Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-03-16
The RrnttIeboro and whitehall uaiI-
road---PIatn Figures.

The RrattIeboro and whitehall na,I-
road---PIatn Figures.
Although it seems to have become a sell
tied fact that the $50, 900 which must be had
from Brattleboro to assure the building Of
the Brattleboro and Whitehall railroad can
not be raised by subscription, as was Of
first reasonably hoped and expected, 1t is
nevertheless true that the public interest
and faith in the enterprise have grown Of
late in the most encouraging manner. Tue
meeting last Saturday evening was one OF
the most satisfactory gatherings OF It's Kind
which We have ever attended, and did very
much to accomplish the object for which ii
was held. Since that event the current OF
public opinion has set Enthusiastically in IA
vor Of the new road, aud every day makes
it more and more apparent that the project
needs only TO be understood to he appre-
catod and believed in, 1t is so evident
that The people are growing to be in earn
est in the matter that large number Of
leading citizens have signed petition to
The selectmen for a town meeting TO con-
slider the subject, and warrant has ac-
cordingly been drawn and posted which
fixes the date Of the meeting for Saturday
afternoon, Slst inst. OF course we cannot
say what action a majority Of the voters
will take on that occasion, or, If the requi-
site sum Of money is voted, whether il will
he in the shape Of a bond gratuity, or
subscrip ton to the stock Of the road. We
may state, however, that the proposition
which seemed most reasonable and salts
factory, as presented to the meeting on
Saturday evening, embraced the idea Of
subscription by the tow n to the stock of the
road in the sum Of $50, 900, payable in equal
annual instalments covering a period OF
from five to ten years. That the voters
and taxpayers may see just what burden
the carrying out Of this suggestion would
involve, we reproduce the figures substan-
TALLY as given to the meeting:-
If the money were raised and paid in
five annual instruments OF slO,O 900 each, the
payment for the first year would be $4,000
Zone instalment Of $4,000 and one years
interest on S5O,OO0)-a sum which repre-
SCENTS Sc cents on each dollar of our pres
ent grand list, aud amounts to $500 on each
$1,000 Of ASSESSED valuation, or Sl.l2 on each
poll.
The second years payment would be
81, 400 (instalment of $4,000 and one years
interest on 100000 representing SO per
cent. OF grand list, or $3.50 on each $1,000
and Sl.O6 on each poll.
The third years payment would be sll,
800 (instnlment of $4,000 and one years
interest on $50, representing so per
cent. on grand list, or $500 on each $1,000
and sl.OO on each poll.
The fourth years payment would be
s1l 200 Gnstalment of $4,000 and one years
interest on OOOl-representing A. per
cent of grand list, or $40 on each $1,000
and 81 cents on each poll.
The fifth and last payment would be So.
600 Qnstalment of $4,000 and one year
interest on same)-represenling a per recent.
of grand list, or $40 on each $1,000 and s.
cents on each poll.
1t " i'll thus be seen that the total sum 10
be paid, including principal aud interest,
would be $4,000. Taking our present
grand list as a basis the tax for the whole
time would amount to $2.56s on the dollar
The polls would pay, in all, 1913 each, and
the owner Of property valued at sl0OC
would pay S25.65. Distributing these to-
tails through FIVE years, the average annual
payment on the poll tax would be sl.O2.
and on each $1,000 O! property valuation
$5.l3. With these figures as a basis each
property holder may take his grand list and
readily estimate the exact sum which hi,
subscription to the Brattleboro and White
hall railroad would amount 10, and very
little additional figuring will show whs
both the total and the yearly amounts would
be if the payments were distributed over &
period OF ten years instead of five.
Or, if the reader prefers, he may base bi.
calculations on Judge Stoddard's stale
ment, which was true one, that the whole
sum Of $50 900 would constitute a tax il
the aggregate Of only per cent. on the rea
estate valuation of the town-and in any
case it will be seen that when the amour
is equitably divided and spportioned Il
each individual it constitutes tax so snal
as scarcely 10 be felt. Especially is thi,
the case when We consider that the build
ing OF the road would improve and in
etty, and make both labor and capital NOR
remunerative-to say nothing Of the res
sonable expectation, confidently entertain
ed by its most sanguine friends, that III
road would prove permanent six per cent
investment from the outset.