Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-05-19
The nrattleDoro & Wilmington Rail-


The nrnttIeBOrO & Wilmington Rail-
road.
Tho subject Of a railroad from Brattleboro TO Will
mington having received more general attention Of
late than formerly, IL Of more than ordinary
importance that the people Of windham county es-
peciay those In the neighborhood OF the projected
line should fully understand the real object OF the
undertaking. az Il is no easy work to build 20 miles Of
railroad among the hills of southern Vermont. To
accomplish this great work It will need the united eff
fort and hearty cooperation Of oil the towns border
ing on the line. But without doubt there are those
who do not see the necessity of the outlay effort to
accomplish the work, neither do they sec the great
advantages to be derived from 81 hence the subject
should be closely Investigated, openly and fairly.
The great question is, "Are the advantages to be
gained sufficient to warrant the outlay7n Tho ques
ton has often been answered. yet work Of this kind
should not start without due deiberation. spas
modic effort would not complete the road and be-
sides t is very desirable that perfect harmony should
exist great local enterprise Of this kind cannot be
carried forward successfully II the majority are
continually meeting with opposition from their
friends. The work can be made comparatively easy
II every can take hold in earnest. do not un-
dersaud that there is the least reason to believe that
the project was started for any other object than to
benefit the whole community equally. Il is not In the
interest Of any political party neither is II to build
up monopoes strengthen rings. All the movers
whole community. The people can all feel that they
have the work in their hands, and that they are
entitled TO know where their FIRST dollar goes and
whether their money is ju1iciously expended. The
reasons so often given Tor so great and important an
undertakingseem to be based upon facts which can
not be disputed.
The great advantages Of a railroad to the towns
which have never enjoyed such advantages have
been fully demonstrated Theadvance in real estate,
especially in timber lands has more than doubled, be-
sides the luxury and comfort OF an easy way out to
strike the main lines railroad to all the great
kes. II gives the back towns nearly equal facilities
with the towns near the great trunk lines. II 1t is
said that those a few miles from the road would not
be benefited, 1t must be borne in mind that one
neighborhood cannot thrive without benehtng the
one next to II. If one town runs down, the neigh
boring towns feel the effects Of 1t. II Windhan
county is left without railroad advantages retrogres
sion must follow No new settlers will come into
depopulated town. Towns without or remote from
railroad do not invite the enterprisng capitalist 1t
is very plain to that every mill owner every far
mer, and in fact, the day aborer would all be bene-
fitted many times the cost Of the road besides having
the great satisfaction Of seeing thrift and prosperity
again restored and above ali, inducing our young
men to remain to bless the dear old homes Of their
birth. 1t Is said that the New England soil Is worn
out. This may be true to certain extent, but look
at many farm once given up and almost desOlate
before railroad reached its vcinityfarms that have
now become fruitful fields, and the husbandmen are
abundantly paid for their toll.
Nature has provided a remedy for decay, the germ
Of recuperatOn is still left, and with the labor that
our fathers put their FARMS and with the will with
which they worked, great portion Of Windham coun-
ty could be reclaimed 1t could not be done in year.
