davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-04-13
The Vermont valley Railroad.

AS various erroneous statements have
been published relative TO the manner in
which the control of the Vermont Valley
railroad has reverted TO its stockholders,
under the corporation Of 1871, and as there
seems TO be a general misunderstanding of
the whole matter, we are glad to be able TO
present the following statement, which we
believe TO embody the main facts in the
case -
June l, 1865, the Vermont Valley rail-
road, then in possession of the trustees OF
the first mortgage bonds, Alexander Hamil-
ton, Gouverneur Morris, and Hugh Henry,
was by them leased to Messrs. Burchard
and Page for ten years, at rental of S60,-
900 per annum. In 1870 this lease was as
signed by them TO the Rutland railroad
and the same year transferred by tie Rut-
land road TO the trustees and managers of
the Vermont Central. AT the time of this
transfer the Rutland road entered into an
agreement to lease the Vermont Valley
road 10 the Central for twenty years from
1871. Amer this agreement between the
Rutland and Central roads had been made
and entered into, the directors of the new
ly organized corporation, called the Yer
mont Valley Railroad Company OF ISL,
which had been created from the old Val
ley Company by foreclosins the second
mortgage, met and passed vote authoriz-
ing the president and treasurer to execute
lease in accordance with that agreement
This lease the president, Gouverneur Nor
ris, declined TO execute until the stock
holders should authorize him to do so,
which vote the stockholders refused to
pass but in November 1872, J. i. Page,
who was vice president Of the Valley road
and president of the Rutland road, and J.
NJ. Williams, who was treasurer Of the
Valley road aud director in the Rutland
road, met and executed paper purporting
TO be such lease, although at a meeting OF
the Valley stock holders in September, 1872
the stockholders distinctly forbid such a
lease being executed until it should first be
submitted TO them for approval. This pre-
tended agreement or lease is all the claim
that the Rutland road has had upon which
to base its hold on the Vermont Valley
road, through their agents, the Central Yer
mont, since June 1st, 1875; and now Judge
Johnson, of the United States circuit court,
decides that they have not had any such
right since that day, and has ordered the
road surrendered to lis legally elected Of
ficers, which order and decree, so far as the
Valley railroad and its appurtenances are
concerned, has been complied with by The
Central Vermont, and the road is now be-
ing operated and managed by its own board
OF directors, who took possession Friday
morning April G.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-04-13

by an equal tax, which can in no case be
burdensome, than that this great opportun-
ity should be allowed to slip away from us
unmproved. The more this enterprise
has been talked about, and thought about,
and understood, the more have the people
come to feel that the ordinary arguments
against town aid to railroads do not apply
in this case. The benefits which this new
road will confer are not visionary aud in the
far future they are tangible and near at
hand, and all classes will share in them
alike. Whereas other towns in this State
have, in the past, been asked for large aud
extravagaut sums of money in aid Of rail-
roads built on disastrously expensive
plan, and which could give but poor rea-
son why they should ask for an existence,
we are only called upon TO give sum in
significant in comparison, and which is TO
ensure the building Of road on plan
cheaper by two-thirds than has ever before
been attempted in this section, and whose
construction is absolutely demanded by
every consideration of local interest. From
the day on which ground is broken on this
road will date the beginning Of those better
times for which we have all anxiously
hoped and waited, and ever niler the line
is completed will this town reap the bene-
fit OF the renewed life and activity, and
permanent prosperity, which it will awaken
and establish in the interior towns of
Windham county.
As we have already said, no attempt is
made to oppose this project or to raise any
objections to it on the ground OF its imprac-
licability or unwisdom, and the fact is as
obvious and as generally admitted as an
axiom, thai if the road is built it will bind
Windham county firmly together and ST.
lence all talk and effort relative TO its d.
vision it will convert the towns of the
West river valley into busy, thriving and
growing communities, such as are now our
envy and admiration on lines of railroad
in neighboring States it will give Brattle-
boro the competing line of road which is
essential to her growth aud prosperity as q
manufacturing and business centre, and il
will give us direct and the shortest possible
communication with the grain fields of the
West, the lumber forests OF Canada and the
coal mines of the middle States. These GER
tainly are advantages in which rich ahd
poor will share without difference or dis.
tinction, and to secure which every dollar
| OF property in Brattleboro can well afford
to pay its small 1.-THE of taxation. We be
lieve that the voters of the town will CONT
to the meeting on Saturday afternoon re
membering these things; and, duly i'm
pressed with their importance, will vote
wisely and generously, to aid The road.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-04-13

