Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-08-11

\ CORES pondcnt Of the Springfield Re
publican speaks thus pleasantly of st. Al
bans aud some of its prominent residents:
ST. ALnANs, VI, Wednesday, Aug. >.
Years ago plain John Smith Of st. Al
bans, VT, was n lawyer, Il congressman ana
a believer in railroads, and showed his
faith 10y working for and investing in
them, and by purchasing real estate which
his faith iurctold would rise in value, when
st. Albm>, from the success of its railroad
enterprises, became an important CONNER
cial center. Dying, this John Smith left
his railroad property to his sons, J. Grego-
~ and WorthngtOn G.. Smith. The for
mer married the daughter of another prom
idcnt railIoa man, and 50 obtained anoth-
er share in the railroads of Vermont. These
"talents'' hc didn't lay up in "A napkin
these fine opportunities for advancement
in railroad wealth, importance and power,
he improved and Worthington also i'm
proved the "talents' committed to him.
They quietly bought real estate, which
doubled in value as their Vermont Central,
by its location as well rs by its manage
ment, grew in importance. New roads
were built or leased, and when the Cen
trails chief rival, the Rutland road. had
! leased several little roads, the Central, to
! the rejoicing Of most Vermont people,
/ 'acuulieu Inc Iutlalll ana all llS prey.
This Central of which j. Gregory Is
| president now operates, with 1000 employ
! ccs 700 miles of railroad, Giles Merrill be-
| ing superintendent, with four assistants.
The ear department alone employs, eXclus-
| i've of machinists, about 400 hands, at 3d.,
! 900 per month. Milton Sessions is general
master car builder Mt st. Adams, with as
! Sistants at the shops in Ogdensburg, Rut-
! land and Waterloo, and Worthington C.
Smith is managing director of the Vermont
| Central proper, with "rhede" Sprague, u
son of Blandiord, Mass, in charge of the
| bridges on that chief section of the lines.
There are ten miles Of track in the home
! "yard' at st. Albans, where the shops
would add up more than 20O0 feet, and
where there is one of the best railway pas
senger stations in the world. The Central
will probably have double track ere long,
but, be that as it may, this same Central is
already gigantic, and by means of the
Northern transportation companys boats,
and the Northern Pacific railroad, is eX-
tending its lines from shore To shore of the
continent.
j. Gregory Smiths mansion, at the head
of Congress street, and Worthngton's al
the head of Bank street, are surrounded
with flowers, graperies and fruit trees and
command fine Views of Lake Champlain
and its islands, with the Adirondacks IN
the background. 1t is nearly two miles
from these mansions to "Bellcvue," Il
crown which mountain the Smiths and
other citizens have just completed an OBJ
servatory, afiOrding a still grander view o
the lake. j. Gregory was the war governor
of Vermont, and told the young men o
81. Adams to enlist, serve AS priyates, anC
he would do well by them if they wer,
faithful, the fulfillment of which promise il
fully attested by the large number of st
Adams boys-COl, Albert Clarke of thelMes
senger for instance-who graduated from
the army with commissions. j. Gregor!
is a cousin of Gen. "Baldy" Smith, and
brother of the latter is engaged in the ioun
dry business, at ST. Adams. This goo
town, home of plain John Smith and of hi
famous sons, is, from its northern latitud
and beautiful aud magnificent scenery
quite a summer resort, and among Others
Zen. W. n. Sherman and family are booke
lhls season. The hero NJ Atlanta and III