Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-03-20
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The Railroad Meeting on Tuesday
was Il success. We have not attend
ed so enthusiastic a meeting since the
days when Gov. Washburn used to
clectrity meetings with his clarion
voice and magnetic eloquence. This
was much more practical meeting
than any that has ever been held. 1t
looks now as if we had touched 'hard
pan" in this matter
This was II stockholders meeting,
but the citizens were present in full
force, which showed, as Mr.. Dana
well and truly said, that the people
of the Valley had an interest a line
dirt called a railroad, yet.
Mr.. Dewey, president Of this road,
was in the chair. Mr.. Chas. Dana,
agent for the town, gave history of
the negotiations with the two roads,
the Vermont Central and the northern
n. H., and read several letters, the sub
stance of which was that, had it not
been for Gov. Smith, the Woodstock
Railroad would be in active operation
to-day. And that Onslow Stearns, presi
dent of the northern Y. II. was the
friend of our enterprise from the start,
but that owing to the relations Of his
road to the Vermont Central, he must
be governed by the wishes Of that
road. Mr., Dana made a capital speech,
and was listened to with marked atten-
ton. DR.. Boynton was called for.
He went over the same ground, with
variations, and showed up the duplic-
ity Of Smith: and said the Woodstock
Railroad must be built by the people
Of Woodstock, if at ALL He cave flo
urcs from good authority, showing
that S250.000 would make the road
ready for the cars; and then demon
srated that it would be good invest
ment for any mans money. From
same authority he showed that the
road could be operated for $4,000 a
year; interest ON bonds, $4,000;
and that receipts Of the road would be
S25,0O0 year; and in five years
would reach $4,000. He thought
by ironing the road with second hand
iron, $4,000 could be saved and
when completed there would be no
trouble IN getting party to run it,
and pay Il handsome interest on the
cost, so that the town would not
lose a cent in the operation. And
that if all parties failed, we could run
it ourselves by leasing an engine and
few cars, at an expense of from three
to five thousand dollars. for five years
He threw considerable light on "ways
that were dark heretofore, and the
people seemed to he satisfied. He
also gave dates and figures to back up
his statements, and as nearly all inter-
ested were present, it is not necessary
to report them here.
G. p. Marsh made some pertinent
remarks, and introduced resolution,
the substance of which was, that it is
deemed cxpedient by the stockholders
of the Woodstock Railroad that the
town of Woodstock in its corporate
capacity at special meeting, guarantee
the interest on S2jO,OO0, for eighteen
years, for the completion of said road.
Afterwards remarks were made byNIr.
Thomas Middleton, Mr.. Solomon
Woodward, Mr.. Dewey and others, all
urging the necessity and the demand
Of the age for railroad communication,
the resolution was put to the meeting
and voted the nays were called for,
and not n sound was heard i'm that
thronged hall-you could have heard
pin drop on the Aoor-which showed
that Woodstock did her duty for the
Tooth time, and will do 50 at the next
meeting, the lO1 time, April I'd, at
l o'clock. p. NJ, when a rousing town
meeting will guarantee us railroad,
by lending the credit of the town for
the interest on $25O,000, necessary to
complete the road.
There was more common sense
in the statements made at this meeting
than at any meeting previous. Many
of the statements were old, but they
are nevertheless true.
There has been a great many
spir'tulists about town the past week.
-Dutton & Blossom, Grocers, are
now located in their new quarters in
the Standard Block.