Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-03-23

towns TO have competing lines OF railroad
as ii was twenty years ago for a town 10
have any railroad communication whatev-
err. We believe we are safe in saying that
not one prominent aud prosperous COM
mercial or manufacturing town can be
pointed out in the country To-day which is
not touched ny two or more distinct and
competing lines of railroad-and for the
reason that with competition comes cheap
err freghts, not only on the natural prod
ucts aud manufactured goods sent out, but
on fue', raw material, and all articles
brought into the town. In our own coun-
ty we see the thriving village of Bellows
Falls drawing heavily, and more and more
so each year, on the trade and farm prod
ucts of towns which, in the natural course
of things, should come to us, and for the
sole reason that that village has the advant-
age of US in competing lines of railroad to
the East and South. As showing how the
importance of securing competing freight
lines is realized by large manufacturers
and all enterprising citizens, we have only
to point to the young city of Keene in our
neighboring New Hampshire county,
"h'Nh ho9 NptNu ~ dNulll VI NloO,oOU, III
addition to individual subscriptions, sim
ply TO secure competing line of railroad
East and West. 1t is still further a signif-
cant fact that the head of our own great local
manufacturing concern allirms that If he
were not already located in Brattleboro be
would go where he could have the benefit
of railroad competition, and the resulting
cheaper freights, which, at least, would not
compel him 10 draw his goods ten miles
out of town 10 reach a point where he could
secure reasonable carrying rates, as he has,
in fact, done for considerable part of the
past winter.
AT this point we might we'll stop, but we
cannot close without adding that the adj
vantage conferred by competing line Of
railroad is by no means the only benefit
which Brattleboro would derive from the
construction of the Brattleboro and White
ball line. The mere fact that an independ-
ent road had been built, having for its
western terminus the most important dis.
tributing point for grain coal and lum Der
the East, and which would be subject to no
dictation or control from any other line,
and would have unbroken connection
through to the Pacific coast, would of itself
give Brattleboro an impetus not to be COM
puted. But, after all, tho main argument
for the Brattleboro and Whitehall railroad
lies in the fact that its construction is abso-
lutely necessary to preserve our tributary
country and outlying towns in the West
river valley from the decline on which
they bave entered. If those towns thrive,
Brattleboro thrives with them; If they go
to decay, Brattleboro's business also goes
down; and, If our business declines, in
corresponding proportion must our farms
depreciate in value and their products be-
come less salable. A railroad this back
country must have and is bound to have.
If, through Brattleboro's failure to realize
her one grand opportunity, these towns of
the West river valley do not secure this
proposed line, at no distant day they will
have road which will send all their bust
ness TO the North or South, and away from
Brattleboro.
The total assessed value Of all the farm
lands OF Brattleboro is only $685., $50, and
the farms would therefore be taxed for less
than $500 out Of the $4,000 which is asked
in aid of this enterprise, or only $500 per
year, should the whole sum be paid in five
years-a tax which no reasonable man can
for moment consider burdensome. Let
each farmer carefully examine his grand
list; and compute the amount of an assess
ment of $3.50 per year on each $1,000 Of his
property valuation, and then candidly de-
eide how he can afford TO vote on this ques.
ton. IT he votes to assist the Brattleboro
and Whitehall railroad, he votes to reduce
his taxes and keep up, or increa &c, the VAL
ne of his farm and its products. If he
votes against it, he votes TO increase his
taxes, keep the town at a standstill, and 20
eventually start it on downward course
which will end disastrously 10 merchants,
manufacturers, aud farmers alike.