Litchfield enquirer., 1873-10-09
sHEPAuc RAlLRoAD.
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 WAsHNaTos, CoEN., Sept. 26. '
 A visit to the home of my my boyhood in the Shepaug Valley after a long absence. and nasty review of these familiar scenes, forcibly suggests to mind the marked changes which intelligent enterprise has wrought in many of the features of the landscape. and especially the great i'm provement in the facilities for communi- cation with the outside world by the build- ing of the '.Shepaug Railroad. The aold Fogies" remember the Warren Woodbury turnpike with it's unscientific system of construction so little conducive to speed or comfort in locomotion. We distinctly recall the sensation created by the arrival of the bi-weekly mail. and our loyalty to the weekly New Haven stage which on it's return thence perfectly satis fed our political or historical cravings by its contributions of weekly newspapers. Now, however. as we glide through this picturesque valley on the comfortable modern cars of the Railway, or at any of the small stations on the road witness the regular arrival and departure of thu daily trains, it seems the most natural thing in the world that this thoroughfare should be opened precisely as it has been. and that Nature had so unmistakably pointed out the ronte that mere gravity of public opinion and the natural course of events would have brought about this result almost as matter of chance. So plain are the natural guides to the best and easiest location for the highway, and so promising now the ultimate business of this region, in view of its natural advan- tages yet unimproyed, that the only won- der in the mind of the superficial observ- CT is that this enterprise was not longsince accomplished. But by anyone at all fa- miliar with the details of railroad con- struction and the heavy pecuniary bur-
 
 happens to be of the highest character the difficulties overcome will be appreciated and the credit fully awarded to those few plucky spirits whose persevering 1abors and generous unlocking of the purse strings have done so much to rescue old Litchfield from her tendency to selfish Fogyism and redeem her character from the charge of lack of ordinary enterprise.
 And now that the Railroad is an accom- plished fact, it becomes an interesting question in this utilizing age, how far it can be made paying investment to it's projectors, as it is undoubtedly great l convenience and benefactor to the general public. It is fortunate in it's guiding l managers and. aanoral hoard of dirao4ie...- tO IucIude men not OnIy or nne business | capacity, but also.q one at least, with con- trolling influence, who has the benefit of | large experience in railroad construction l and management. His mind readily con- prehended the salient points which as. sured the prospective merits of the enter prise, and he will undoubtedly advise l such 6 liberal policy on the part of the l Railroad company towards it's customers, consistent with the proper defraying of it's operating expenses, as will serve to l develop the splendid water power along the line, and all other natural advantages or sources of revenue which system of fostering can, eventually, build up into & profitable business for the road.
 The Shepaug Railroad will no doubt,in due time, become link in very impor- tant through line between Boston, Spring field and New York. As its location hap peas to be directly on the air line route | and snrveys, have shown the extaMsion, per fectly feasible the interests of other parties will, ultimately, secure the means to complete the connections without ex- pense or trouble to this company. This position of things, however. cannot be counted on as Ia present element ofstrength, and even if it were otherwise, this rail road should depend like all other similar enterprises, mainly upon the value of pres ent and prospective tocat traffic. The To- cal business of every railroad is its ex- elusive property, and wise managers do not require to learn that this is the field for successful cultivation. The Shepsug Railroad is not as fortunate as some oth- CTS, in having very important branches of industry already established at the out set, and in condition to feed the treas ury at full. recognized prices of transpor- tation; but it has a rich field for rapid improvement. and many ofthose elements which. if iudiciously combined and proper ly stimulated, will soon create a fair and encouragingly remunerative traffic. ,sai
 Of these yet undeveloped promises of future business, the many water privi-' leges distributed along the line are per- haps the most reliable and encouraging. Commencing with the magnificent power and supply at Bantam Falls. near the Northern terminus of the road, they ex- tend in an almost unbroken success sion of fine rapids, where the.water is abundant and the location and surround ings most admirably calculated for manu- featuring purposes. b..s -. s.,a 0 ss
 New England has long sincs been recog nized as the peculiar home of the great manufacturing interest," to the same ex- tent that the prairies of the West are con ceeded by all as the proper field for the spread and development of the agricultur al interest. There are, indeed, exception able instances where efforts are success ful in establishing one or the other inter est out of it's own peculiar domain; but these efforts are, and will continue to be, exceptional, 50 that all manufacturing op- portunitiea will obtain comparative val