Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-01-03
Montpelier & White River X. r..

Last summer the Vermont Central Rail-
road offered, if the town Of Barre would
raise their subscriptions to 100000, they
would without delay push this road as far as
Barre, which would be the first step in the
completion of a through road. Although
some four months have elapsed, We understand
only about $4,000 have been subscribed, be.
sides the town subscription Last Saturday
they held a meeting to see II they could com.
petc their subscription to 500 600, and il
not, whether they would give their town sub.
scription to any one who would give them a
road to Barre. The meeting adjourned one
week without action. What they may do it
is impossible to tell, but it seems to US that
the public feeling is not sufficiently awakened
to the importance Of this enterprise. What
Barre wants is a railroad that shall connect
them with Montpelier, and with the Vermont
Central--and what the Vermont Central
wants is through road that shall connect
them with Royal,on. Ifit goes to Barre,
it will 60 to Royalton. II may be possible that
road will come over from Fairee to make
q junction at Barre. If SO, all the better
But it should always be remembered that
railroads are not built without money, and a
good deal of II, too and those who contribute
the first money to the stock are pretty sure
not to reap very fruitful results in the shape
Of dividends
If Barre should raise the whole 100000,
aud lose it all, does any body doubt that it
would all come back to them in a tb-s<- Cod
ratio in the improvement Of their ,'sosotty,
increase in their population, and the general
enhancement of their material resources and
prosperity 1t should be remembered that
Barre is Il wealthy town. Their grand list is
two.thirds that of Montpelier. Montpelier
and its people have raised S250,000 for the
Wells River road If Barre should raise as
much in proportion to their grand list it
would amount to about sl67 900 And yet
Montpelier has one railroad, while Barre
has none. 1t is not supposed the original
stock in the Woodstock road the Wells River
road, the Lamoille road, or the Mssisquo
road, will be very valuable but the inhabit-
ants along these lines have all contributed
much more literally than Barre is asked to
contribute in order to have a road. We can
not doubt that now is a critical time for Barre
to act They are bonded and have subscribe
ed to the Montpelier and White River road
If this falls through, nobody can tell wheth-
or they can be bonded again. The Vermont
Central, we unde stand, is willing to 60 on
la the multitude of their enterprises, nobody
can tell how long this willingness may con-
tinue In short if Barre does not take adj
vantage Of their present opportunities, their
chances for railroad, or at least one that
will be Of any practical benefit to them, may
be very remote. We hope to sec this road
started to Barre and ultimately to go through
We have no jealousy Of them We shall re-
joce in their prosperity and if they rival
US, as railroad centre, we have no objection,
because we differ from those who think that
in building up Barre, so much is detracted
from Montpelier.