Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-08-28
Woodstock,

to resuscitate and complete the Wood
stock Railroad, it now looks like a
defeated enterprise. 1t is seldom that an
enterprise has ever encountered more
hostilities and universities than has
befell the lot of this one from the day
of its birth to the present time and
still we have undiminished faith in its
ultimate success. There are several
causes to which we can truly attribute
its failure Had it not been for few
implacable and Jealous enemies in our
own village, who, for selfish and I'M
worthy motives refused to pay their
subscription to the stock, and then
stimulated Others to refuse to pay, so
far as they could, besides encouraging
and fomenting hostility to the road
and its management, in quarters where
we had the right and the expectation
to look for support and encourage
ment-our road would have been in
successful operation to day.
Had Gov. Washburn lived, the COM
pletion of the road would have been a
sure thing, and the cars would have
run into Woodstock previous to Jan,
uary, 1871, as every one connected
with the direction of the road well
knows. The much needed aid would
have been furnished by Governor J.
Gregory Smith, as fast as needed I'M
iii the road was completed. We speak
aohM many hnoar to be true
achen ace say this. The death
of the President Of the road pre-,
vented, or rather was an obstacle to
the successful carrying out Of the al
rangement then in contemplation, and
partly in execution, between Gov.
Smith and Gov. Washburn, and hence
the financial embarrassment, and the
failure of the road in March, 1870.
Since that event several spasmodic
attempts have been made by our peo-
pie to revive the enterprise. The
most suicidal one, it seems to us, and
at the same time the one most persist
emily employed by a few of our well
meaning people, is abuse Of Governor
Smith, and the Vermont Central Rail
road. Some of our good people here
have INDUCED in that species of amuse-
ment for over three years, and how
much the town of Woodstock or the
Woodstock Railroad have gained by
that mode of warfare, the present con
dition of our Railroad track can testify.
1t cannot be very gratifying to those
of our people who have for the last
year or two, been in full sympathy
with the efforts made, and still max
ing, by the two powerful line of rail
roads outside of the State of Vermont,
to break down, and cripple if possible,
the Vermont Central line, and so de-
stroy its power as dangerous and
successful competitor for through
business to know, that to-day the
Vermont Central, by reason of its new
combination and concentration of men
and money, is financially stronger
than ever before. And yet, such is
the fact +; and the people of Vermont
should be in the highest degree thank
full that it is so thankful that rival
railroad interest outside the State,
aided by all the influence within the
State, which that rival interest could
hatter, intimidate or purchase, have
utterly failed to crush and onl y tc
temporarily embarrass the great Rail
road interest of the State, so important
to the interest and the welfare of all
her citizens.
One thing we regard as certain, ON
Woodstock Railroad can never be
completed unless we receive assistance
and aid from the Central Vermont. -
As a gentleman of this village remark
ed to us the other day {: sit is a poor
way to adopt to gain the assistance
and friendship Of a man or even of q
corporation, by systematic and per
sistent abuse" We think our people
here will soon see the folly of such s
course, and when they fully begin tt
realize the fact that there is Il gooC
deal of human nature in mankind, W.
shall expect them to adopt different
tack. With what kind of face could
we apply to the new Central Vernon
Corporation for aid, when week aftel
week, the central figure of that Cor
poration, the man who has done more
for the material prosperity, and fol
developing the agricultural, the manu-
featuring, and the mechanical interes
of the State, through the establish
ment, on affirm basis of our system o
Railroads. than any other man tina