Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-11-02
NIiddIebury in 1925 and 1871.


long demanded, and is universally APP
proved. With good highways, good side
walks, and good light for dark nights, onr
village will offer unusual inducements for
strangers to visit US, and further, offer in
ducements to people to move within our
limits and become permanent residents.
When I compare Middlebury in 1871 with
Middlebury in 1926, can see a vast
change. With population now over
5000, and grand list increased double
in that length of time, new college build
ings, handsome parks, a splendid brick
graded school house filled with scholars,
q large increase of manufactures, stores,
fine residences, aud efficient police,
splendid postofice, good churches with
able ministers, good hotels with kind, at
tentive landlords, and all these surround
ed by an intelligent farming community.
Such go to make up Middlebury in 1871,
and still We are to progress more and
more. For years our village was almost
stationary, and real estate was low, end
indeed hard to sell Now real estate
commands good price, and buildings
are yearly going up in different parts of
our village. With water power mex
haustible, we are bound to increase in
population and wealth from this source,
for the future is to call for its use well
up to its capacity. Every village like
l - 6n lilo
the snail shrink into their she'll and only
peep out when the rush of events arouses
them from their lethargy, are to be left
in the rear in the onward march of prog
ress and improvement. Villages on the
line of the railroad each side of Middle
bury are going ahead. am glad of this,
and only hope we may keep pace with
them in their growth and prosperity.
With every element to give US growth
and stability, it needs only a practical.
persistent appreciation of power by ener
getic minds to place us in 1891 as far
ahead of our present position in every
respect, as we are now ahead Of what our
village was in 1926.
Indeed there is no reason why the prog
ress should not re more rapid than what
I have stated. Western cities, it is true,
grow up in Is years to tens of thousands,
and it is equally true sad as the thought
Isl that sometimes they are ruined in "a
hours, and are compelled to become the
.ecipients of a willing nations bounty, to
feed its hungry and clothe it's naked. But
while predict for Middlebury slower
growth, l am sure it will prove perma-
nent one. We have our public spirited
men in common with other villages. men
of sagacity, energy and honesty. No &C
cursed Tammany Ring could flourish in
omr midst. The administration of our
public affairs are conducted upon the
principles of honesty, and woe to the man
or men who would dare to pilfer from our |
public treasury. The swift winged de-
mon of insulted justice would speedily |
hurl such from the position of place and |
power, and nothing but residence in Her
Maiesty's dominions would screen them
from punishment richly deserved. We
do not envy other villages their prosperity
Nay, we are glad they do prosper, and
hope they continue to do so. But we dc
not mean that they shall prosper alone. A
pleasant rivalry in the matter is for the
benefit of all. I do not want villages OF
growth, however, and like 10
lah's gourd, grow up in night to wither
n day, but let the growth be sound and
healthy. A public spirited village is sure
to attract public spirited business men to
locate within Hs limits, and the addition
Of active business men, with capital, il
sure to pave the way fc- many more. II
these days men and capital "a where men
and capital are. A dull, lifeless, inactive
village is sure to droop and die, whiIe on
that thrives and reaches out with gooo
business men, is sure to go ahead and
Business seeks business. Money
will not alone create business. Money, ]
I'M we'll aware, is absolutely necessary for
he accomplishment of great business pur-
poses, but behind it must exist the great
power, the mind of man, dis
,iplined by thought, experience, fore
thought and calculation. Of what use is
miser to business community? Rath-
II, I should say, what pest and curse
uch miserable appendage to humanity
8. They exist, not to bless the race, but
o live on the miseries and wretchedness
# others, who may by adverse fortune
oe thrown in their way, and from whom
hese Shylocks demand the pound of flesh
md with keenness whetted by avarice,
Ugh that the pound is not made two. ,
Iarge hearted men are Gods choices
lifts to the race, and such strew LIES
pathway with ble, S ngs and for all ranks ,
md conditions in society. Such men I
make villages and cities, create business, t
,uild up all industrial pursuits, from the I
tumble mandatory that employs five or r
en- men, to those of mammoth proportions, t
IMPLYING from five hundred to one thous- g
nd operatives. I am always glad to hear
f the prosperity of such men. I care not t
low much they accumulate III thelr ie-
Ultimate business. They are blest them t
elves, and they bless tbosesthey employ Y
lso those who who furnish from the soil a
he substance of life. Every avenue in f
ooiety is made to feel their influence.
The rich are dependent upon the labor 8
r and the laborer upon the rich. The v
ne furnishes capital, the other muscle. a
'oth are absolutely necessary. One could b
ot exist without the other. Both these b
hould be encouraged, for in so doing we v
uild up all interests in society. With Il
hese we grow cities, towns and villages, \
uild our railroads, our ships, our manu- A
actories, send our commerce to every sea, C
uild up our colleges, schools and semina- C
les, till our soil, delve our mines, in t