Litchfield enquirer., 1875-03-04

under Congressional auspices and careful ly guarded against fraud and coercion. Where there is such just doubt of the le- gality of Kellogg's election as appears from these reports, the true and the Re publican course would seem to be to favor neither the one nor the other of these doubtful sets of claimants, but to go di- rect to the people, for a new expression of their opinion. We ask the minority who l deprecate the excitement of & general election, now, how much quieter matters | are like to be in the fall of 1876, in the heat of a presidential canvass, with anoth- CT Kellogg Returning Board and the White League aroused to redoubled ac- tivity?
 Shepaug Continuation.
 The Wolcottville Register refers to the discussion by the Enquirer and the New Milford Ray of the proposition for new jail, and to the demand of the latter for 8 removal of the county seat, as follows:
 Perhaps this division urged by the Ray might be of real value to the State and perhaps not But there is one thing cer- ! tain that Litchfield must do in order to retain the county seat, and that is to open that place not only to the people of the county, but to commerce. They have money, plenty of it, but seem to be afraid to use it where it will do most good. Four or five miles of railroad would bring them l to this village connecting with their pres ent tram-way, making it quite an impor- tant branch, as it would not be likely to stop a great while here but reach New Hartford at once which would open a very direct route from Hartford to New York city through profitable freighting coun- try Unless this is done they must expect to lose the county seat as the late meet ing of the County Representatives have plainly shown to them by voting for re- pairs on the jail instead of making an ap- priation for a new one. This town would willingly do its part towads helping them out in their present poor railroad facili ties. The road, which now does not pay anything at all, would, by this connection, be made a very renumerative thorough fare, and accommodate Litchfield great deal more than it possibly can with it's present terminus. Litchfeld could go with Wolcottville to Hartford and spend the whole or half a day and return, but now neither can go scarcely in one day and back. Besides all these advantages it would open @ new route to New York which would certainly have tendency to reduce the freight rates throughout this section.
 The compliment about our having ''plenty of money is just trife mis- placed. We have grand list of less than two millions, and we have paid in towards the construction, equipment and running of the Shepaug railroad, over $500, 900 in clean cash, About half that sum bought first mortgage bouds, on which the inter- est has always been promptly paid. The rest purchased second mortgage bonds converted since foreclosure into stock and which will no doubt be ultimately valua- ble-and the original stock of the road, now worthless. The earnings of the road 1 have paid running expenses but are not sufficient as yet to pay the interest on first mortgage bonds. Still, it's business is in- ! creasing, the Roxbury stone quarries are furnishing a good deal of tonnage, the milk traffic of the road is large and we'll conducted, and our ''tramway" bids fair to be q success in the near future The continuation to Wolcottville is inevitable at some time; but this town has strained it's resources too severely. and has made too great an effort to warrant the further necessary expenditure for such project at present. In the meantime our neigh bor is growing rapidly in population and wealth, and needs the advantage of com petition for railroad freights. The mu- tual interest of the two villages must event. ually force a connection-the sooner the better. "Give us your hand. John Boyd" l"
 On our outside we'll be formed another and very interesting article from Capt. Sperry upon Western Kansas. We clip from Kansas paper the following account of his narrow escape from freezing:
 Capt. Sperry started for Victoria with J. c. Preston's team for 8 supply of hay l for their stock. The storm struck him when two miles from Victoria, and it was with difficulty that the team could be kept against it, but he arrived with one ear frozen and loaded up and set out to re- turn.
 But the storm increased and when about two miles out, two bales of hay were blown off: also a blanket in with he was wrap ped. and as it was not safe to leave the l team, he drove after, and upon it, and having secured it turned toward the trail but took one leading down to the Old Fort, on discovering which, he attempted to return, but on facing the storm the horses refused to go, leaving no alternative but to take the chances of driving before the storm until the Old Denver trial could be reached When within one mile of the Old Fort trail was reached and suppos- ing it was the Denver. he turned into it, drove two miles when he was satisfied that it was taking iim back to the R. R.
 Turning about he again followed the road until it was lost, but a faint track was discovered which soon led him to the deep and we'll worn cattle paths of the Old Den yer Trail and he immediately turned into it. as 1t led at right angles to the storm, and, as the usual premonitory symptoms of freezing were beginning to be experi- enced. he did not dare to ride, or travel on the lee side for fear the load might be blown upon him The windward or storm
 side was taken and every expedient resort ed to, to keep up circulation, one of which was to plunge his fingers under the horses collar. 'a-a
 i His home was reached at sundown and Frank Sperry opened the door to see his Father stagger in exhausted. 70 z1 His cape, tippet, and whiskers were in- cased in solid ice. It vas found that both
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