The case of Jesse Ii. Lewis, who was
tried and convicted of the murder OF Dem
ing at the recent term of our county court,
| is exciting considerable interest. There
| are rumors in regard 10 newly discovered
evidence, upon which an application for a
| new trial is to be made by his counsel. We
do not undertake 10 stale anything definite
or certain in regard to Mr.. Lewis, but sim
ply give some prevailing runners, and let
| our readers take them for Whatever value
they may have. 1t is reported that the two
witnesses who testified in regard TO the
morphine upon the trial are wholly unreli-
able, and that one, charged with being an
accomplish, has confessed TO some of his
fellow prisoners that his testimony upon
this point was false, while the other, as has
been ascertained, is person of bad charac-
| ter, having been an inmate OF a prison for
one offence aud imprisoned in jail upon
more than one occasion. 1t is true that
Lewis has not a good reputation, and his
appearance does not speak in his favor !;
| still it is probable that a majority of those
who listened to the evidence upon the trial
did not believe that Deming was poisoned.
1t was unquestiouably case where grave
doubts would arise upon the evidence and
yet the jury, under the circumstances, were
warranted in returning verdict OF guilty.
Mr.. Lewis claims that when a person is
charged with crime in Vermont, all pre-
sumption OF innocence with which the law
shields person thus accused is practically
of no value. There is doubtless something
in this statement, from the fact that the
public, naturally incensed by the commits
sion OF crime, do not distinguish the Of
fence from the person charged Herewith.
When an individual is charged with the
offence for which Lewis was convicted, or
any other grave offence, people should be
extremely cautious about manufacturing
public sentiment, in order that undue pref
udice may not exist against the accused.
Sentence has not been passed upon Lew
is and we trust that he will obtain a new
trial, IL the rumOrs now in circulation
prove true.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-04-13
West nrattIeboro.

Rev. c. A. Votey has resigned the pas
torate Of the Baptist society in this village,
on account of continued ill-health.
Charles Miller, former proprietor Of
the Glen House, has leased the old Yer
mont House OF Mr.. Mixer, who has owned
and occupied it for several years.
John Weatherhead is about TO build a
two story dwelling house on Tuber ave-
nue.; and Hiram Weatherhead proposes TO
build, the coming fall on his lot near DIR.
Stedman's.
Rev. Joseph Chandler and family left
on Thursday Of last week for Minnesota.
The best wishes of their former parshion-
ers and neighbors go with item to their
new home.
Roswell Goodenough has opened meal
and feed store in The hotel building.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-04-13
Meeting OfIhe VVindham County
school huperinIendenIs.

