The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1877-07-11
THE p. a o.


downs, innumersble vicissitudes, and
the overcoming of obstacles, this great
trunk line stands to day virtually COM
pleted. Soon we shall be in direct
communication with all parts of the
world. No more shall we need to
,.swing round the circle of st. Johns
bury and White River Junction, con-
Stunning a whole days time in order to
reach our Queen City, but can go, tran
sact business, and return the same
day. No more need to freight our
corn and -four round by the Central
Vermont or Grand Trunk railroads,
for now the p. & o. has ceased to be
spur and become an institution.
As every inhabitant of our county
is more or less affected by the road
and interested in its welfare, we have
bought that short article in relation
to its past and future, would not fail
TO interest the bulk of our readers, and,
therefore, trust they will 60 back with
us to the time when first the project
was preached and briefly trace its strug-
giles and triumphs from then till now,
and then with clairvoyant vision, peer
into the future.
In 1867, Fairbanks & Co. of ST.
Johnsbury, feeling that their freight
was costing them altogether more than
it should, and feeling alaudable desire
to aid in the development of the east
ern and northern portions of the State,
entertained the thought that railroad
could be built through the White
Mountain Notch, and connect them
with the thriving seaport city of Fort
land, and open another through route
to Boston. No sooner did the thought
become fixed in their minds, than inn
mediate action followed, and Horace
Fairbanks, our present governor, re-
paired to Portland and laid his plans
before the prominent business men Of
that city. Ex-Governor Washburn of
Maine, Gen. Anderson, and many
others, whose names are known in
business and political circles through
out New England, Immediately espous-
ed the cause Of the road, and used all
honorable means for its advancement.
Leaving them to agitate the matter in
Maine, Mr.. Fairbanks returned to
Vermont and commenced active opera
tions here, toward the development of
his plan. Friends multiplied. Would
be wise heads sneered, and threw cold
water, as is always the case in such
enterprises, but the enterprising pro-
jcctors persevered, stuck to their text,
ana :" III" mi =, y 81, an extra SEES
sion Of Legislature was called and a
charter obtained for road from the
Connecticut River through st. Johns
bury to Montpelier.
In the original project "spunky"
Lamoille was to be left out in the cold,
but this wasn't to the liking of our
far-seeing business men, who saw in
such road when completed, nothing
but sure success, and while the matter
was being preached to the citizens
of the capital, energetic men in our
county began to agltate the question
of an independent line from st. Johns
bury to the lake, and at the regular
session of Legislature, the same fall,
charter was obtained for the J.. V.
r. R., extending from st. Johnsbury
to Swanton, ..
While our representatives were leg
islating, the preliminary survey was
being made by engineer Bailey and
assistants, and those who lived along
the proposed route were as elated and
excited as if the road were already
built and we'll equipped, Expectation
ran high, and to some the presence OF
surveyors was synonomous with the
presence Of the train itself. Public
meetings were held, books opened and
funds raised and, at last, q sufficient
sum was pledged to insure the COM
mencement Of active operations, and
in the winter of 1870 the first dirt was
thrown in this county, near high tres
tie in Egypt.
Every town that had given aid tC
the enterprise wanted to see dirt fly.
and, consequently, the company work
ed in cuts all along the line. "New
brooms sweep clean" and new things
are all COX" as long as they are new.
f(even railroads, and for time money
was plenty, every one good natured
and all aglow with railroad fever; but
soon the newness wore away, people
began to be called on for their subscrip.
tons, and as is usual in such cases.
AS the pooket-book thinned, so did the
enthusiasm. Everybody wanted q
railroad at once, and couldn't possibly
await tho nr,,nl oAu.... ac - -.