Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-03-27
The Woodstock Railroad,
SHALL 1T BE COMPLETED ?

The response to the above question
is invariably yes,-the difference of
opinion being only the course to be
pursued to secure such Il result.
From the very full and what should
be deemed satisfactory exposition
made at the informal meeting Of the
Stockholders on the 18th instant, it
would seem that the Directors have
not been idle, since the work on the
line was suspended, but have been
constantly at work to bring about an
arrangement through which our road
could be finished, and made ready for
the cars, never doubling that when so
ready, there would be no trouble in
arranging for the running of trains
satisfactory to the corporation and the
community The reasons for not
being able to so arrange were fully
set forth at the meeting above referred
to, and need not be repeated here,
and it was also fully shown that if we
ever receive the benefit so long and
earnestly looked for, we must take the
matter into our own hands, and in
augurate measures to secure,--not
furnish, as is said by some,-ways and
means for such result.
The amount to be raised to complete
the road for the cars, as estimated by
Mr.. Shaw, who has had 80 years ex-
perence in the construction and rrn-
ming Of Railroads, and who is ac-
knowledged to be as good a Railroad
man as can be found in New England,
is inside of S23O,O0O, but to guard
against any contingency, and place the
matter beyond all doubt, it has been
called by some $250,OO0, which, with
out doubt, is an over estimate and
beyond all contingencies. This esti-
mate is for new iron at 800 per TOM
By using second hand iron, the same
as was used on the Concord and Clare
mont road, recently built, the estimate,
after making the allowance as above,
would be reduced something over
$4,000.
The question now ARISES, how shall
this sum be raised, and what is the
town to be called upon to do Is the
town to be called upon to guarantee
the principal and interest, on the
money expended, as talked in our
streets by those who should know, and
do know better? Certainly not
The enabling act, giving the town
authority to aid the enterprise, dis
tinctly says in two different places,
that the guarantee shall be for the
"interest only," and every school boy
in our streets knows full we'll that
there has never been anything farther
talked about, nor is there any possible
chance for the town to become liable
beyond the interest, and to offset that,
we shall have the earnings of the road,
if we should run it ourselves, or the
rental if we should rent it, which will
probably be the latter, and for a rent
sufficient to cover very near, if not all
the interest on the outlay fer the first
half Of the time the bonds have to run,
and considerably more than the in
terest for the last half, as experience
has shown that on all branch roads,
the amount of business having increased
far beyond the expectations of its
most sanguine friends.
We believe and trust that at the
meeting soon to held, the vote will be
overwhelmingly in favor of rendering
the aid, and thus secure the road and
its advantages.
We say give us the road, and ''let
us have peace