The annual meeting Of the Superiutend-
ents of Windham County was held at Fay
etteville, April 81. Rev. Charles Burnham
was chosen chairman, and Prof. c. C..
Boynton of Townshend, secretary. The
following committees were appointed:
a. c. Field, Wilmington, and d. l.. Mans
field, Dummerston, Grammar; Charles
Buruham, Newfane, and John c. Robin
son, Jamaica, Geography; j. Il. Morse,
Westminster, and C. p. Slickney, Brook
line, History; Geo. Il. Boyd, Dover, and
Geo. S. Foster, Putney, Orthography; Miss
NJ. b. Dennison, Vernon, Samuel Phelps,
Grafton, and c. c. Boynton, Townshend,
Arithmetic and Civil Government.
At the afternoon session, the reports of
committees were accepted, alier amend.
ments were made. Ii was voted to require
answers to 10 questions each in Arithmetic,
Grammar, and Geography in Spring and
Fall 5 questions each in History and Or
biography in The Spring; and 10 questions
in History and Civil Government in the
Fall TO grant no certificate 10 applicants
who answer less than 90 per cent, on the
average, or less than 30 per cent, on any
one subject TO hold the Spring examina-
ton on the first Saturday in May (5th), and
the Fall examination on the first Saturday
in December. The following gentlemen
were elected members of the County Ex-
aiming Board, in accordance with the re-
quirements of an act Of The last Legislature;
Prof. C. c. Boynton, Townshend Prof
L. f. Ward, Westminster Prof. Il. f.
Bingham, Bratteboro.
Amer the conclusion of business, remarks
were made by various Superinlendenls on
the difficulty in exacIing proper qualifca-
tons in teachers, while districts employ
teachers at So low wages; on the town sys-
TEN OF schools as a remedy for many exist
ing evils; on the importance Of encourage
ing instruction in the metric system of
weights and measures; Oh the value of
books and periodicals on the subject of
teaching, especially recommending to
teachers CIRCUITS Teachers Manual"
"How TO Teach" by Kiddle, aud the "New
England Journal of Education" published
at Boston and on the objections to requir-
ing teachers to answer questions in History.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-04-13

Ing 4Oxs6 feet, just south Of their Office. Az
ter its completion, II will Furnish employ
ment for forty additional workmen. This
certainly does not indicate "hard times"
MIR. James Archibald aud wife cele-
brated the twenty-fiflh anniversary OF their
marriage on Friday evening, April Glib, at
their residence in this village, with friends
to the number of seventy-five present.
Many articles OF value we're presented, en-
brscing silver knives, spoons, card receive
err, pickle jars, extension table, &c. The
wedding cake, prepared by Mrs. Geo.
Robertson, was much admired. Mr.. and
Mrs. Archibald we're married in Scotland,
and the production of the original matri-
monial certificate, written in the Scotch
language, was a curiosity worthy OF note.
Refreshments were carried in aud served
by the ladies. Remarks were made by
Revs. c. c. Watson aud John Hilton.
Prayer was offered by Mi. Watson, and
music was not wanting. This celebration
proved in every way agreeable and Sails
factory. u.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-04-13

THE SITUATION IS LOUISIANA
New Orleans special of the Tribune sums
up the situation OF the coulending parties
as follows:
1.-The rival Legislatures are both la ses-
sion passing laws. Packard holds posses
sion Of the State House with 500 Metropoli-
tan police armed with muskets. The Uni.
ted States troops are quarlered in the adj
joining building. Packard's authority is
limited to the jurisdiction of the State
Within this territory his guards are not
molested by Nichullss forces. All the rest
of the city is under the municipal authority
which has recognized Nichols. In the
State, out Of is district judges 10 have rec
ognized Nichols. Th2 other five are on
the fence. All the county officers of 40 par
ishes, Republican and Democratic, have
recognized Nichols also. In five, half rec q.
ognize Nichols and the other half Pack
ard. In the nine remaining parishes the
officers elected in November have not
qualified. Two hundred and forty colored
men elected TO various Offices throughout
the State last fall are said by Nichols to
have qualified by ding oaths with his Sec
rotary Of State. Among Nicbolls's ap-
pointees, p are colored men. On the new
parish Boards Of Education one-thrd Of the
members arc colored. Nichols appears in
fact to be DESTROYS to break down the color
line"
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-04-13

IN accordance with President Hayes's
order, issued last week, the United States
troops were withdrawn from the South
Carolina State House al Columbia, at noon
on Tuesday. But few spectators witnessed
the evacuation and perfect quiet and order
prevailed. With the removal of the troops
Gev. Chamberlain withdrew from the con-
test:for the governorship, and signitied his
readiness to turn the papers and records of
the executive office over to Wade Hamp-
ton, leaving the latter and his followers in
undisputed possession OF the State govern
ment. 1t is unquestionably the case that
the whole country experiences a feeling of
relief at seeing this important step toward
the settlement OF the Southern difficulties
successfully and peaceably accomplished.
Gov. Chamberlain accompanied his retire
ment with an address 10 the Republicans of
South Carolina, in which he naturally
shows some feeling al The course which be
rinds himself compelled TO take by The ac-
ton of the President, aud expresses a
doubt as TO the wisdom of the Southern
policy, which is now being carried out. In
his closing paragraph, however, he asserts
his belief in the high and patriotic motives
from which the President acts, and vindi-
cafes his own unseltishness and patriotism
by expressing an earnest desire that events
may prove the wisdom of the action which
he regards as his own defeat. Gov. Cham
berlain has so conducted himself as 10 chal-
lenge the sympathy and admiration of all
fair-minded men throughout the country.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-04-13
NEWS ITEMS.
factory.

