Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-09-04
Railroad 10 Rutland.

The Rutland papers are beginning to
open their eyes to the importance Of a
railroad from that place to central
northern Vermont. BY the Rutland Il
Burlington road the northwestern por-
ton Of the State is accessible, and the
southeastern but the largest portion
of the State which lies east and north
is entirely shut off from them. There
is no doubt but a road connecting Rut-
land and Montpelier would be of i'm
mense advantage to both towns, as well
as to all the intervening region, and TO
all towns north of this. 1t would bring
Central Vermont az near New York as
Burlington now IS: it would make
Montpelier and Rutland the two railroad
fOci of the State; it would facilitate
the transportation and distribution of
coal, which is coming to be the promi-
nent article of fuel all over New Eng
land, even in this we'll wooded northern
country; and on this account it would
be of constant and increasing value to
the Delaware and Hudson Canal com
paHy.
But the greatest advantage Of such a
connection would be the Inauguration of
q western line for freight and passen-
gers for Portland The Montpelier and
Wells River road will be completed in a
few week, and the cars will soon be
running on its track Thirty miles of
road between Meredith and Cornish is
all then that will be needful to build in
order TO give Portland a straight line to
the West and Southwest through Mont
pelicr The Boston, Concord and Mont
real road have this in hand, and will I'M
questiOnably complete it long before the
route is finished through the Notch. An
examination of the map will show that
this will be the shortest and quickest
route from Portland either to Albany or
Ogdensburg.
We are confident that general and
public interest viii compel the building
of this road before many years. All
that is needed is the connecting link be-
tween Meredith and Cornish, and the
link between Bethel and Rutland. For,
it seems to us wise and best that exist
ing roads should be used as far as pos
sible. The Central already furnishes
track as far as Bethel, and only about
twenty-five miles, from Rutland to Beth
ell are needed to be built in order to make
the line complete. The Central would
hardly have any feeling of rival
be far more likely to help than to hinder
it. 1t would be for its interest perhaps
to manage it in the New York and west
ern business. We do not see any good
reason for building a competing road to
the Central from Bethel to Montpelier.
1t would result in stirring up antagOn-
ism and in sinking the capital that is
put into it. What we want then is the
o1,,,an4yOr, hoE TlgFlaa1 ar,1 Tl17fIa,I
Then if the Central should build through
the Gulf, as it must at no distant day,
in response to the urgent demand of the
towns along the line that need better
facilities of traffic, the track from here
to Bethel could be used in part at least
for the transit of the Western and New
York business.
This is a time Of unparalleled prosper
ity. The country is full of resources,
and is capable of indefinite commercial
and agricultural progress. The means
of transportation must keep pace with
the demands of industry and the increase
of production. 1t will not be long,
therefore, before the sound of the loco
motive will be heard as it trayerses Cen
trail Vermont on north and south line.
The Portland and Ogdensburg running
east anu west Will uOb DC CuOuGn lot
the wants of the people of the country
north of US.
They will have a north and south road
one that can take them and their pro-
duce directly to Boston or New York,
or bring their coal and flour directly
from Albany or the West. 1t is only
question of time. 1t is not question
of ability, for the ability exists; and
when the petty, local, conflicting inter
ests have resisted as long as they can,
and damned up the course of events
with their small rubbish for little while,
the swelling tide of public necessities
will sweep away all distractions and
roll straight from the vallies and hills of
Northern Vermont to the sea shore and
to the great marts of commerce. 1t is
well for the sagacious men of the State
to have their eyes opened to its true in
terests and to the probable course of
events. They may facilitate them by
their foresight and judicious energy more
even than hostile or envious opponents
can retard them by their Vaccinations
and jealousy WdtchmGn.