Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-05-01
Re.joinder.

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somewhat carefully prepared articles thu,
have appeared in this paper, showing the su.
periority of the Wells River route over the
Notch route from Portland to Ogdensburgh,
by personal abuse Of the Editor. If he did
not happen to write the articles, Of course
the Reporter falls to the ground and its argu-
mcnt is good for nothing. In that case it is
like the Irishman, who on his first arrival in
This country shot a woodchuck with barn
shovel "when he first fred he missed him
where he hit him, and on the second shot he hit
him where he missed him before If the COM
parative feasibility Of the tive routes depended
upon the Editors appearance or character,
the Reporter has hit the nail on the head,
but it it does not he has managed to make
miss where he HIT and to bit where he missed
before This talk about persons aud State
houses, this threatening to remove Capitals
aud tear up things generally, when the reas.
enable arguments Of Montpelier papers APP
pear on one side or another Of great public,
political or commercial question, is too silly
and vapid for serious consideration. We APP
prehend the time is past when such arguments
will influence our citizens to withhold their
opinions or sacrifice their common sense.
A Portland correspondent of the BurIing-
ton Free Press also takes exception to what
we have said on this subject. He asserts the
unwaveriug loyalty Of Portland to the Notch
route, and yet regards with much satisfac-
ton the DETECTION Of the Lamoile Valley
road to Burlington, and the connection by
commercial ties with Portland with the great
yeceiring basiR Of Lake Champlnin, which by
the construction of the Caughnawaga Canal
will make the extended bay Of Darlington a
huge ret dock for the reception Of pro-
ducts from all The rast region tributary TO
the great lakes BY all means the Notch
route should be built to this huge wet dock
1t is only twenty miles further by that route
than by Wells River to Burlington, but such
"receiring basin as that ought to be APP
preached gradually and cautiously and cir
cautiously The grades and "curyes
and snow embargoes," will also guard frou
, a too rapid plunge into the "huge zee
, DOCK"
However, he says Portland " is not to b
+ frightened from the Notch route" but vii
r 90 on in the courage of sincere and inteligen
0 conviction" But " he adds, in order t,
D satisfy the timid, special inquiry is to b.
=, made into the cost Of the Notch route unde
t the auspices Of the city government, and tn
result ,eH be that the s2,500000 loan vii
: be granted by an overwhelming majority
e He evidently speaks 10y authority for he an
G uouuces what the result will be even beior
y the commission has been appointed. Their
hardly seems any need of commission +
: report upon foregone conclusion. 1t look
e as if the committee of inquiry was to be sen
i cut to bring back such a report as the int
$ rested parties have already decided upor
J And then with the " cooked up report tb
/ citizens of Portland are to be humbugge
e aud cajoled into throwing two and half mi
i lions into the great receiuing basin" at tn
end Of the Notch route
k Lest our Burlington friends may suspeC
;, US of hostility to their scheme of tapping tn
Lamoile Valley road at Cambridge or SON
d other point, we invite them to take notice tha
h we have seemed to do so in the interest {
e Portland only, suggesting that the Wei
ID River and Montpelier route is the shorte
.e from Portland to Burlington. If the Por
i land people should choose the Wells Riy,
route, wisely choose it, we are confident
lie the Lamoille Valley road will be rather Il
N more needed to reach Burlington, and moi
Is advantageous to Burlington Whatever Por
l. land may do, Vermont is to have her ov
$ railroads in every practicable section, al
these will naturally and necessarily seek Il
best connections with the important cor
merca and manufacturing towns of the Stat
= as well as with the existing railroads
this end, jealousy should be excluded, al
" every practicable improvement should be c
> Outraged If our Hardwick neighbors W
possess themselves in patience" they mi
" have, ere long, two or three railroad come
tions instead Of one.