Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-05-29
sim Jolly, Sir; I'm jelly.


Asa model character, Mark Tapley is one
of the best ever drawn by Charles Dickens
We mean Mark Tapley of the Blue Dragon,
the friend of Martin Chuzzlewit, who joined
with him and created colony to settle in
Eden" and make fortune. His great
forte was his ability to be g jolly under din
culities," and the opportunities he had Tor
carrying it out and the success with which
he did it, is enough to make any one Jolly
who pursues his history. Pecksnitfs are
eommon-the world is full of them, bu
there but a few Mark Tapleys.
Our usually staid eotempOrary, the North
Star, took to that vein last week in dis
coursing on as matter-oEfact subject as a
railroad, and although Montpelier is the
basis of its humor. we will not let the op-
portunity pass, on local considerations to
give q right of way - to its jolly Outburst.
1t is somewhat amusing to the friends OF
the p & o. Railroad to read the Montpelier
naners about now. The last Argus having
learned that this road had been contracted
through the Notch, devotes a column leader
to railroad matters, and therein attempts to
show-which we hope 1t does to Its own
satsfaction-that the road has 1T been put
under contract at all ; wonders where the
money is coming from TO build it, and says
the disguise is too thin, and looks like an
endeavor to fan into life again the dying
embers of the Portland and Ogdensburg in
terest All this &" blowing by Montpelier
papers will not stop the construction OF the
road The fact is, the citizens OF Montpelier
now regret that they did not lend a helping
hand in time of need, and so secure the al
vantagcs likely to accrue from the line max
ing connection at Montpelier instead OF
running TO SwantOn, and the papers take
every occasion to vent their wrath. mat 5
right, 90 ahead. We expect these journals
will yet solemnly declare that not one ran
has ever been put down on that line; that a
train has never yet passed over that ROAD I;
that no such road was ever chartered oy the
State, and the efficient officers now IN charge
Of the road, never existed
One who has carefully perused the Mont
pelier papers for few months past would
also think that the Montpelier and Wells
River road was the best piece of property IN
the country: that in a short time rains
would run over the line every four minutes
/ that the business would soon require sec
ond track: aud the stockholders have moth
| ing t. do but pocket fat dividends OF 20 per
cent, payable semi-annually. We have made
a careful examination OF the stock sales IN
New York up TO last Wednesday, and find
| Harlem quoted at l35; Illinois Central, I36
Boston & Albany, 40 For some reason we
| fail to find Wells River stock quOted-(prOb-
ably some slrew management on the part OF
| Montpelier journalists prevents its appear
ance in the list) and conclude that the
Montpelier s. Wells River Railroad stock
/ isn't as desirable as those above named
After a careful examination we fail TO see
what is to support this pet railroad. In
stead of train every four minutes, the
denizens residing along the line. will see a
passing train once IN four weeks instead OF
20 per cent. dividends, payable semi-annualIy
the stockholders of the line will be called
upon 70 pay semi-annual assessments of
twice 20 per cent. to pay running ex-
penses; if a 32-tOn locomotives can be OBJ
tanned for a York shilling a head, in ten
years from date, the Montpelier Y Wells
River Railroad Company VIII be so short OF
funds that they can pay for piston rod.
This is the kind of a road Montpelier has
finally been forced 10 take.
After having been repeatedly implored by
the officers of the 2. & o. R. R.-(a line by
the way, which Is soon 10 connect the great
West with Portland, and over which the
most careful Judges estimate 90 freight trains
I a daY as the minimum NUMBER. 20 say uOtl-
ing Of express and regular mail trains) to
take hold and help build a decent road, and
secure the passage OF this enormous traffic
through their own midst, and also to make
the capital of the State IN closer connection
with a remote section thereof, Montpelier
refused 70 do its duty, and as every school
boy knows, lost the golden opportunity then
presented. And because the 2. Il .. Z. +.
Is being rapidly built: because the road Is
being built just IS the officers said it would
be because regular trains now run daily
over the Vermont division; because the
whole line Is contracted and Is rapidly APP
preaching completion; because the road has
money enough 10 buy whole locomotive
because Montpelier couldn't get the road
without helping - build the same. aud be
cause 1t is being constructed without the aid
of Montpelier brains, the people of that
town are naturally jealous aud the papers
improve every opportunity d iniure the
prospects Of the Portland and Osdensbur r.
road. Go it. We bets our money on the
p. Il O.