Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-02-15
4 Candid word with the Farmer.

One of the least accountable Of the decisions
which prevail in connection with our new rail
road project is the idea that the farmers alone
of all the people in Bra;tlsboro. would not be
benefited by the construction Of a railroad
through the West River valley, with Bruttle-
boro as is outlet and principal terminus. In
AL article filed with carefully facts and
figures, which We published il our issue Of
March 23d last, We showed how the furnish
ing Of railroad communication for Brattleboro
has been the means Of largely increasing our
property valuation while it has. in effect in
like proportion. decreased the rate of farm
taxation. Reference to that article viii show
that, from 1912 when the Vermont 4 Massa-
chusetts railroad was opened to Brattleboro.
to the present time. our grand list has nearly
doubled in its amount that almost the whole
of this increase in valuation has been upon
village property; and that, just in proportion
the tax-ist of the village has increased Just
so has the rate Of farm taxation decreased.
In other words. had Bruttle boro remained
without railroad communication. and Lad her
property valuation 10y any chance kept up to
the landing Of ls42, to pay our n. sent town
tax would cost farmers and all other taxpayers
$40 on a dollar Of their grand list, instead
Of tn go cents on a dollar which it does in re-
aiity cost them. And even here the argument
cannot justly stop, for the only legitimate in
ference in the case is that without railroad
facilities the town must have suffered de-
cline as have all other New England towns
which have been without railroad communica-
ton; and. taking the actual depreciation in
values which has occurred in our own back
county towns as a basis of reckoning. We shall
find that while our uecy AIRY town expenses
must have been nearly the same as now, the
tax to pay them would amount to POO cents on
a dollar of the grand list. That this is no ran
dom or hap-hazard statement any intelligent
voter or x-payer can readily satisfy himself if
he viii give the matter his candid attention.
The lesson which these figures teach is obvi.
Gus. An enterprise Of whatever sort which
| adds to the business prosperity Of the village
of Brattleboro, and enhances it, property val
uas, benefits the farmers by iucreasin. the
| bulk of property valuation, and by lessening
in the same proportion, the amount of taxa
| ton which each dollar of the grand list must
must the rate of taxation bear more heavily on
the farming interests of the town and not
even the most iuveterate opponent of the road
| from the farming community viii be found to
say that his farm is not worth many times in
value what il would be were not the village of
Battleboro standing here to furnish him with
a ready market for his products and with
church. educational and society privileges of
all kinds. As the village thrives and prospcrs
these privileges increase as the village stag
mates or falls away these privileges decline
We believe, then, that it is just rs much a
matter Of salf-protection for the farmers to
secure the construction of a railroad through
the West River valley, in order TO build up
the towns in the valley and save the business
interests of Bratteboro, as it is for any other
class TO do so. With the road built. and Brat.
tleboro made the permanent trade centre foI
the great basin above us, with its 10000 in
habitants the future business thrift and pros
perity Of the town is assured. and every farm
is saved from depreciating in value and is
made more readily salable With this enter
prise killed by our own selfshness or lack OF
public spirit, and the valley left to run tC
waste, or with road coming in from the
north 10 carry all its business away from us
the decline Of our town is equally well assured
and none will sooner have good cause TO real
ize the truth of this assertion than will tn,
farmers themselves For the town 10 Civ,
$50, 900, payable in ten annual instalments
in aid of an enterprise which will give new