Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-03-01

To the Editor ofthc Free Press and Times.
There is 4 tide in the affairs Of men
~ hirh In en- af the llnnl lands nn in fni

There is a tide in the affairs OF men
Which taken at the Hood leads on to fortune"
The casual reader may not have given
particular attention to the fact, that the
increase OF business over the Central has
made it necessary for the appointment OF a
man of experience who is to give his whole
attention to the through traffic from Boston
to the West; but, taken in connection with
the growing prominence OF this line IN
the commerce of our land. it becomes fact
of no small significance, especially when
We note the doings of the other lines that
are striving Tor monopoly of this traffic,
the contention among them having iDcreas-
ed during the last decade from lively
competitor to a deadly warfare Yet, not
W outstanding all the forces Of these oppos-
ing powers, the lions share of the through
freight is now carried oyer the Central
Vermont. en- route between the sea coast
and the West. Moreover. it transpres that
steamships running between Liverpool
and Boston are now using this limo to
transport their carg0es to and from the
Mississippi valley.
Ii should not be forgotten that the union
of the several railroads between Boston and
Chicago to form this through line, is due
to the foresight and indeiatigable labors
of Vermont men. and their success has eaus-
ed constant increase in the amount OF West
ern produce brought into Boston during the
past few years, while New York has suffer
decrease that has seriously alarmed her
business men. Baltimore and Philadelphia.
with their Western railroad lines. have
been equally stirred up by the success OF
their Northern competitor. And therefore
combined and cOniederated together. these
cities and their Western railroads have
sought. and are sill seeking to break down
the roads forming the Northern line. and
divert this stream of commerce, at any
amount of cost or expense.
Vermont seems to he the strategic poiLt
Of attack The Central Vermont il like the
keystone to the arch. and therefore it has
been selected as the point against which
all the cnginery of destruction has been lot
loose. Newspaper squbbs, suits at law,
bills in chanccry. with the scurrilous at
tacks upon our legislature and our courts,
that have appeared during tho past five
years may all be traced to the same com
mon source, and have been promulgated
for the same purpose.
In tho light OF these facts and by looking
upon the map. We can readily see that our
State is upon the threshold of great CON-
mercial prosperity II these enemies are
prevented from breaking her present rail-
road connections. and are not allowed to
pull down and destroy the work OF years.
Vermont. with controlling interest in
a great line of traffic that connects the
West with Europe, together with the COM
merce already carried on in the waters OF
lake Champlain. when the Caughnawaga
canal Is huil:-as built it will be sooner or
latcr-wth ships OF twenty -lOur hundred
tons coming to her shores, will not blush
to compare her commerce with any of her
sister States, while her agricultural inter
ests will be largely stimulated by u home
market, constantly Increasing ~ large
cities and tOwhS are built up by our trade
and manufactures.
This is no idle vision. The riches Of the
great West find tins the Hdtnrd! outlet, but
our enemies may divert the stream. The
slccess OF our enemies may delay these
brilliant prospects of Vermont. ger era
tion or two, il not to the end OF time. We
ought to begin to perceive the Importance
of the great issues ut stake, when We learn
that the State of New York proposes to
spend ono million dollars every year. by
giving the tolls of the Eric canal. Hence
We see that now is there presented a great
opportunity Tor Vermont Not perhaps to
expend money asa State. We are too cOnser-
vative for that, but the people can act, and
il they take advantage Oi this tide H0i9,
at the iOod. their fortunes will be sure.
ESQ.