of two hundred thousand
dollars. Montpelier has already paid in one
hundred and seyenty-fve thousand dollars Of
the town subscription Plainfeld has paid
/ in ten thousand dollars, and Groton thirteen
/ thousand FIVE hundred and large part Of its
individual SUBSCRIPTIONS. Nearly three hun
dred thousand Of the four hundred thousand
subscribed have been already paid in,
and more than two hundred and sixty thou
sand expended on the road. 1t is not likely,
that when the necessary amount to complete
the contract is already held in good and SOL
id and unconditional subscriptions, the enter
prise will fail If the success of the road de-
pended upon raising another hundred thou
sand dollars, it could even then scarcely he
a failure but when the success of the road
depends merely upon the payment of the
unconditional subscriptions made, success may
be delayed but failure is impossible.
The progress of the work thus far is per.
lcctly satisfactory. The road bed, with the
exception Of few hundred feet, is nearly
finished ready for the ballast to within two
miles of the summit. The stone work-cul-
verts and abutments of bridges--is completed
, \ large force at work on the other side, hay
graded the largest part Of the distance from
Wells River to the summit. The work is don,
in the most satisfactory way, and We shoulC
Judge that it would be as little exposed t.
freshets as any road in New England, auC
cost as little to keep the road bed in repair
The stone work is substantial. The grad,
from Montpelier to the summit is easy thu
highest grade, with the exception of a shor
= space of six hundred feet, is sixty-six feet t,
the mile There will be no difficulty what
ever in running the road. 1t runs through
s one Of the richest numbering regions in Yer
mont, and will find ample and paying business
in transportation for years to come. 1t vii
be the thoroughfare for the White Mountain
, pleasure travel from the West, besides having
a large local passenger traffic and managed
, with prudence and economy, there is no rea
son why the stock of the road should not pay
4 fair dividends. From careful survey of tn,
business which will naturally flow in thi
channel, we are confident that this road, be
side creating still larger business along it
, route, will find its receipts exceeding its run
ming expenses from the beginning. 1t viii
have a local traffic fully equal to that of an,
' equal length Of railway in Vermont. An,
it will not necessarily be burdened and curse,
with a non-pnying through traffic.
The forests and beds of genuine mari AM
+ quarrics Of granite that lie along the route
and which will be opened to the market b.
this avenue, will not be exhausted for gen
IS Grafton. The productions of agriculture AM
J. the dairy will not diminish in the town
through which it passes Thespendid waite
y power at every point along the line will b
more and more improved, and manufacture
Of all sorts will spring up and add their con
@ trbution to the welfare of the road. We ar
= not very enthusiastic about railroad invest
J ments in general, but if this road shall b.
!. managed in the interest of the parties VIII
+ have invested their money in it, it will neye
It be less than six per cent stock for the mex
c hundred years, after it has fairly got I
work.
!. There is and can be, therefore, no sue
= word as " fail about it, With stock sufli
G cient subscribed to complete the contract an
build the road, with nearly three hundre
thousand dollars already expended, and tn
f road bed completed for eighteen miles out O
g Montpelier-with the indomitable pluck O
= the true men of this town aud the towns alon