Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-12-21
The naiIroad Question.

Mesws. Editors The perusal Of the let
ters of Hon b. ID. Harris and J. /. Martin,
Esq, published in your last weeks issue,
should awaken firmer hope and inspire new
life for the improvement of the West River
valley and preservation and perpetuity Of the
natural course of trade and business. What
Mr.. Martin says of the decay of the manufac-
turing and other business interests and enter
prisos, of the dimunition of population and
decrease Of wealth. is literally true. It should
also be borne in mind that Windham county
is in danger of being shorn of a large portion
of its territory, and that it may not and
! probably can not long survive in its present
condition. A change for better or worse,
| speedily awaits her. With the county build
/ ings at Fayetteville. SO long rs there is any
hope of new county with its shire at Ches-
! ter. there will be renewed and repeated cf-
| forts to carry into effect that project And
there is no certainty, in the present state Of
/ things that the buildings will remain there.
! There is danger that the southern portion of
the county, i'll balancing their interests be
! tween a dismembcrmem of the county and
! the removal of the shire to Brattlcboro. may
choose the latter alternative rather than to re
main as they now are. Should this be uc-
complished, with the present facilities for
transportation we shall be quite certain to
lose the northern tier of towns. and new
county viii be the result. Ii has been assert
ed that Newfane. as a town, would prefer to
sacrifice the shire rather than pay anything to
construct Il railroad. And having refused
any aid to that enterprise, it has lost the sym
patty of the towns that have heretofore
strongly favored that locality as the shire of
the county aud but for the fact that most of
the people about Fayetteville struggled nobly
for the Nee ssary aid, the shire might ut any
time, 90 to Bratteboro, with scarcely pro
test from the towns north and west of its
present locality. That Windsor county, large
and populOus, compared with the average
counties Of tn. tate. could without serious
detriment, spar enough from its southern
border to equalize that county with Windhum
is apparent. But to take from Windsor Il suf-
hcient number Of towns to make. with the
northern tier of towns from Windham. a
county worthy the name of county. would Sc
riousy injure Windsor and render Nindham
insignificant Such % disaster should be
guarded against by all possible honorable
means How can it be prevented? Mani
festly 10y the same means that viii restore
prosperity TO West River valley-by building
a railroad from Brattleboro the whole length
of that valley, thereby saving to Brattleboro
the outlet and trace of the whole valley with
its mountain slopes, to the height beyond the
line between Windham and bennington coun-
ties-giving permanently to the business j;
now has and adding the trade OF Londonder-
ry, Weston and portions OF Wuhall and
Landgrove: placing it in a position OF perna-
nent prosperity riyalled by few towns IN the
State and securing. by the sru.. means. tho
integrity of the county beyond aL coutroy, T.
sy. whether the shire remains where it is,
goes to Brattleboro or anywhere along the
valley, rs the county may direct
If 10 build the whole of this road is too
great an undertaking for the present. and
there is danger Of the county being broken
before it can be accompl.. he'd, commence the
work. Build, without d,lay % railroad to
Townshend lit will, of course. be extended in
timel to tine divergence Of the road from the
west to Bratteboro and Bellows Falls. This
will secure to Brattleboro all the business of
the vail As far north and west rs the high
land between Jamaica and Londonderry and
bring the vilng, Of Jamaica and Nardsboro
within ten miles Of the Temporary terminus at
Townshend. Change the shire from Fayette-
Vile to Townshend, and the towns of Grafton
and Windham will b. better accommodated
than with shire at Chester, and Rockingham
nj I.,,,1n,,la,,.,- Aud .t.t4l ~.
railroad bringing them close to the door Of
the court house the people of the south part
of the county would not complain Of the four
or five miles additional travel. THIS would
| place the county buildings within mile, of
| Chester. and almost as near to Aniovcr. With
these towns and Weston taken from Windsor
and added to Windham county, We should
according to the census of 1870, have a popu-
lation of ~, Coz leaving to Windsor popula-
| ton of -. 1872. Such an arrangement would
verywell accommodate the disturbing elements
in the two counties and would be far better
for the State, especially the southeastern por-
| ton Of it, than any scheme that has or can
| be presented for the formation Of q new couu-
| ty.
! If Mr.. Harris is correct as to the efficiency
/ of the North Billerica and Bedford railroad "a
| two-feet gauge will do all the business that
will be required this side of the mountain
| and, if ! understand the estimates, such IL
road can be built and equipped as far as
| Townshend for about Sl3j. 600. In view Of
/ what this county is IL danger Of becoming
and must become, unless its downward ten
| dency Is checked, and threatened iiamembcr-
ment defeated by railroad enterprise, and of
/ what she may become 10y the aid Of gener-
/ Gus public spirit that shall encourage and help
on such enterprise. will not the people arouse
! i will not say to their duty, -but to their
| privilege their moral and pecuniary interests
and take hold Of the work at once; The
towns of Brattleboro and Townshend would
do better to build the road US far as Town
shend the coming year, than to risk the con-
sequences of delay. What have said in re-
| gard to changing the location of the shire is
| in no spirit Of seltslness. beyond what is for
! the interest of the county at large. Situated
as We are, il becomes lie 10 look only to the
! general interest and protection of the county.
A. SToDDARD.
! Townshend. Dec. l.. 1877.