Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-02-09

it has for its western terminus by far The
most Important distributing point in this
section of country that it takes the short
est and most direct route thence to the
grand trunk line of the Connecticut River
valley, and that it passes, in its whole course,
through a region exceptionally rich in all
manner OF natural resources which are
now undevcloped and must remain so I'M
til, by this line or some other, they have
the benefit of railroad communication. No
person, until he has carefully studied the
matter, can have any idea of the impor-
tant position which Whitehall occupies as
point of distribution for the immense body
OF natural products from the North and
West. Lying, as the town does, at the
head of The Champlain lake transportation
on the one hand, and of the Champlain
canal, reaching thence to Troy, the eastern
terminus OF the Erie canal, on the other, it
virtually commands a system of water
transportation second TO no other in this
country. Timber, grain, coal, and ores, to
say nothing OF minor products, float there
in immense quantities AMI at the smallest
possible cost. And while the facilities which
this point enjoys are already SO great and
entirely unrivalled, so far from ever grow
ing less, they are sure 10 increase many
fold. At no distant DAY the CAughnawaga
canal is sure to DO built 50 that ships of
thousand tons burden will float from the
Great Lakes into Lake Champlan, and
down to Whitehall with bulk unbroken.
This done, ii is by no means a visionary
scheme which looks TO see the Champlain
canal converted into ship canal, so that
these same vessels may pass through into
the Hudson river and down TO New York,
thus completing such a grand and impor-
tant transportation line as America has not
yet seen. For the present, however, we
may leave these new canal projects out of
the question, and il will still be seen that a
new road which proposes TO tap this great
line of water transportation ut its initial
point and connect 1t, by route shorter by
seventeen miles than any in existence, and
in fact, the shortest one possible, with the
Connecticut River valley, has, at the start,
an invincible argument in its favor.
But, strong as this argument is, the local
considerations to the towns along the line
have, as they should, even greater weight.
To say nothing of the region on the other
side of the mountain which this road will
for the first time open up, and that will
furnish for it large amount of permanent
and paying traffic, 10 the FOWLS in the West
River valley, and the country adjacen.
thereto, it promises a means of develop
ment and of renewed life and activity alb
solutoly essential TO their continued exis.
tence. Probably no like tract of country In
the State of Vermont possesses greater nat
urll advantages in its fertile soil, its prim-
tive forests of valuable timber, and its
treasures buried beneath the surface of the
ground, than does the West River valley.
AT present those resources are undevelop-
ed and almost unknown solely from the
lack OF necessary transportation facilities.
But let these be once supplied and the
whole region will enter upon an era of re-
newed vitality and pr sperity. Farms will
increase in value, new industries will
spring up, the young men will be kept at
home, and these towns will he as desirable
and az much sought after for permanent
residence as are now those of the Connecti-
cut valley. Instead of being then, in any
sense, "back country" the West River val
ley would have life Of its own in constant
communication with the worlds life both
east and west. That Jamaica and Towns
bend fully realize the necessities of the &C.
casion we already have the best possible
evidence, and We have full confidence to
believe thai every other town in that yicin-
ity will do its duty Ms well. 1t Is also con-
sidered certain that Whitehall and Graz
vile, and all the towns at that end of tho
line will promptly do their duty, and it
therefore requires but glance TO see that
there is substantial foundation for the be.
lief which now generally prevails that, at
this stage of the enterprise lis success or
defeat rests very largely, If not entirely,
with Brattie6orU.
The only question, then, is as to whether
this town can aud will afford 10 let this
splendid opportunity 20 by. II we raise
$4,000 Of the $500, 900 needed to ensure the
construction and equipment of the road its
success Is assured; If we fail to do this de-
feat seems equally certain. Up TO this time
we fear that the people of Brattleboro have
failed 10 realize the benefits which this
road promises 10 confer on them. To those
"HN huu IndSleIeu
the details Of the scheme its success seems
vitality essential TO tho future welfare and
prosperity OF The town. There is no argu.
ment urged in its favor by any of The smaller
towns in the West River valley that does
not apply with equal and greater force TO
Brattleboro. Those towns have begun 10
decline for reasons already indicated, and
which are patent TO everybody. Mr.. Wa
terman of Jamaica stated at the meeting
last week that the sum which that town
has voted in aid of the road Is now eleven
times its grand list, while eight years ago
it was only eight times its grand list. What
Is true OF Jamaica is true of neighboring
towns, and their Inhabitants realize it and
are acting accordingly. The fact OF this
tendency 10 decay Is significant, and it is
specially significant to Braltlebore, because
just ia proportion as the surrounding
country thrives or declines just so does her
prosperity increase or diminish. Men who
have been longest in business here realize
this fact most deeply. They remember the
old-time vigorous prosperity Of Bratteboro
"A prosperity that arose solely from the
fact that all the "back" towns were active
and prosperous, and IL needs no argument
to convince them that an enterprise like
that under confederation, which is to give
these towns new lease of life is worth