Boston has begun to can and ship
baked beans.
The dispute between the Ogdensburg
and Lake Champlain Company and the
Central Vermont railway has been adjust
ed, the former corporation obtaining full
possession of lis road.
California is having a very early spring,
and the Yosemite roads are open earlier
than usual this season, on account Of the
slight fall of snow the past season in the
mountains.
Competition is making telegraphing
cheap in this country. You can now
send ten words to any place this side of the
Missouri river, where both The Atlantic &
Pacific and Western Union companies have
offices, for % cents.
The cattle plague has broken out at
Willesden in Middlesex. England, on a
large dairy farm, and its entire herd of $50
cows will probably he slaughtered. With
in three miles are two to three thousand
cows, nearly all of whose milk goes TO Lon
don.
There an now over 5000 oranges of the
Patrons Of Husbandry in the country less
than year ago, while the membership has
fallen of over 10000. The decrease in
Illinois has been nearly 10000. The order
began TO fail when The headquarters were
removed from Washington to Louisville.
"A bill has passed tho New York AS
sembly which provides for reduction OF
% per cent. on all salaries of city officials
at The rate of $4,000 or more; 20 per cent.
on all salaries at the rate OF $1,000 or more
10 per cent. on all salaries at the rate OF
$1,000 or more; ten per cent at the rate of
$500 or more. The act is TO take effect on
May l, next.
philadelphia is getting ready for the
opening of her permanent International ex
bibition May 10, the anniversary of the
Centennial opening, when the President
and other distinguished guests are 10 be
present. The permanent SHOW promises
TO surpass expectation in its comprehen-
demonstrating industrial and Ggricul
tural exhibits by nearly all the countries
originally represented.
-Four European exploring expeditions
will sail this Summer for the Polar sea, re-
spectively from Russia, England, Germany
and Holland, and each going by different
route. The Russians will sail from the
mouth of the river Obi in Siberia. The
English will go up the east coast of Green
land, seeking the pole. The Dutch will try
10 find If there be not a navigable northeast
passage around Norway, Spiizbergen, and
through Behring's straits to the Pacific.
The Swedes have also plan for an expedi-
ton in 1873, and Capt. Howgate's plan for
an American expedition will probably be
carried out this year or next.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-04-13

A GREAT ST. LOUIS HOTEL BURNED,
AND FORTY OR MORE LIVES LosT.-The
Southern hotel of 81. Louis was found to
be on fire at / 25 o'clock, Wednesday morn
ing, and before the sleeping inmates could
be aroused the flames had found their way
through the stairways and elevators and so
obstrncted The ways OF exit that probably
40 or more persons lost their lives, though
it is as yet impossible TO determine the ex-
act number. The whole house was destroy
ed, and IL bodies have been taken from the
ruins. The chief destruction Of life was
among the occupants OF the upper stories.
or these. 50 We're female servants. The
Southern hotel has long been one of the
leading houses Of the Southwest. 1t was
sx-story sandstone building, about 200 feet
square, and occupied the whole block, 'front.'
ing On Walnut street between Al and 9th
streets. 1t was built in 1859 or 1860.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-04-13
Railroad Notcs.

