Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-05-21
For the Freeman.
The Midland Railroad
NEETIN0 AT MORRlsvILLg


risville, Thursday last, the 18th, which was
fully attended, every town on the line being
we'll represented, and determination mani
Tested to leave no means untried to secure |
the building of the road. By the terms
of the charter this line of road commences
at North Troy, on the Canada line,
and runs south through the towns of
Troy, West6eld, Lowell, Eden and Hyde
park. to Morristown. and thence through
Stowe and Waterbury to q junction with the
Vermont Central at Waterbury, or from
Morrissown, through Elmore, Worcester and
Montpelier, to a junction with both the YER
mont Central and Montpelier and Wells River
at Montpelier.
The meeting was called to order by Hon.
Ii. II. Powers, of MorrisviIle, who stated
that the meeting was originally intended to
be one only of the commissioners named in
the charter, for the purpose of taking meas
ures for preliminary survey of the pro-
pos ed route, but for the purpose of giving
full Ter expression to the views of those living
on the route, it was thought desirable that
mass meeting should be called in conjunction
with the meeting Of the commissioners. He
then referred to the necessities of the country
north of Morrisville for some better railroad
facilities then they now possessed, and its
ability to sustain and support the ROAD when
built by furnishing lumber for transporta-
ton for many years to come, to say nothing
of the nufacturing establishments that
would almost inevitably spring up on the
numerous streams which f)w through the
country. The increased facilities for trans
portation would add to the wealth OF the IN
habitants more than the whole amount tor
which the towns were allowed by the
charter to bond in aid of the road
twelve times their grand list-whlch
was more favorable charter than had
been granted by the Legislature to most of
the roads in the State.
Mr. Powers also referred to the desire that
had been manifested on the part of those in-
terested in other roads, already built or soon
to be built, to have this connecting link in
serted in Northern Vermont, by which there
would be direct line of road from Quebec,
by the way of Richmond Junction and North
Troy, to the central portion of this State, and
thence to Boston and New York and the
benefits that would accrue not only to the
people on the line of the road, but to those
interested in its northern and southern con-
nections He then called for free inter
change of opinions on the part Of those in
terested in the road.
Samuel Wells, Esq. of Montpelier, being
the first called upon, spoke at length of the
advantages of railroads to communitie.
trough which they passed, and OF the en-
HANGED value of property of all descriptions
wherever a Railroad had been built anC
from statistics in his possession, showed thai
the enhanced value was more than the cost
of building the road. He then referred tt
this particular route, and, from actual exam
nations, knew it to be very desirable rout,
and one that would be very easily built, lie
said that Montpelier desired railroad run
ming from that place North to Canada line
and be had no doubt that, should the people
along the line Of the Midland route Nortl
, of Morrisville take hold Of the matter a
they ought to, the road would be built Ii
thought there Was no doubt but some line 0
70 I'd North from Montpelier would be built
and it only remained for those interested il
the different routes to show that they mean
business, and the thing would be accomplish
ed.
Alter brief remarks by Mr.. Brown 0
Lowell, and MIR. Hoyt Of Westfeld, Hon
W. q. Ferrin Of Montpelier, was called on
, and at some length spoke of the desira bilit
of better facilities for communication in tn
. State as demanded for both local and genera
= prosperity, and referred to the narrow gaug
V railroads as particularly adapted to a secto
t like the country through which the Midlan
road IS proposed to be built.
Mr.. r. q. Hill, of E!more, presented th
. claims of that town for be: ter railroad facil
r ties, and, IN somewhat humorous vein, tol
!
transportation for the stock and wool tina
y the farmers We're producing in abundance
II to say nothing Of their inexhaustible iro
ore which only awaited a railroad to enabl
, them to work u advantage
. M. Noah R)hinson of Waterbury, an
: Mr.. j. ". Smith of Stowe, both iavore
! the building of the road, but were, of cours
d dtsirous that its southern outlet should /
through Stowe and Waterbury.
u Mr.. R. A. Metcalf of Lowell, was inall
n called upon AS being the one from that SCI
Ne ton most accustomed to 'speakng in NEE
/ ing" and in very forclble manner gave fac
>, and figures to show that they not only nee
d ed a railroad, but were rich 10 resources
st aid in its support when built. His figure
showed that the three towns of Lowell, Yves
" field and Jay are now paying an annua! su
h of about thirty thousand dollars to ha
1t lumber by teams to stations on the Connect
E cut and PAssumpsic railroad and that hs
:, they road through that valley the quanti
could be more than doubled without al
lie preceptible detriment to the quantity, as t
lie growth would keep pace with depletion. I
" said they now paid twenty-five dollars
acre for cutting down and burning up the
N timber to Clear up the lands which made
ID productive farms as any in the State. Gil
re them this road, and they would be able
{ sell their timber at goodprice on the STUN
~ instead of having to pay for cutting it do,
ne to get it out of their way.
g. Mir. Parker, of Lowell, Mr.. White,
~ nc Ellen, and Mr.. Horatio Templet)n, of We
IN cester, all spoke in earnest in regard to t
is desire of their towns for the road, and tn,
Oh determination to do all in their power to {
VI cure it.
I'd