Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-11-21
THE RUTLAND HERALD.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER IS, 1872.
The Division Of Towns.

There seems to be an apparent dispo-
sition of the towns in Vermont, whether
large or small, to 90 to the Legislature,
asking a division, and to be established
into two separate corporations. This
is Indicated by the bill pending before
the legislature for a separation OF the
town of Westminster into two town
ships. We know nothing of the merits
of this case or the causes which have
led to the application. But it is a ques-
ton which has more than local inter
est and in fact is a public not a private
measure, which affects the whole State
in several aspects, and raises the inquiry
whether it is policy to create more
towns, or is Justice to the towns already
in existence, especially those having
larger population, and whether the pre-
cedent established in this instance will
not ultimately lead to numerous appli-
cations for the same purpose, and prove
an injustice, if not injury, to the State
at large.
The division of small towns. creating
two out OF the same territory, gives
them An additional voice in legislation
In this instance, ON reference to the
statistics OF population, we hnd that the
present town OF Westminster has
population OF about l3OOEWlth vote at
the last State election Of 229. If the
town should be divided, one town Will
probably have a population OF about 100
ana the other 6O0' with suffrage ar-
cordlng to the rule or about l4O IN one
township and l20 i'll the other Itscems
to lis th" question i"rcibly arises. whetl-
rr Vermont has not for its prosperity
7nall communities enough alrhady with
"aj the creation OF more, and whether
II Is r2ht or public policy to give pres
cnt population OF 1900, voting power
III me Legislature or the State OF tt0o'
WhH' burlington with It's population or
nearly lo'ooo ~. Alhans' 0'ooO st
J"hll'oory' o'ooo; brattleooro' o'oOo
Bennington o'ooo Springfield, 5,OOO;
Brandon 4'OOo ana Rutland Il,oOo'
nave eng one. inns is 10 say nothing
OF the local Votlng power II would give
III " ihohah county III "hlch thls town
Is '"ca'eu - "i il'iP"I'ahct II 1t pre-
VAIL II VIII give the present town TWO
No'eS IN 'he leglSl"ture 10 one from Brat
l'o"I"' 'ra'l"h' "uiIIord' haIlIaN'
Jamaica Londonderry, NeWfane' Put
hoy' l'ocNlhSham' townsend "hltlng-
nam "i''' " 'l'lllllStoh' all OF "Hlcll nave
over one 'nouSaIlu lhllaotah'S' Qua
',''H "V eq"i'anIe ''h'. rlSht iheh
Sii"u''' Tue ieSls'ature give 't00 Vo'eS 10
P'Iee"' P"PO'"''"i' "i one 'nouSah'' III
!o'''''''''S' ""''e II gives "" rs ll"''i's
hIIeeh' eleVeh' nVe anu TWO Thousand
inllaoli'il'S ohly one vote ms Is
question "I Puoilc poilcy broader ana
hlSher thah mere local CONSIDERATIONS
ana ought seriously 10 arrest the atten-
tionot the members OF the General As
sembly before they act upon meesuces
winch we presume Is one or mere local
grievance, growing out OF the conflicts
winch always arise IN towns having
matter OF moment to the whole state
what acton may be taken on the sub
Ject now presented to them.
The evil is not with the division OF
this particular town, but Others are
waiting Tor the decision in this case
only to put in an application for divis-
ion. One instance is already suggested
the creation of two towns out of the
present limits of Rockingham. There
are several IN different sections OF the
State standing in readiness to present
petitions either at the present or the
next Legislature, asking for separation,
should the precedent be established at
this season. The question in the light of
precedent is one OF right, for II this is
granted, can the Legislature consistently
reiuSe 'hose VINO Ioiiow ana II the
Pt'oeoen. Sii"ii PieFaii' oui Piesen'
iiou'e VI l''l'i e'0ii."'i'o' may "l'nii,
'ne next ten years lihu ltsell composed
ol Lhree huloree' lilS'eau ol TWO nuiiufeo
a"u ior'y nlelioeiS' "' now no ques-
'ion Is d lorcioie oiie' WHETHER ~ 'lie peopie
ueSre nn lhcleaSe Vi iepieSen'a'iou 70
"n ulliliiiIeu eAlen'.'ius giving 'ne
po"el u esioia'iUn in'o 'no n'.iiO' =,
'ne minority u 'ne pUpu."'ion in9'e'',
Oh the majority! WIN TINS be just ana
equitable ?-and is it in accordance with