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

oil new 1Ofks JOhn ~ Bulef OF Januca
was elected clerk. Chas. n. Davenport,
c. i. Thompson, J. l.. Martin, Il. J. Haw-
ley and II. Il. O'Brien were appointed a
committee 10 prepare bylaws for the cor
poration, afler which the meeting adjourn
ed 10 half-past seven in the evening.
At the evening meeting the ball was well
filed and spirit Of earnest and intelligent
enthusiasm was apparent. The time was
chiefly occupied with brief addresses from
various gentleman urging the tenefiis
which will follow the construction Of the
proposed road. Messrs. Cook and Bur
leigh OF Whitehall, both of them acknowl.
edged representatives OF tho wealth, BUSH
ness interests aud social standing of that
1ourishiDg town, made short speeches,
giving facts and figures to show the unri-
vailed position which Whitehall occupies
as distributing point, and detailing the
advantages 10 be derived from building
this road and thus securing the shortest
possible connection with the Connecticut
valley. They also expressed their salisfac-
ton at seeing Bratteboro so Wide.awake
in the matter and said they should carry
home the most favorable reports Of the
prospects of the enterprise. Hon. l.. l..
Waterman of Jamaica referred TO the
promptness aud heartiness with which his
town has done her duty in the matter by
cheerfully voting aid TO the road in sum
which now amounts to eleven times her
grand list, although ii was only eight times
her grand list when the original sum was
voted in 1868 for the West River road. lie
said he believed The West River valley
was designed by nature for the construc-
ton Of railroad and mentioned the opin-
ion expressed by a competent authority
that from here TO Londonderry, distance
Of 80 miles, is the best and most practicable
place for the building OF a railroad of any
in Vermont that has not a road already.
Mr. Edward Crosby in a few stirring
words graphically pictured the condition
Of this section before a railroad was built
through ii and spoke of the efforts by which
the money 10 bring the Vermont and Mas
sachuselts road to This place was secured.
He believed that in ten years from now
Brattleboro would he the richer even If
she should put in 100000 10 ensure the
success OF this enterprise and should never
get back cent Of direct return on The in
vestment. Chas. y. Davenport, being call
ed on, said that lie had made his best
speech by subscribing $1,000 toward the
road, and Mr.. Waite, the chairman, said,
in response, that he hoped cur citizens
would remember that speech when the
subscription book came around 10 them.
Chss. +. Thompson made some excellent
points by referring 10 the reputation which
Braitleboro enjoyed rs business point be-
fore the days OF railroad communication,
and said that then, when our business men
went to market to buy goods they were al.
ways asked how it was that so small Il town
commanded so large a trade. The reply
was that it was because we had splendid
back country. That back country is now
on the decline, and as that suffers Bratile-
boro suffers. These towns need a railroad
10 give them new life and energy and to at
tract people back to the deserted farms.
4. p. Childs of Bennington made a lively
address assuring our people that the Ben
niDgton county men who have taken hold
OF The enterprise are representative and
thoroughly reliable citizens, and closed by
exI ressing the hope that the road might he
built before the 10Th of next August so that
everybody could go by the new line 10 the
Bennington centennial. J. l.. Marlin, Esq,
Of Londonderry made one of the most stir
ring and effective speeches OF the evening,
and was followed by Judge Stoddard of
TownsheBd who commanded the attention
of the audience by the force and directuess
Of his remarks. Judge Stoddard has evil
IL Il, r,,t e
guage system in general, and Of this line in
particular, anu thoroughly believes in both.
lie referred 10 the manner in which this
project has grown on the Townsheud peo-
pie and 10 the strong majority by which
the town voted to transfer her subscription
from the West River road TO the Braite-
boro and Whitehall. The speaking closed
with timely and pertinent rem lrks by Hon.
b. d. Harris.
During the evening the committee on by
laws presented their report, which wa,
adopted, and MIR. Waite then read the GER
titicate OF the commissioners attesling the
election OF directors, according TO law, and
thus fully completing the organization Of
the road.
THE RAILROAD MEETING WEDNESDAY EVE.
Another meeting in the interest of the
BrattlebOro and Whitehall Railroad was
held at the town hall on Wednesday even
ing of this week. The meeting was called
by the BIaltleboro committee for raising
funds, and was purely OF local character,
for conference and discussion. The num-
Der present testified 10 the interest which
has begun 10 be felt by the community in
this enterprise. Col. 5. NJ. Waite, by re-
quest, acted as chairman of the meeting.
and made ten-minute speech bristling
with facts and figures bearing upon the
feasibility of the proposed road. Short
speeches in favor of the road were also
made by Messrs. j. ID. Harris, Farley
Starr, Chas. X. Field, w. II. Alexauder,
c. F. Thompson, J. NJ. Tyler, l.. X. Fuller
and Edward Crosby. The main points
brought out by the several speakers were :
l, The Importance of the proposed line OF
railroad TO the towns in West River valley.
?, TIE reciprocal interest of Bratlleboro in
the prosperity of those towns. 8, Tue di-
rect benefit which Brattleboro would derive |
from the road when built, in lessenng
the cost of freight on her lumber, coal, etc.,
aud also while in process Of construction,
being necessarily one of the bases of sup
ply. 4, The Importance of the road as |
through route. 5, The influence which the |
road would have in binding the county to- |
gether, by rendering the county seat more
accessible and preventing the northern |
towns from seeding" TO form a new |
county, as some already advocate. 6, The |
fact that If RrattIahoro ,nI.a.iIs cEo ooo |