Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-04-16

TONERS under such restrictions as the law
now imposes. This would be the more DEL
icate way Of doing an indelicate business.
Black River Railroad.
We note with satisfaction the prompt
and energetic action Of the people Of Wor-
cester in behalf Of this enterprise which
found such notable expression at the mass
meeting holden at that place yesterday,
report of which will be found in another
column and We can but hope that their ex-
pectations will be fully realized in due
time. This expression on the part Of the
citizens Of Worcester is matter of much
encouragement to cur people, and we should
be equally prompt and liberal in giving this
enterprise such support as will guarantee
the construction of this road to the LanloiIe
Valley where we are to meet our friends
from Troy and the Black River at an early
day. There never was time in our history
which seemed to US more critical, aud when
such prompt action was necessary to secure
to us prize, which from the nature Of things
can never be offered to us again. A glance
at the map Of the State, aud its general
topography, shows to US that this is an cp-
portuni,y not to be thrown away, if We are
to retain respectable position among the
larger towns Of our Commonwealth. The
construction Of the Portland 4 Ogdensburgh
Il. r., was a great blow to the Interests Of
cur town, which, but for our lukewasmuoss
in railroad matters, might have been ayerted
and, while We feel to congratulate the people
Of the Lamoillc Valley in the possession Of
railroad facilities, aud upon liberalization OF
their hopes yet we can but feel that it was
a golden opportunity lost, when we turned
the cold shoulder on that enterprise and al
lowed it to be diverted from us to enrich
some more favored section and we think
our merchants will bear us out in the state
ment that the loss Of trade to them in FIVE
years, from this cause alone, would amount
to as large sum as was required Of US to
secure its construction to this place. And
the question now comes home to us, can we
afford to repeat this costly experiment and
allow this prize TO escape us ? We can, |
think, calculate to a certainty, if We are
not up and doing in this matter, that the
people of the Black River Valley will
build q road TO some point in the Lamoille
Valley, interseeting the Portland and Og-
densburg railroad, which point will be its
southern terminus, forming an important
feeder for the Portland and Ogdeusburg
road, and onriching this junction with its
traffic
The Vermont Central railroad, though Of
great benefit to US, is in the natural course OF
events building up considerable towns along
our western border, aud the Portland and
Ogdensburgh railroad is iniusing new life
and energy into the people north and east
of us, aud the business and trade which we
formerly enjoyed is being drained from us,
aud when it once finds new channels it will
be hard to recover that which by apathy
and delay will be lost to US.
The rejection of the proposition of ST.
Jobusbury has stus, upon our awakening'
$4,000 more than its acceptance would
have done, and this lavish outlay to repair
our great error has not, and cannot in thc
nature of things return in solid benefits
anything like what would have accrued tc
us had we in the first instance had proper
appreciation Of what our true interest;
were. And ought we with our present sad
experience to remain quiet, and allow 9th
ers to reap the harvest of our sowing p
We have had survey of the proposed
line, to which our citizens have contrib
uted literally, and the report of the
engineers is in the hands Of the com.
mlttee chosen 10 procure TINS preliminary
examination and from this report our cit
F zens can judge what is required at theii
hands to cousummate this enterprise. W.
expect that with the aid of Middlesex, Wor
cester, the western portion Of Calais, Eas
Elmore, West Woodbury., Wolcott anC
llardwick, to raise sufficient funds to pre-
pare the road-bed for three feet gauge tC
Jackson Bridge, on the Portland and Og
densburgh Railroad, or such other point il
the Lamoile valley as the directors ma,
, sci sct, where We are to meet our friend
from the Black River country, who propos
to meet us at that point.
Let us therefore combine to make thi
enterprise a grand success that we ma,
reap the substantial benefits accruing there
from while the present generation live.
CITIzEN.