Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-01-15
Railroad Meeting at Rochester.

ury is replenished.
Railroad Meeting at Rochester.
The railroad meeting at Rochester yester-
day TUESDAY was very fully attended, near
ly all the towns along the proposed route
from Montpelier to Rutland being represent
ed and their numbers were largely supple
mented by the resolute citizens of Rocht ster
and vicinity.
The meeting was called to order Just before
2 o'clock by Hon. f. P Walton of Mont
peler, who stated that he had given the
notice at the suggestion of the commissioners
named in the charter of the Montpelier and
Rutland Railroad. On motion of General
eastman. who declined on account Of i'll
health acting as chairman, Charles Morgan,
Esq, of Rochester, was chosen President,
and on further motion, Hiram Carleton,
Esq, of Watsfed, was elected Secretary.
Mr. Walton then took the floor, and stated
that as he had called this meeting. 1t might
be proper for him to state its purpose This
was to build railroad from Montpelier -
Rutland. and to ascertain if the people along
the proposed line desired road, and were
willing to aid in building it. lie stated that
this road might be constructed through
the Mad River Valley to Rochester, and
thence via West Rochester to Rutland OF by
some other route found feasible FIR rail
road through any OF the towns named in the
charter That charter also contemplated
branch from Rochester to Bethel or Royalton
to interAeet the Vermont Central But the
people most Interested must provide funds
for these preliminary surveys, and t. large
extent for building the road. They could
afford to do this Build this read and il
FIVE years the increased value Of the firms
within Fl We miles each way along the line woulJ
more than twice pay the cost OF the road.
This road was but continuation Of the
Montpelier and Black River Railroad hich
Is now being surveyed north from NJ jntpe-
lier to Newport, and when both were tIilt
would be a straight and dlrec, line from
I SNOptN, HCilCi hhA 4NhO4Hu'h, 70
New York. The northern section Of the
State desired tlis diagonal line OF railway
equally with Montpelier, Rutland and the
southwestern part OF the State He alluded
in this connection, to the Inconvenience
to which the people were subjected in pass
ing by rail from the east to the west part o
the State, and rice cersa by Essex Junction
or White River junction. He likened it tI
the case Of the Irishman who was told BY
his priest he could only reach heaven by
passing through purgatory, and quote Ia
yer Phelps rather protane poem on EsseZ
, junction. He then told the people the
needed the road for the proper development
of their resources, to increase the value 0
their farms and products, and to add to thei
, wealth and comfort in every way, he dem
onstrated fully, by reference to other road
and statistics of the increase in the gran,
! list of towns along the lines that this roa
would pay, if it was constructed as it shout
1 be. He advocated a narrow guage road a
= the cheapest and best road for the people
:. and demonstrated that narrow guage roa
: would perform all the business the countr
r required of road. Mr.. Walton spoke at COZ
r siderable length and directly to the point
. the time. We have not time to write out
> fuller synopsis of his well-timed remark
!. He concluded by suggesting the appolntmer
z of committee to raise funds for prelim
: nary survey of the routes.
Samuel Wells, Esq of Montpelier, beir
called upon, stated that the cost of prelin
mary survey would be from $50 to $40 p
: mile. He instanced the survey of tt
J. Black River Railroad, and said they had mat
= a very thorough exploration at about the
5 sum per mile. The characteristics of tn
Re Montpelier and Rutland road were niue
e like those of the Black River road. He d
l. cidedly favored the narrow guage as cheape
= and better every way. Such roads cost onl
If $4,000 to $4,000 per mile for constru
e ton. His remarks abounded in interestir
r statistics relative to narrow guage road
o their adapta bility to the needs of the cou
n try, and he concluded with reference to tt
= value and Importance of the lumber in Il
; region to be traversed by this road. v
r regret that space compells US to omit man
i good points made by Mr.. Wells, and IL
IL other speakers who followed him.
:, John Gain, Esq, of the Rutland Courie
g made a telling and effective although brit
Il speech, and was loudly applauded His pr
: sitions were well taken and ably de ende,
Col. W. G. Veazey, of Rutland, followe
. Mr. Cain, in lengthy and eloquent speech
: He narrated in an amusing manner the trii
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