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

is 10 any other individual town this side Of
Whitehall. These men know that the
stream cannot continue to flow on ailer the
fountain is dry, and to them IL is simple
fact that needs no demonstration that
Brattleboro could better afford to give this
proposed new railroad SlC0,000 aud never
get back a cent of direct interest on the in
vestment, than TO let tho enterprise fall
through from her indifference.
1t is beyond the limits of q single news
paper article to enter into a discussion,
even in brief, Of the advantages which
would arise from the construction OF this
railroad so far as local business Is concern
ed, or to touch upon the benefits which
would follow the establishment Of direct
communication with the great transporta-
ton lines of the north and west but there
Is one point which should be prominently
brought out, and that is the fact that this
large and naturally fertile tract Of country
now known as tho "back towns" Of Wind.
ham county, will not always or long be
permitted to lie undeveloped. IT The Brat
tleboro and Whitehall railroad is not built
some other line will DC, and that line will
not have BrattlebOro for one of its termini.
Capitalists have their eye on this region,
and sooner or later it will have the trans.
portalion facilities which il needs. Shall
we not be wise in time and secure for our
newed prosperity?
We have not aimed in this article 10 go
over any of the points which have been al
ready touched upon many times in our
columns. Nor have We space TO attempt 10
review and confirm the arguments in favor
of the narrow gauge system OF railroads.
On this latter point suffice il 10 say that
actual experience shows that narrow
gauge road can be built and equipped for
about one-half the cost OF the ordinary
gauge ever any given line, aud that the
cost OF operating and doing the same BUSH
ness is one-third less on the narrow gauge
than on the ordinary gauge, while in the es-
sentials OF speed, safety, capacity, ETC., the
narrow-gauge system is In all respects the
equal, and In some the superior OF the
wider gauge. The only new railroads
which have proved paying investments
during the past three years of business de-
preston have been The narrow gauge roads.
All facts and statistics point to this as the
railroad system of the future, and the evil
dence which leads to this conclusion forms
an interesting study for those who have
the disposition TO look it up. The .feasibil-
ity of this proposed line admits OF no ques-
ton, and the terms upon which a very
large proportion OF the money necessary
for its construction can be secured are
singularly advantageous. Every circum-
stance, indeed, seems TO favor the enter
prise, and the only thing wanting 10 make
success absolutely certain is an assurance
that Brattleboro will do her duty. The
question is not one of pecuniary invest
ment alone; it is one of self-protection
against decay and adverse influences. Our
citizens have made good beginning, but
the responsibility does not rest alone with
few men supposed to represent the lead
ing financial interests Of the town. Every
business man, and every man who has
property to be affected by the towns pros.
perity or decline is a'so vitality interested.
The better this project is understood the
more does 1t grow in favor, aud we have
faith to believe that, If, during the next
few weeks, the matter receives that degree
of thought and attention which its merits
deserve, it will not in the end be said of
Brattleboro that she allowed the most bril-
liant opportunity which this generation has
seen TO slip away unimprOved.