The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-03-23

ward link. While we are not prepared to
dispute that the actual earnings Of the road
will pay the running expenses, the interest
OF the debt, and, ultimately, perhaps, divi-
dends on the stock, and while we know
that short links are more profitable than
long independent roads-as witness the
Rutland and Whitehall railroad, which, we
believe, has paid six per cent. annual div
idend to its stockholders us take an
other view of the case.
Surprising that every cent paid for the
construction of the road is lost beyond re-
call supposing that not one cent is ever
paid of principal, interest or dividends Z;
supposing that the road goes from the
hands Of the stockholders, into that of the
present bondholders, and then into other
hands who have, perhaps, purchased these
or other bonds at two or three cents on the
dollar; suppOsing the worst financial state
of affairs, If the road is only kept running,
cannot the business men and property
owners of Woodstock-to say nothing Of
others on the line of the rOad-afford to
raise the money and complete the road !?
In 1913, neither Rutland or Woodstock
had any railroad connections. So far as
business was concerned, they were about
alike. They stood among the first eight or
ten towns in the state in business. in popu-
lation and in every way. Now let us see
the difference see what railroads have
accomplished for Rutland; see how their
want has affected Woodstock and then
let them say whether or not they can af-
ford TO sink the money, build the road and,
ultimately, aid in building the eastward
that is to Rutland. BY the census Of
1910, to go back a step further, Woodstock
was in advance of Rutland, her population
being 3,315, while ours was only 2,109
But in 1913, we stood about upon an
equality, Judging from the census of 1850.
when we had railroad-our popu-
lation being then 3,715, while hers
was only 3,0il. The effect of rail-
roads. and the want thereof began
to be felt aud was rendered still
more glazing in 1870, when our population
is returned at 1884, and hers at 1910
we constantly increasing, Woodstock as
constantly decreasing We might stop right
here and claim that the argument was
complete, but let us proceed. There is
about the same amount of real estate in
the two tOwns-Rutland. however, having
some two thousand acres the most-that of
Rutland, in 1913, being valued at SS26, S53.
60 while that of Woodstock was Sol ,431
the decrease being about the amount
which would be caused by the difference
in the number of acres. How is it now !
Our valuation is S2502, 702-more than
three times as much AS it was in 1915
Woolstocks is 81, 15i, eco being trifc
more than an increase of one-haf of one
per cent, or about one-siyth less than ours
An increase, too, which may reasonably
be accounted for by proximity to railroad.
Again look at the polls" In 1S4S we
taxed Oh polls, Woodstock 1l5i-mark
| the excess against us-now, we tax 3,60S
| polls, they 1424-mark our great increase,
their small one. The difference in person
al property is fully as great. In 1913, oui
valuation was S2s0,224 now. 81 1861
nearly six times as much Woodstock
tken valued her personal property at $780,
2l9, now at $427,2S or only little over
ice as much, difference which can
| easily be accounted for by the fact that she
| now has but some ten or dozen miles of
"teaming," whereas in 1913 it was all
''tcaming." Here we leave the matter foi
| our Woodstock friends to draw their own
differences. They can see that prior to 1915
they were our equals in every respect
probably our superiors. Surprising tina,
the Rutland railroad had found its way
from Boston to Burlington, oM Castleton
instead of Rutland, where would we have
been if we had waited for something to
| turn up?