Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-02-04

| Col. IIaskins said we should remember
those who had befriended US in those DAYS
that tried mems souls, and in conclusion.
said that whilst dep!oring the pres ent hard
times, we should bear in mind that they
are but the Legitimate result of a long and
tedious war. The camp lire closed by all
joining in singing America. @.
THE CAVE BANK ROAD.
The public announcement that our
honorable board of selectmcn had dccid.
ed to locate aud approve the much-ialked-
OF Cave Bank road has been received with
profound establishment by vast majority
OF our citizens. BY this act, deliberately
done, or proposed to be done, in the face of
two adverse reports from committees APP
pointed by the county court, unanimously
adopted afor most thorough and exhaus-
tive investigation of the whole subject. our
se!ectmen exhibit either a very rare degree
OF moral courage, coupled with firm reli-
ance on their own superior judgment, or
else such utter contempt for public opin-
ion, unmisiakably manifested in many
ways since this matter has been under dis
for boldne,s, If not for discretion.
1t must now be apparent to all that there
Is fixed purpose on the part Of few in-
dividuals TO force this project upon an I'M
willing public; otherwise, having been
fairly and decsively beaten in two public
trials, they would desist from their efforts.
and, as good citizens, bowling to the will of
the majority, cease to vex their fellow
townsmen with useless trouble and ex-
pense. Even now, if the opponents of this
project will shake oil their apathy, there is
still one more opportunity to make the
voice OF the majority heard and spected.
But If, on the other hand, our approaching
March meeting is suffered to pass by with
out such an emphatic and crushing con-
domination OF this scheme Al shall give it
final quietus, the town will inevitably be,
and deserve TO be, saddled with it, laden
with all its untold burdens OF taxation for
years to come.
Whatever local or private advantage tho
success of this scheme may promise to in
diViduals, l believe | am justified in as
Stunning, land, in this am probably sus-
tanned by the judgment Of four-fflhs of the
taxpayers of the town, " no have given the
subject proper consideration that there are
no adequate reasons, founded on consider
atoms of "the public good" why this road
should be built at any time, aud certainly
none which would justify building it in
time of general financial distress, like the
present. This was tho deliberate Judgment
Of two successive committees sent out by
N .F.,1I,, Il I .
men in the county, after minute survey
Of the whole field, and a patient hearing of
all its jealous friends could urge in its be-
half and surely no project ever had more
earnest and persistent sponsors. They be-
lieved, as do most Of our citizens, that, even
II the road should be built, the ordinary
travel between Main street and West Brat
tleboro will seek still its old familiar and
pleasant channels through High and Green
streets; while heavily laden teams will
ind, as now, far easier grades on the "brook
ROAD than the cave bank route can ever
afford. Certainly, by expending upon il
even 1.-THE of the money this new project
will inevitably swallow up, If persisted in,
the brook road would become, If isnot
now, far better thoroughfare for heavy
business than is practicable on any other
line. Beside, in estimating the need of a
new road, this very important fact should
be borne in mind, that probably quite nine
tenths of all the tonnage, including wood
ana lumber, hauled over all the roads lead
ing from Main street westward, is moved
eastward, TO the village, on descending
grade, while not exceeding one-tenth is
moved westward, from the village, on an
ascending grade. So that, even if the grades
could be improved by adopting the new
line-which is not the fact-only one-tenth
OF the tonnage passing over the road would
receive any appreclable benefit from the
change. 1t is pertinent to add, that the
amount of this outgoing freight, both actu-
al and relative, is gradually but surely di-
minlShing. Why, then, should our al
ready overburdened taxpayers be still fur
ther oppressed with taxation, to tho amount
OF 5000 to $4,000, and probably even a
much larger sum, in fuuherance of a
scheme possessing such small claim to pub
lie iavorH And why, furthermore, should
the town of Brattleboro be continually ba-
raised and put to expense from year TO
year, and time after time, in defending her
sell against schemes like this, which seem
to SAVIOR far more of private gain than of
public benehtH am aware that it is said
that the selectmen have been offered guar
anly that the proposed road shall be built
Tor sum not exceeding 81, 800. Now It is
barely possible that mere temporary and
roadway might bo constructed
Tor that sum- which a board of soleetmen
already committed to tho project would ae- |
cept; but have no hesitation in saying