Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-03-06
Our New Railroad.


zens, headed by James r. Langdou, the chair.
man Of the committee appointed the previous
week, were present. South Hardwick was
fully represented by large delegation. Wor-
ccsicr, Wolcoit, Woodbury., Albany, Iras-
burgb, Coventry, Westfeld, Lowell, Newport,
Craftsbury, and even Cabot, were represent.
cd There was an evident determination on
the part Of all to press forward the enterprise
to its earliest possible completion. Addrcs-
ses were made by Mr.. Walton and others, aud
there was a general conference among the del.
cgatcs, which resulted finally in the appoint
ment Of a committee to secure a charter, and
to make preliminary survey of the different
routes.
The only drawback to the harmony of the
deliberations was the attempt made by Rev.
Mr.. Eaton Of Hardwick to divert the sympa-
thy of the Black River Valley people from
Montpelier as the termination Of the road, to
Marshdeld by way of Cabot. lie insisted
upon the Montpelier delegation answering his
question, whether Montpelier would favor
the enterprise, provided the survey should
locate the most feasible route through Cabot
to Marshfeld, there to connect with the Mont
polier and Wells River road ~ 1t was re-
piled that Montpelier favored the construc
tion Of road by way of Emore Pond or
Eagle Ledge, or the east road of Woodbury.,
by way Of Witham's, to South Hardwick but
would not lend its aid to a road from the
Black River Valley to Waterbury, or to
West Danville or Marshfeld If such road
was built, those along its line and interested
specially in it would have to build it. More
over the Black River Valley people had sent
committee TO Montpelier from the meeting
Of which this was an adjourned meeting, to
request the presence Of committee Of citi-
zens at Albany on this occasion, to consider
the matter of building a railroad direct from
North Troy or Newport to Montpelier. The
Montpelier delegation had come to Albany
on that invitation, and with sole reference to
building a road between those points. In
that it was directly interested Further than
that its interest was very indirect. The dis
CUSTOM with some subsequent votes, showed
that the overwhelming sentiment Of the meet
ing was to make a straight and direct connec.
ton with Montpelier, thus giving Black River
Valley easy communication with the Capital,
and opening the shortest route to Boston, to
New York, to Burlington and the Lake, and
to all points south and west of Burlington.
To such project Montpelier will give her
hearty cooperation. 1t is her wish to open
communication with Northern Central YER
mont. The trade all along that region has
heretofore been with the Capital to a large
extent, and whatever will make the previous
ly existing bonds stronger, and add to the ad-
vantage and wealth of all the towns along
that line, We are willing to do, so far as is
consistent with our ability. We have no
doubt that a road over that route, constructed
on the narrow gauge system, would enhance
UNNECESSARILY the value Of all the towns upon
it. We see no reason, either, to doubt that
the project will be pushed as rapidly as pos
sible to its desired result and that within
short time the echoes Of the high lodges be-
tween here and Lamoillc Valley, and of the
beautiful hills beyond, will respond to the
laundering tread Of the iron horse aud an
swer to the fiery snort of his flaming nostrils
We were surprised at the extent of the lum-
Der region of this northern route From
Montpelier, through Eagle Ledge, and by the
wild Branch, there are vast tracts of fine tim.
Der that, judciously used, can never be ex-
hausted. The growth of timber will allow Of
its being cut once in twenty-five or thirty
years. There must be nearly a hundred
thousand acres along this road, which would
furnish millions of feet of lumber each year,
by actual annual grow h. They furnish, there
fore, an exbaustess mine Of wealth. Heaven
repleushes them, unlike the mines Of gold
and silver and diamonds, with perpetual
growths Carefully used, there is no more
need Of exhausting our forests of timber than
there is of exhausting our lands Of fertility
They may be a rich source Of wealth for
thousand years.
A railroad would open these now almost
yalueless acres Of timber to the market. They
are now almost entirely unused, or Gu, but to
,burnt and turned into arabic land and pas
ture ground. But once the facility of trans
portation is given, they rise in value continu-
ally. Lumber is constantly advancing in
price, and when the rate of carriage to mar
ket is made such as not to prohibit its trans
portation, but to furnish fair profit to the
producer, il will become an active and in
creasng source Of wealth. One of the heavy
owners of real estate on the road, and propri-
etor also of large mill stated that the build
ing of the road, though he was but seven
miles from Montpelier, would save him in
freight sixteen hundred dollars per year He
ships from this point annually one hundred
and sixty car loads Of lumber. The effect
would be the same over the whole distance
1t would make those regions, which are now
solitary and useless, alive with the tread of
men and the sound Of the axe. Manufacto-
rles would spring up along the line. Our
timber would be converted into useful articles
at home, and our young men would be kept
in the State. The Montpelier aud Wells
River road has the permanent advantage of
trayersing magnificent timber country and
this road would not be much behind it.
In regard to the route, we believe that
practicable way will be found by one of the
courses already alluded to- Black River
Valley people will not have to rua round
Robin Hoods barn to get to the Capital and
to form the most desirable connections west
and southland if Montpelier puts its inter-
este alongside of their interests, and the two