Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-09-26
RAILROAD COMNUNICA TIONS.


1t is a philosophical fact that continual
dropping Of water wears away the hardest
rock. 1t requires time to accomplish any
thing Of moment, and the greater the enter
prise the longer the time required. We have
read Mr. Crosby's article in The Phoenix of
July llth with much interest We fully ap-
preciate Mr.. Crosby's faithful and earnest La
bors in this enterprise from the very begin
ming We appreciate the efforts of the friends
of the road, representing as they do large
majority Of the active business men of Brat
tleboro-men who are alive to the interests of
the town and are possessed Of an enterpris-
ing progressive spirit.
Some four or five hundred voters, repre-
senting about one'fourth of the grand list Of
Brattleboro, seem to hold the balance Of pow.
er they have assumed the position of guar
dian for their fellow townsmen and for the
other interested towns Having assumed this
role, they propose to dictate terms and tell us
what We can have and what we cannot.
What are we going to do about it will
tell you plainly what Wilmington is going to
do about tive are going to have railroad.
Nature has favored us in one regard at least
and given us a natural outlet down the Deer
field river to the Hoosac tunnel. II we can
not 60 in one direction, we will go in another
If we cannot 60 to Bra!tleboro, we will 10 to
North Adams We have lived under the shad-
ow of the Green Mountains, 20 miles from
railroad point, long enough such isolation is
not in keeping with the enterprise and prog
ress of th3 day. 1t may seem all right to you
who are voting against an enterprise which is
for our mutual benefit; but you do not un-
derstand and realize the stuation-you do not
know the disadvantages under which we labor
in being thus cut off from the outside world.
Perhaps You will say that the project to con-
meet with the Fitchburg road at the Tunnel is
visionary and without foundation. 1t is not
but, on the contrary, our prospect in this di-
rection is Frightening every day. The cars
will run into Readsboro City before New
| Years, thus bringing us within ten miles of a
road We have extended our hands to you
we stand ready to meet you half way we
| prefer to go to Brattleboro our interests lie
within our own state and our own county we
| have not decided to rescind our bonding vote
and shall not $50 600 are ready for the en-.
terprise. But patience may cease to be a vir
tue, and spirit of independence and self
control govern our actions.
Will Brattleboro help to build this road ol
not2 If you refuse to grant the comparative
| ly small sum asked of you, the enterprise
stops. A refusal on your part will not sooI
be forgotten or forgiven by the inhabitant
along the contemplated line. II you vote q
you should and decide to raise the sum need
ed, the road can soon Dc placed under con
tract, and Brattleboro will at once begin t,
reap the benefit, since there wilfbe the bas
of supplies, and no one can overlook the i'm
portance OF that item alone. It is a matte
of common interest to you all-farmers, me
chanics, merchants, real-estate owners al
should alike be desirous for this project to b
carried through. Is there any reason to SUP
pose that this road would be less proftabl
and advantageous than the West River road
not only to the towns on the line, but to Bra
tleboro2
1t is really interesting to listen to some {
the arguments and logic used by the oppC
nents. They say, "If Crosby and those fe
lerC want a railroad, let them build it, and nC
ask the town to bond" Is this good reason
ing? Do not all public improvements an
enterprises help the whole town. And II a
are benefited, should not the burden of CO.
! be divided proportionately upon the gran
: list2 AS Brattleboro village grows and thrive
every farm in town appreciates in value, I
Dor will be in greater demand and better pai
: increased opportunities for manufacture
! will be afforded, population will increase, al
: now life will be infused into all the towns
!, the line, which must gradually decrease u
less we do have a road. Can BrRttleboro a
: ford to let this project die
I, O. NJ. RUSSELL
= Wilmington, August 1884.