The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-08-26
CHlTTENDEN AND WuND7HAfs
COUNTIES.

JEROME B. BROMLEY, District of Fairhoyen.
CHlTTENDEN AND WuNDiEA,s
COUNTIES.
The proceedings of the state board of
equalization and the st dement's there pre-
Jented. taken in connection with the other
statistics, presents state of facts with
which the people ol the state of Vermont
should be made acquainted. In presenting
these facts we shall be compelled to write
at considerable length, deal, necessarily,
somewhat with figures, and as We again
take Windham county as a basis for com.
parison, we shall refer to the statement
quoted from Tuesday morning, and to
large degree indulge in repettions. While
our facts and figures will, in measure.
show the advantages of railroads, yet we
use them for an altogether different pur-
pose. 1t may be promised that the idea
underlying these boards of equalization is
that all real estate may be so valued that
each town and county in the state shall pay
its just and equal proportion of state taxes
and no more. We need not say that. in
our opinion, this idea is not realized and
our figures may tend to show it although
our object is to make comparison between
Chittenden and Windham counties. Our
friends in Chtlenden county have for years
boosted and rejoiced in their exceeding
prosperity, and we have rejoiced with them,
Their growth, too, has partaken somewhat
OF the marvellous, and would be matter
OF surprise to every one was not the enter
prise of its citizens so well known, and
were they not 30 highly favored with facil-
tiles for transportation both by water and
rail. In this respect she is not surpassed,
IT equalled, by any other county in the
state. Even Rutland county, with her sew
ersl lines of railroad, cannot compare
with Chittenden county, and we are forced
to ask ourselves why should it not increase
in population and wealth? That it does
80 grow and increase is known TO and read
of all men. No person can pass through
the county without observing it. 1t is q
matter which cannot be hid.
Yet the disposition to grumble at taxes
Is so chronic that every year in which the
valuation of real estate is to be equalized, 6
cry of poverty goes up from the press ant
people of that county. With one hand
they beckon the strangerto settle in thei
midst because of their extraordinary growtl
in wealth and prosperity, the increase o
their business. and the wonderful facilitie
they enjoy for transportation both b.
means of the lake and of railroads-anc
when they speak thus, they proclaim only
the truth. While so beckoning with thu
one hand, the other hand is thrust fort
with repelling gesture on account of tn
poorness of their farms, the dearth Of bust
ness, the little or no value there is to thei
property. They deceive no one in tn
state but themselves, but they may proven
others from coming in to occupy thei
lands with them. Four years ago, the
threatened petty rebellion, because til
equalizing committee of the legislature
then the board for that purpose-raisc
the valuation of the real estate of thu
county fifty per cent. The threatened r.
bellion, as all attempted organized oppos
ton to law must necessarily do, ended
smoke SO this year, as if by a. concert
action, the listers of the several towns al
the county equalizing board reduced Il
valuation of four years ago nearly tv
millions of dollars, or something ov
twenty per cent. That is to say the liste
and the county board declared that Il
real estate of Chittenden county was wSr
some two millions of dollars less than
was fixed at four years ago. Now let
make a comparison with Windham coun
and see whether there is really any ba
for such claim. In the first place it mt
be remembered that Windham county
almost without railroad faclites-her on
railroad winding along the banks of t
Connecticut river, at the extreme caste
end of the county, not foot thereof per
trating the interior-while the western b.
der of Chittenden county is on Lake Cha
plain, and the Rutland or Central Verne
railroads penetrate, or are in easy access
nearly every town in the county. Our C
zens know and appreciate the advantal
which Rutland county possesses from
railroads, yet there are more towns s
portions of the county from which it
difficult to reach railroad than there
in Chittenden county.
Let us go back to the year 1850, alb
the time of the advent of railroads in
state, but before they had commenced
be of any particular benefit save to
travelling public, and there commence
figures and comparisons. In that "
1850, the population of Chittenden cou
was 29,O38, while that OF Windham cou
was 29,O82, a difference of OILY t'oe'
sir, and that In favor of Windham coul
80 far, then, as population was concern
the two counties were alike when with
railroad facilities, and their prosperity
alike 30 far as we can judge from pop
tion-and 1t may be taken as q general
that population will not be found in pli
that do not afford them remunerative &