Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-06-05
West River Railroad.

West River railroad, up that valley from
Brattleboro. A meeting to further thu
project was held at Townshend on tn,
23d ult. We copy the proceedings main
ly from the Brattleboro Record. Col
S. M. Waite of Brattleboro, president o
the corporation, called the meeting t
order, and stated that the principal oh
Ject in getting the friends of the roa'
together was to ascertain the sentimen
of the people relative to the building
from Brattleboro, up the valley of tn
West River, to Jamaica, of a narrow
gauge road, instead of the ordinar,
gauge as had been heretofore contem
plated. 1t was his opinion that an ordi
nary-gauged road could not be construct
ed without the expenditure of a mucf
larger sum of money than the friends O
the road would feel like raising, and ev
en- then the stock of the road would b.
of no such value TO the stockholders a
they might wish or expect. He did be
liege, however, that a road OF narrow
gauge might be easily and cheaply con
structed, and that all moneys put into
the corporation for the building and
stocking of such road would prove Q
good, safe, paying investment. Stats
ticsand statements were submitted, show
ing that the narrow-gauge road is now
being constructed in many other parts OF
the country, and that, in places where
such roads have been already construct
ed and put in operation, they have prov
ed highly satisfactory, not only to the
stockholders but to the people. That a
road of the narrow-gauge pattern can be
constructed, furnished with rolling stock,
and operated, for little more than half
the cost of the ordinary gauge was most
clearly and satisfactorily demonstrated.
That it will do nearly as much work as
can be done upon the ordinary gauge,
and certainly more than enough to ac-
commodate the people of the West Riv-
er Valley for all time, was also demon
strated to the meeting. II was stated
| that the road from Brattleboro to Jamai-
Ca could be constructed, stocked, and
put in operation, for 100000, with a
right of way provided. To do this, it
would be necessary to raise stock sub
scription in cash Of S250,000; and,
when that was done, good and response
BILE parties stood ready to take the job
of constructing and furnishing the road
with its rolling stock for $4,000 cash
and security upon the road for the
balance of the 100000. The president
of the meeting stated that the sum Of
$4,000 could be raised by stock SUBJ
scription in Brattleboro, and that, if the
towns north or above Brattleboro, that
we're interested in the building of the
road, would raise the 100000, there
was no question but what they could
have railroad up the West River val
ley.
Judge Wheeler, of Jamaica, said that
he did not know of a valley or region Of
country in all New England, where the
resources and needs of the people were
as great as they were in the valley o
the West River, but what already hat
its railroad; and certain it was tina
many roads had been built more expen
sive than this road would be, and through
regions Of country not as rich and pro
ductive as the West River valley. Their
was money enough in this valley to built
! a railroad Of the ordinary gnage; blu
the trouble was, the people would no
take it out. He thought a sufficien
amount could be raised to build a roaC
of narrow guage that he had investi
gated somewhat this subject of narrow
guaged roads, and was decidedly of tn
opinion that that was the kind of roa(
they ought to build. He thought TIL
town of Jamaica was interested to
greater extent than any other town OF
; the line; and as for Jamaica. he had NJ
: doubt but that the sum of $4,000, anC
perhaps more, with right of way, coulC
be raised in that town.
The meeting was also addressed by Dl
Holton and Mr.. Muzzey of Jamaics
Judge o. S. Howard and A. G. Howar
of Townshend, Bowker and Morse c
,, Newfane, and others in favor of the pre-
iect. 1t was stated that material aid i
the work would be given in Dummer'
ton, Brookline, Windham and Winhal
Another meeting to aid the project is t
be held at Townshend next Saturda,
. January 9th.
II A SILLY ENTERPRIsE.--Allg great di
a asters have their humorous and rider
s ous features, and the Mill River caIan
g ity is not an exception. A dispatc
Q from Springfield makes the announc
e ment that Mr.. Cheney, the gate-keep,
8 at the Inflated reservoir, has let himse
II to some enterprising peripatetic showms