Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-06-15
The BrattIeBOro and whitehall nail.
road.


LARGE AND ENTHUSIASTIC RAILROAD
INSTRUMENTATION WIDE AWAKE
AND IN EARNEsT-THE TOWN WILL RAISE
$4,000.
[From the whitehall Chronicle, 9th inst.I
A large and enthusiastic railroad meeting
was held at the Village Hall on Thursday
evening of this week, (June ~ The hall
was well filled, and it was literally town
meeting, though the very best Of order pre-
vailed. Strict attention was given TO the
remarks Of speakers, and as one after anolh,
er manifested their willingness to subscribe
more than their assessment would he to
raise $4,000, The enthusiasm rose to the
highest point.
The meeting was called to order by Mr..
William II. Cooke, and Mr.. Charles Chaplin
was appointed chairman, and Capt. G.
Thomas Hall was made secretary. Mr..
Cooke was first called out and gave state
meut briefly reviewing the origin and prog
ress Of the enterprise and presenting lis
status at the present time. He urged the
importance to Whitehall of building the
road and showed the effect on all branches
Of business He also pointed out that there
could be no interest here to which the pro-
posed road would be adverse. He also
showed why the matter was in such shape
that no action could be taken 10y the town
until now. MIR. Teflt was next called out
| and said that while lac was not unwilling
| TO give his views on the enterprise as he
| had heretofore done, he preferred 10 hear
| others speak. lie wanted men to talk in
the meeting as they had talked privately,
and thought the result would satisfy every
| body Of the unanimity Of sentiment in IA
! Vor of the enterprise. In order to bring
the matter to tangible shape before the
! meeting, he moved that II WAS the sense of
| those present that Whitehall raise S75, 600
| in aid OF the enterprise. He coupled with
| that a motion that q committee be appoint
| ed To copy the assessment roll and figure
| out the percentage on his assessment that
each one would be obliged to contribute in
| order to raise the amount If raised pro rata,
| and present the same to each person APP
pearing on the assessment roll. The Hon.
| II. g. Burlcigh having entered the hall was
| then called out and made one of his char
acterislic, inspiring aud effective speeches
| lie said the time for talk had gone by.
There was no need of any more speeches.
| The thing now to be done was to sign. lie
reiterated his subscription made at the irst
meeting that was held here on the subject,
| aud said he would subscribe s. 800, one
| tenth of the whole amount. He thought
| every business man ought TO he interested
| in the matter, and that there ought to be
! enough enterprise among them to regain
| the trade which had been wrested from
! them. lie wanted to see the leading lum-
Der men and capitalists come up to the
! mark. He was much applauded. Mr..
| Supervisor Bascom was called out, and
! forcbly stated that he was warmly IN favor
| of the enterprise, and would choeriully
subscribe the amount that would be appOr-
toned 10 him. lie did not know that the
stock would ever pay a dividend or not,
| but whether 1t did or not, he thought the
indirect benefits would make it judicious
| investment. Mr.. James Adams, in re-
Spouse 10 calls, said that he deemed it of
| the greatest importance TO the town 20 have
| the road built. His interests were on the
| canal, but he thought the road would BEN
| eft them. lie was willing TO double the
| percentage that had been proposed, and
| would sign twelve per cent. on his assessed
! valuation II necessary. His remarks were
received With cheers. Mr. NJ. O. Bin was
| called out, and said he also was willing to
| double the percentage If nec0s sary. Mr..
| Adolphus Policy was willing to contribute
the portion assigned to him, and so was
Mr.. George :. Griswold. The enthusiasm
evoked by these declarations brought out
the Hon. II. q. Burleish again, who sur
passed even his former effort. lie said the
road started at Whitehall, which would eu.
able this town TO get low through rate, an
advantage which 1t had never before pos
sessed. He then went into a statement Of
the comparative cost OF building the road
now and that of building the n. Y. & Can
ada railroad, showing that steel rails could
now be bought for about $50 a ton which
were $240 ton when the n. y. & Canada
road was built. Mr.. Geo. Brett stated thai
he was in favor of the enterprise, and
would contribute his share of the assess
ment and more besides. He would also
subscribe $3.50 in behalf of the workingmeu
not on the assessment roll. Mr.. Brett
spoke with earnestness and increased en-.
thusiasm. Mr.. A. Z. Cooke followed with
practical suggestions, showing how those
whose pro rata contributions would moi
amount TO a hundred dollars, could unite
and subscribe for a share which could bt
issued to some one in trust for them. He
also deprecated the idea that the stock
would be worthless. He thought it was Nc
argument that the road would not pay
dividend because the ordinary gauge road,
did not. His remarks were received with
approval. Mr.. J. ID. Hancock said he was
not resident here but he owned some
property and was willing to contribute
what the assessment would he on that tC
raise the amount. He was interested il
the business of Whitehall, and believed i
would he beneficial 10 the business Of the
place. The motion to raise $4,000 was
then put and unanimously carried. Mr.
Burlelgh's motion TO appoint Messrs
Charles Chaplin, George GOOdale and ID. G
Percival soliciting committee, was car
ried. Messrs. Samuel Benjamin and Isaac
y. Wood were subsequently added also
MesSrs. Geo. Brett and A. =. Cooke. The
committee will thus consist of seven me EN-
bers, and they will Immediately proceed tc
call on our citizens. The meeting then
adjourned to the call of the chairman Of the
soliciting committee.
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