but by the steady, self-denying efforts which the
Western pioneers exercise, great changes would
be wrought. 1t is true that many young man has
made success In our great West, and when supplied
with New England capital has become rich but while
small per cent succeed, large proportion that go
West compelled to spend years Of toll and self
denial before they secure the comforts of New Eng
land life. would not attempt TO prove that there
not great inducements to go West, but give our
county railroad facilities and there advantages
here which cannot be overlooked. IL is truly said
that New England has and is supplying the best ele-
ment for the West, but If it runs out and becomes
depopuated, who will supply the brain power ? TAX
ing this view of the subject is certainly important
that we should keep up our nursery ground, or the
West will have place to import their active young
men from. II New England is a good place for a
physical nursery 1t certainly should not be aban-
doned. Let the fathers hold out every inducement
possible, by building railroads and by general i'm
provements, the farms they must soon leave will
be worthless and the land will be left desoate; yes,
our graves will be grown over with brush, with no
grandson to drop tear over the consecrated
spot. We have watched the decline and decay Of
many a once cheerful and pleasant home, with feel
ings OF sadness; now shall we not put ourselves at
work to stay the dark prospect before us2 II small
portion Of what call property is needed to help re-
store the ruins, or at least stay our downward course
is 1t not well inyested2 With railroad our water
power can be utilized, our timber lands made yaua-
ble and with the rapid growth OF timber we can look
for future prosperity. Inducements would then be
offered to the young who wish TO engage in bus
mess; yet without railroad who cares to invest
transportation by team takes all the profits. Now al
lowing the advantages to be half they have proved to
be where local roads have been built in the last few
years, the question Of first cost naturally comes
Inc exact cost oil railroad wilmington cannot DC
known until the survey has located the line and esti
mates have been carefully made but, judging from
figures given of the cost of building and equpng the
West River road, approximate the cost. The
cost Of that road less than $l2 900 per mile yet
1t must be understood that large amount Of rock
cutting done, and great deal Of bridging which
we hope to avoid; besides, they have added one-thrd
their rolling stock since II FIRST equip
ped. Then, again, much larger sum expended
in surveying the West River road than would be
needed on this line, 1t long time before the
route was fully settled. 1t is generally admitted that
Fnu IN f1Tnin ha anA lint
how shall ii be built
Well, know of way but to bond the towns. 1
do not see how local road be built more
equitable basis as road must necessarily benefit the
whole community. II the centres are benefited the
surroundings must be- II large taxpayer is bene-
fitted, man with q small farm must be. As his farm
would be Of little value If there were no neighbors,
no stores, no shops, churches, school houses
hence say, all must be benefited, and why not all
help? Then again. it is said by some that they are
willing to bond but want to pay 1t all up on the start
people are aborng at least partially for their heirs
Now If the building Of railroad will enhance the val
ne OF property for the future why not be satisfied in
making the effort make in other directions,
and no more7 1t would bring heavier tax upon
some than they would feel like standing. There is
no reason why burdensome tax should be imposed
upon this generation exclusively when In fact future
generations gain the greatest advantage. 1t IL evil
dent that the tax can be paid much better as the ben
etits Of the road are felt. A man owning q lumber
mill can see almost to q certainty profit in the flu
ture but cannot expect to realize sufficient profit the
FIRST year to pay all at once. The burden is found to
be very light by those towns up the West River also
in the Lamoile valley, and they all say they would
rather bond much more than be without a railroad.
Now, as to facts about bonding. We will suppose
a town has grand list Of 5000. They bond eight
times their list, which would amount to S24, 600 Al
lowing the bonds negotiated at per cent (al-
though they could be for much less) the interest
the whole amounts to less than so cts. the dollar
Then allowing the town wishes to pay up in eight
years, 1t would require dollar dollar, besides
the 80 cts. for interest. This would be very light,
compared to the advantages. The man with grand
list OF $40 would be required to pay $40 for interest
and $40 year to liqudate the debt in eight years.
making him only $50 per year. and not that after
the first year His whole tax for the road would not
amount to much $500. OF course this amount
must vary according to the amount Of the individual
grand list Now who would not give much more than
that sum to a railroad to Wilmington The
small towns In the West River valley not only bond
ed eight times their grand list but large amount of
stock taken by private individuals. believe II
must be admitted that the investment will be the best
the towns along the proposed line make. If am
mistaken in my views, am ready TO be corrected-I
certainly have great respect for the opinions Of my
fellow-men.
Iconsider the subject Of vital portance to all of
the towns the proposed line, and II the road lie
built 1t will be lasting benefit to future generations
1t is true that obstacles will be encountered difcul
ties will be met and must be overcome. Talk alone
will not build the road. but let start in earnest
with our watchword "On to Richmond" and we 20
with our headlight flaming. EDWARD CROSBY.
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THE NEWS I'm RRUER.