Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-04-27

paws five, six, seven and even ten cents per mile.
The through traffic does no good to Massachusetts,
except as it swells the dividends of its resident
railway stockholders, or develops the interest of
Boston, and yet every manufacturer of Worcester
knows well what tax is laid upon him for the
transportation of freight westward.
The insignifcance of foreign commerce as COM
pared with domestic, is shown in the fact that in
1866 the total exports of the whole state were but
Sl3,000O0O, while the manufactures of the city OF
Worcester alone for that year were ,0O0 He
showed from another point of view how the Boston
and worcester railroad, under the management OF
Mr.. Twichell, Nathan Hale and others like them
had been for the advancement of local interest un-
der which thriving towns had been built up thickly
between the two cities, while the western road un-
der the through policy could show between Worees-
ter and the New York line hardly thriving place.
except Springfield and Pittsfeld The efforts Of
business men in East Brookheld and other places
on the line had been absolutely crushed BY the
policy of the managers Of the road, who would not
admit of local accommodation.
This increased price of freight on coal, iron,
leather &C. in Comparison with Boston, is Just so
much aid given to the British manufacturer at our
expense. The protection given by the government
in the form OF tariff is partially Offset by the ad-
ditional expense of freightaSe. The roads should
be owned by the towns which are to be benefited
by their construction to be operated for their bene-
fit and not for the benefit of foreign competitors.
Having failed to gain any relief from existing rail-
roads, it Is time to inaugurate new policy. The
towns cannot afford to delegate control of public
ways to wealthy monopolists, but should consider
their management one of their most important du-
ties. In tins respect he regarded the building OF
the Boston, Barre and Gardner railroad
mense importance.
He read an extract from the railroad commission
ers report of 1870 showing that the freight coal
from tide water to Worcester should be but ninety
two cents, whereas it was actually on one road $3.50
and on the two others 1925, ana as the same extra
double tax Is to some extent the same other
necessary articles brought from abroad it was easy
to see how We were overburdened in this way.
Various important questions of incidental interest
were discussed one being the desirableness of ln-
creasine the avenues of direct communication with
hnnpfitS OUna a
the way from Worcester not to Winchendon, but
through northern New Hampshire Who shall dare
deny to Worcester and Worcester people this priVi-
lege which they pay for themselves? Who has the
right to deny it2 What right has Htchburg, which
was built up by the Vermont and Massachusetts,
railroad to interpose obstacles to the welfare OF
their sister town of Winchendon, to prevent the
proper growth of these communities that have
asked for the permission to build roadg They OPP
pose the road because it will do business, and they
fear Its competition.
On the completion of Mr. Hoar'S remarks,
Hon. A. H. Bullock came forward in answer to
an enthusiastic call. He spoke but briefly.
REMARKS OF HON. A. H. BULLOCK
He had come here in answer to the invitation of
the mayor, not TO speak, but to testify by his pres
enc his accord with the action OF the city govern
ment in the objects for which the meeting was
called. Messrs. Rice and Hoar had lett nothing
necessary to be said TWAS only due that we should
send message to the legislature which could be
neither misunderstood nor dsregarded He called
for resolutions. which were read by p. L. Moen,
Esq, the same as those passed by the city govern
ment at their last meeting, as follows;
Whereas, the petition of the Boston, Barre and
Gardner railroad corporation for leave to extend its
road from Gardner to Winchendon, IS encountered
by violent and unexpected opposition in the leg
stature; and whereas, representing the city of
Worcester the largest and most interested stock
holder IN this corporation we have heretofore taken
unanimous action in favor of this petition, now,
therefore,
Resolved, that it has everywhere been conceded
among civilized nations, that the provision of rea.
sonable and convenient public ways is one of the
principal duties which the state to its citizens
that this duty Is none the less imperative In Mas
sachusetts since the substitution of railways for
highways has made the former indis-
pensable to the prosperity and comfort
of all portions of her people, that the refusal to the
inhabitants ola thriving and growing town of di-
rect railroad communication with their county
seat, which the communities along the line desire
and are ready to construct at their own cost and
compelling them to go by circutous route at large
expense of time and money, would constitute a re-
fgsal by the legislature to perform duty of sover-
eighty which it owes to the people, and an act of in
justice and oppression, against which we most
earnestly protest.
Resolved, That we respectfully, but most earnest
" repeat our request that this petition be granted
by the legislature,
Resolved that his honor, the mayor, be requested
to present these resolutions to the legislature of
Massachusetts, now in session.
These resolutions were unanimously and hear
tily reafirmed and adopted by the meeting,
which then adjourned.