Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-10-16
The Burlington and Lamotlle Railroad.


ofidge, on Saturday; was a stirring affair
1t was called to order at 1920 a. IN. by Col
u u. Gates, moderator. Mr.. B. Fullin gtoi
after sharp speech, denouncing the at
tempt to secure town aid as trick concocteC
! by Burlington influence, moved that thu
meeting adjourn. After few remarks b,
, W Parker, Esq the motion was voted down
Mr. Parker offered a resolution that the
town render aid to the Burlington and La.
NOBLE Railroad. This was opposed BY Mr.
fulilngton. who said that having worked
hard early and late, % gain competence for
Old age, he knew the toll there was in q
dollar and the worth of it. and he would
not consent to rob others or to be robbed
himself by voting to aid any railroad cor
poration.
Mr. Page, who was opposed to rendering
town aid at the former meeting. replied
saying that in his old age, after years Of
toll, he desired the convenience Of rail-
road, be thought it the part Of wisdom now
to render aid, with proper conditions
and he should vote for it.
number Of other speeches were made
the n4st effective b-inr by the venerable
jess; Mudgett. Mr. Mudgett i s. years OF
age, and totally blind. lie was I'D to the
stage, and introduced by the Moderator.
He said in substance
hope, my tnwnsmeE. that YOU will
listen 10 me for the space OF ten minutes.
with as much silence and attention a. Won
can. Tor my voice l. not very strong This
/ l. probably the last time | shall speak to
you IN town meeting. | was not present at
Your last meeting, but | could not Sfay
away from this for what heard Of that
meeting strangely moved me from the bot
tom ut my soul. / know how many praise
the good old times aud say We can have
nothing better, and pronounce railroad, an
unmitigated curse do not feel 50. Many
things have occurred 10 me u warm nv
heart towards railroads. While railroads
were being called an unmtigated curse
here, heard a carriage drive into NV
5ard, and there was my only brother
from the West That brother lett me
many years ago with a little bundle ia his
hand and travelled one month On foot To
reach Chicago. Now he comes back 10 see
me IN my old age aud blindness. in three
days, and bnt FIR railroads he could proba-
hly never have seen me again. | cannot ca!
railroads an unmltIgated curse. But VOC
well know chat II concerns me little, for INV
stay j. snort with yoa Il Is for my chill
drtu and my grand children, and this. my
town, that care. Railroads are necessary
u the age and You must have one or fall far
behind ether communities. ard II you neg
lcct the present opportunity OF generous
ht.p and AID. and reject the hands that are
held T. y9u from Burlington and the other
towns. 10 WILL be the fei-u; of folly, for You
or Your c-i.drta Ni'l at last be compelled 10
build railroad for yourselves. for
1t wall become ,sc long nece>,ity
Ai;er The last meeting my littie
grandsons, twelve and fourteen years
OF age felt greatly disturbed and said
" Grandua, We have some little money 10
The savings bank, and it father viii let Us
We Will join together and give fifty dollars
t. get the railroad And | sand yes. and |
! would help them, for IT So tombstone
was To- be placed at the head OF my grave. | /
would rather have one that cost S25. and I
give the $50 Tor the railroad. Iue-c are I
htue things. gentlemen, know, but they I
affect lne powerfully | would lisr & form
one OF phalanx VI twenty cid gentlemen /
soon 10 pass away, that | could name, and |
let US make donation loT this road of 500 |
aca, which Will be one tenth Of all .
that Is asked. But let u have the road /
anyway. | cannot see you or these bills |
any more, bat | sometimes hear in the still /
ness OF the air the clear whistle Of the en-
CINE at Georgia, and it has TO ne the
sweetness OF music. Ny last rcq aest. my
townsmen, Is that You grasp tue kind
hands that are held out TO You.
The SeHtiheis report, from which we
copy the above, says Of the reception given
to Mr.. Mudgett'- remarks
The crowded house bending forward to
catch nis word,-thc venerable form, the
gracious and noble presence. ami face
radient with Christian peace and goodness
made the scene one fit Tor a painter and
tie audience could az times with difficulty
restrain their applause or tears
y the old patriarch was lea % hi- seat.
he requested that Judge Moves. Of Bur
lnEttu might come on 20 the stage and
take MIN By the hand, as expressive of hi-
wish that Cambridge should Join hands
with Burlington ana the ether towns
lie was iollowed by hi, ,on the Hon T.
p. MIDGET, " no said he was present az tne
last meeting and remained silent Bur the
thia-a said at that meeting and incidents
in bis own family mad moved him strongly.
~" N'i' 80 '-N i.i7
l,ii-e p'ys' aui ne could no- remain silent.
lie ana AIS neisho'r' had done muca US
Su'>eI pu,h Tor tne valley road. HAT
seemed TO be sleeping now. lie hated %
compel auY one g. aid q there was any
''1. i's "Ii',' Gu Gu 'ne llle way Na1
calling upon various persons hy name he
said. We can DO it here right on the spot"
g., Among among those mus called on wa Mr.
misbt ,ign "a .pb.crj,tiin ,'i ra"er b, t' nv
cl.ned 10 give a gIar
\ recess OF half an hour was here taken
could he raised by subscription; bnt no
-.'sl.'s T'lI s,-.I'1 ana lnere wa" was
nv .nb.crintinn. ''' r-''''
Ai,cr remarks by DR. F.agz, VINO had
been opposed but row announced himself
~ r ,',o NV w b 'oT 'r 1i' iIs.S .oo5'lgu
ing mid. and the result vas announced a.
yeas III. nays =. amid great cheering
able in the notes Of the town on or before
I'VE YEAR, from cate with CONDITION that
.-''''1 .'', S-'2-'u ,G 49, -
ss.,,-..t ,,,i,f, a., ~. a.