We hope that no voter will come TO the
meeting Saturday afternoon deluding him
self into the belief that, even ir Brattleboro
refuses TO aid, the road may, after all, DO
built. 1t is an absolute and undisputed
fact that, il this town fails 10 give the $780,
600 for which she is asked, the enterprise
falls to the ground, and our one great OPP
portunity is lost past all hope Of recovery.
Each voter virtually holds the decision Of
this question in his owa hand, and he
should let no consideration of seliishness
or of false economy deter him from vot-
ing in its favor.
II there is one argument in favor OF the
Braltleboro and Whitehall railroad which
has seemed TO us stronger than another it is
that, If the road is built, Windham county
is bound together for all time 10 come, the
resources of her interior towns are de-
veloped, and their surplus trade is perma-
nently secured to Bratleboro. On the 9TH
er hand, if this enterprise fails through our
Indifference, other projects are on foot wait
ing for a favorable opportunity TO push
through the heart Of our county and carry
of its trade to the north or south. If the
Brattleboro and Whitehall railroad is not
built, some one of these projects will sue
coed and iD6ct irreparable loss and injury
on this town. We believe that this consid-
Grafton alone is sufficient to determine the
vote of every intelligent and far-seeing cit
izeu in favor OF the road
In our issue Of March 10, we published a
carefully prepared statement showing ex-
actly what the rate and amount Of taxation
would be, interest included, if the town
were TO vote $50, 900 in aid Of the Bratllebo-
70 and Whitehall railroad, payable in five
annual insalments. That our readers may
have the figures fresh in their minds, we
may here say, that our summary as then
given, and whose correctness cannot be
disputed, showed that, taking our present
grand list as a basis, the tax for the whole
time would amount to 1885, on the dollar.
The polls would pay, in all, Sj.l3 each, and
the owner Of property valued at $1,000
would pay $3.50. Distributing these totals
through five years, the average annual pay
ment on the poll tax would be sl.O2l, and
on each $1,000 of property valuation 1918.
With these figures as basis each property
holder may take his grand list and readily
estimate the exact sum which his contribu-
ton 10 the Braltleboro and Whitehall rail-
road would amount to, and a very little
additional figuring will show what both the
total and the yearly amounts would be i
the payments were distributed over peri
cd of ten years instead of five.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-04-13
Saturday. Railroad Meeting.

During the past ten days an earnest and
well-direcied effort has been made by
members of the supplementary committee
appointed at the railroad meeting on the
Slst ult., to raise by subscription the sum
required of Brattleboro to ensure the con-
structiOn of the BrattleborO and whitehall
railroad. The progress made, however,
although encouraging ia some respects, has
on the whole been unsatisfactory, and it
has become more than ever apparent that
the requisite sum of $50, 900 cannot be raised
by voluntary subscription. The question
to come before the meeting next Saturday
afternoon will, therefore, simply be as to
whether we shall aid this enterprise, as a
town, TO the amount asked for. After the
full and general discussion which the prof.
ect received at tue meeting two weeks
since, to say nothing of the other means of
enlightenment which the people have en-
ioyed, there can be no doubt that every
voter now has his mind fully made up as to
the merits OF the enterprise, and we only
express our honest conviction on the sub
ject when We say that we believe that the
current of public sympathy sets strongly
and Enthusiastically in favor of the road As
we remarked last week, the result of the
recent Railroad meeting was to show, be-
yond any question, that no opposition to
this project exists on the part of any Of our
people. The only question has been as to
how the requisite sum Of 1000 should be
raised. The natural and proper feeling of
very many of our citizens was that the
money should, If possible, be secured by
subscription, but it having been well estab-
lIshed that this cannot be done, we believe
that large majority OF them will thOns-
and times prefer that IL should be raised
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-04-13

Jordan, an freshman about forly-five years
of age, died at the county farm in West
moreland, last Sunday, of hydrophoba.
He was bitten by a strange dog nearly five
months ago, and in consequence has been
unable TO work since that time. Recently
he was sent 10 the county farm, and on
Friday he was taken seriously i'll, his
symptoms indicating hydrophobla, which
disease rapidly developed itself, terminal
ing fatally on Sunday as above stated. His
sufferIngs during Saturday and Sunday
were intense, and he repeatedly begged OF
his attendants TO shoot him. The dog that
bit him had previously bitten a boy named
Crowley, belonging in this city.-Keene IN
II ,S,enfineL