Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-02-15

In some cases an attempt has been made to
found an argument against the proposed rail
road through the West River valley on the
ground that such a road would hurt Brattle-
boro trade and Brattleboro merchants. 10y Civ
ing the dealers in the back towns on the line
of the road chance TO get better asSortments
Of goods than they now keep. thus enabling
the people Of those towns to live more within
themselves. by any intelligent mind such an
assumption is at once seen TO he false, for the
reason that in any Of the smaller towns like
Jamaica Townshend. or Wardsboro, there is
no basis for a general trade which would war
rant dealer in keeping such an assortment Of
the finer goods, in any line Of trade, as is a
necessity Of a successful trade in a town like
Bratueboro. With railroad built through
the West River valley the dealers in the valley
towns would continue TO keep general as
sortment Of staple goods, and. in common
with all other business. their trade would be
benefited and quickoncd but the local patron-
age would not support a alyr who should
attempt to keep. his shelves filed with large
assortment Of seasouahly specialii,>. or eN.
pensiye goods Of any kind: and for this r,a-
son persons with any cons.d-rl amount Of
money to spend for the better class of goods
would then, as now. seek some central point
where they could find a satisfactory variety OF
wares to select from-aud that central point,
for the West River basin. would be Buttle-
boro.
For an entirely pertinent Illustration Of this
point We have only TO cross the Connecticut
.,,4. ayr1
what we lind in the Ashuelot valley on the
line of the Ashuelot railroad. running from
So. Vernon TO Keeue. On this road arr the
towns of Hil,dale and Winchester and the
village OF " st Swauley. Hnslaie and Vim
chester are as good specimens of bright and
thriving country towns a, can he found iu this
section. and Hmsiale in particular. LA, larg
manufacturing .at rests and many resources
within herself According then, TO tn tAe-
DRY which certain opponents Of the West River
road would have US accept. the AsAuelot rail
road should have proved a d-trmtut 10 he'ur
by taking from her the trade Of the A,luslot
valley towns and keeping it all within Them
selves. But the actual truth is that although
these towns all have good country stores and
the best of facilities for obtaining goods. there
are not, in the whole Of Ch,shira County.
three better feeders for it, trade Gentle the city
of Keeno. than are Hiusdalc. Winchester and
| West Swa42cy. Tho A,Lualot railroad las
| been the means Of building up and helping on
| those towns. and, so fas, 81, tA,y nave grown
/ and prospered. so fast and so much has kecne
| been benefited by their increased trade and
| so well satisfied is Kecnc with thu benefit
which have accrued to her from her railroad
| facilities that within few year, ,h. has yot i
the sum Of Sl3o.OOo in aid Of Is new road
which is to open Up stil another section Of
Cheshire County. and give communication
with Manchester and Concord
To take tha illustration hom th,r. !. 10
reason why Brattleboro and the West River
valley towns should not be benefited 10y the
construction Of a railroal through the valley
to Londonderry. just as Keene and her neigh
boring Ashnelot valley towns have been bcue-
fted by the operation Of the Ashuclot road.
With these West River towns converted into
busy. thriving and growing communities, such
as are now our envy on every line Of railroad in
New England. every dollar Of their surplus
trade would come to Brattlsboro. just as uatur-
ally as the trade Of the Ashuelot valley goes Il
| Kesne, or as the waters Of The West River flow
down into til Connecticut and in this way
We Of Brattlcboso. most Of all. should be
helped and prospcred by the road Is not thi,
the only sensible and reasonable vi.w which
an intelligent man can take OF the subject: