Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-08-05
rs TT SAFEP

1t may be set down as a well-as,ured fact
that the time will come when those people
who now allow themselves, through their own
prejudice, OF the malicious Misrepresentation
of others, to avoid patronizing the Brattle-
boro * Whitehall railroad and to depreciate
its safety and convenience, will see new
light and look back on such a course with
proper sense of regret. We are led 10
make this remark from the fact that many
Of our Universalist friends are said 10 have
staid at home from last weeks picnic excur-
sion to South Londonderry through profess
ed fear that the narrow-gauge road is not
safe. Let us look at the facts. This road
was opened for business last November, with
the final construotion-work but hastily and
imperfectly finished. During the month of
December it carried over 300 passengers in
succeeding months the passenger business
largely increased; in the month of March,
1882 passengers were carried and the average
per month during this year, so far, has been
about 1900 In all this time not wheel of a
regular passenger coach has been of the iron
and not passenger on a regular passenger
train has been injured by so much as a hair.
Only twice has a train missed arriving in
Brattleboro on its regular time. Did our
readers ever know a new road to make a bet
ter record than this II is true, that through
some cause or other-a cause probably due 10
wrong construction of the trucks-there has
been more or less trouble with the freight
cars, and once, when the ground was soft in
the spring, the combination-car on the mixed
| train left the track and settled down the side
| OF low embankment; but no serious or per
manent harm resulted. 1t was impossible to
properly ballast the track last fall but this
spring the work of ballasting has been rapid
ly going on. Improvements in curvatures
are being made, and the road is being steadily
brought up to first-class condition. The pas.
senger cars have every modern safety appli-
ance, including the Miller platform and auto
matte brakes, and it is universally conceded
| by its patrons that it is the smOothest and
easiest-riding road in this section. These are
facts, and they cannot be successfully disput-
| ed. The road was never intended for a trunk
line, and TO run in a straight line regardless
OF expense. 1t was built for local traffic and
local convenience, aud its projectors we're
obliged to cut their coat according to their
cloth. Thus far the road has admirably met
the purpose for which it was built, and it has
promising future before it,
The people of Brattoboro will do well to
look at these facts precisely as they are The
narrow-gauge road brings large amount of
valuable business to Brattleboro, and in a
marked degree it is doing its expected work
OF building up the business of the West Riv-
er towns above us. Under such oircumstan-
ces one would think it to be matter of ordi-
nary prudence and self-interest for the people
OF Brattleboro to not only drop all silly clam
or about the road not being safe, but to take
hold and help to make it the success and the
valuable adjunct to our business which it may
readily be made to be. When person trav-
els by rail to Bellows Falls or Springfield, in
certain sense he takes his life in his hand,
and so he does when he goes by rail to South
Londonderry; but the danger is not greater
In one case than the other. Our advice to
our Brattleboro readers is to take the first OBJ
portunity TO see for themselves what the road
is, and what the region is through which it
passes. To three-fourths of our people the
country above Townshend or Jamaica is liter
ally strange country. They know nothing
of 1t except by report. If they will visit il
for themselves, they will find It region of
diversified scenery, rich in natural attractions,
and giving promise of renewed life and a
prosperous development through the means
of communication with the outside world af-
torded them by the Brattlsboro 4 Whitehall