The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1877-12-05
HYDE PARK, DECEMBER 5, 1877
THE p. a o.


of our editorial column so frequently
that it has really become distasteful to
ourselves and doubtless toOur patrons
also. Communications of complaint
have come to us in such numbers, how
ever, and some of them from men OF
high stand and influence, aud, as what
little we have said has been repeated
SO as to imply hostility on our part
TO the present management of our
road, we wish to express just what
our convictions are. We do so with
out prejudice and without any person
al object in view save the one purpose
TO serve the public. We do not work
in the interest of any man or any cor
poration. Our columns are ours to eX-
press our convictions in and when by
an expression of honest conviction we
SO offend the public, as to lose their
patronage, we shall "bust up" and
vanish like an Arab. Our state at
present abounds in Or. r. wars and
rumors of wars. The one that most
especially interests us is that waged
between the B. & L. and p. & ..
"What on earth arethey warning
about" is the prevalent intersection
of the people. 1t would seem as
though their interests were so allied
that mutual advantage would be suf-
ficient incentive to work in unison.
But, argue some, the p. & o. designs
to become the trunk line between
Portland and Ogdensburg. and the
West by way Of the great lakes. Such
a project looks both visionary and UNI
necessary. Not the least among the
reasons that has occasioned the hard
times that are upon us is the fact that
llOTe TdllIOduS udNC DCCl DullI tIidu
the people needed or could pay for.
Ogdensburg is already connected with
Lake Champlain by good road that
is able to carry all the business be-
tween those points. Another one is
not needed. But conceding that it is
needed, what injury will it do that
project for the P. & o. to make con-
nections with Burlington and also with
the Central Vt? Why not take what
business they can get, and, if ever the
time comes when they can build their
road through to Ogdensburg honestly,
then do it. But we think there is an
other wheel within wheel that is
making much Of this trouble. The
Fairbankses now own six or seven hun
dred acres of land about the Maquam
docks. Col. Jewett is more or less
interested in and about Swanton.
Hence Swanton and Maquam must be
built up, though it be at the inconven-
fence of the people along the line. To
this we would offer no objection were
it not that we have at Burlington a
thriving city, with ample dockage a
fine breakwater, offering a most con-
yenient and appropriate terminal point
for the P. & o., unless, as we have
already said, it should at any time ex-
tend to Ogdensburg, in which case it
will be no detriment to be connected
with Burlington and the Central YER
mont. To give the devil his due, Col.
Jewett has accomplished a great work
in the completion Of our road through
to Swanton. He took the road when
it had no funds and with will and
perseverance that in themselves are
commendable in any man, he has COM
pleted the road without funds. To do
this many men along the line have
been made to suffer. Some have lost
their all, while many have lost from a
few dollars to a few hundreds. In
fact, many have had to go into the
ditch to fill it up for the road to cross
over, and the question now is whether
we will suffer the inconvenience of
poor connections both at Cambridge
Junction and Swanton for the sake OF
building Swanton and Maquam, and
thereby line the pockets of those in
side the ring. We may be wrong but
1t looks to us as though the building
up of Maquam and Swanton so far as
it is done by the p. & 0. r. r. will be
largely at the expense and inconven.
iepce of the people of Lamoille Val
ley, And in the name of humanity
ask whether they have not suffered
about all that could he reasonably ex.
pected of poor mortality, and yet hold
their peace.
Tor the Lamoille Neps.
Mr.. EDITOR;