Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-06-06
THE WILMIHGToN RAILROAD.
a sharp Letter from west IIaIifsn.
Xyy..r tr.,,,.. ", a.. obi, 1904

a sharp Letter from west IIslifs1.
WEST HALIFAX, VI, May ~ 1854.
Edit0rs PhGHir In the Reformer Of May
% is an article by Lawyer J. c. Eddy about
the proposed Wilmington railroad There
are some things he mentions that wish To
call to the attention Of the people interested.
First, the route from HooaaG Tunnel 10 viii
mington. Now, M MIR. Eddy well knows,
the road that il now being built from the
Tunnel TO Readsboro IL being built by the
Newton Bros. individually and for their own
private use they have no use for the road
above Readsboro aud consequently will not
build it, II road is built from Readsboro
to Wilmington, who is going TO build it2 II
built by corporation they must pay tribute
to the Newtons to pass over their road.
The idea is to compel Wilmington and
Nottingham TO come TO Readsboro for de-
pot, which in my mind accounts for the con.
duct Of the Reformer and Lawyer J. G.. Ed.
dy. These gentlemen, il am rightly in
formed, own large amount of real estate in
Readsboro, including several valuable water
powers, tenement houses, etc. Perhaps their
desire to build up Readsboro at the expense
OF Wilmington and Nottingham is founded
purely upon principle, but strongly suspect
that the pocket book has moro TO do with it
than principle.
Again, he says Marlboro and Nottingham,
knowing the mpractcabilty OF the road, re-
fused to bond. Now let us Just consider this
point and see if it is true or false. Whiting
ham, "whether Lawyer Eddy knows il or
not, is divided by nature into two sections,
the east and the west, the population Of the
town being nearly evenly divided. Tho west
part Of the town can be very well accommo-
dated at Readsboro, as the town line is but
nfnuf hnlF 10 I.w I ..,a
the depot is to be built, and the land in that
section OF the town slopes that way. That
section refused to bond because its people
can be as well accommodated ut Readsboro
as they can ut Jacksonville il road is built
to Wilmington via Jacksonville. Their inter
ests centerng in Readsboro, they, like Law
yer j. G.. Eddy, have conscientious scrupes
about bonding, while the cast part of the
town, being devoid Of principle, voted al.
most to a man to bond. SO any one can see
bow much the feasibility Of the route had TO
do with their refusing to bond.
Marlboro ia even worse divided by nature
than Nottingham, large portion Of the
town naturally going to Wlliamsville, while
another section i quite well accommodated
at BrattleborO now, and the feasibility Of the
route, in my judgment had very little TO do
with the vote Of the town, those who would
be benefited by a railroad voting for it and
those who are already passably well accom-
modated opposing it, and some who have not
posted themselves on the benefits Of n rail
road, taking no part in it whatever.
Again, he says Halifax has bonded for the
small sum of $4,000. This to Lawyer j.
G. Eddy looks like a small sum. The grand
list Of the town Of Halifax for 1883 was 81, o.
72i43, so you see Halifax was bonded
for about four times Ii r grand list As Law
yer j. e.. Eddy seems to think this a small
sum, and as he is not opposed to the road
being built, why wont he consent TO Brattle-
boro bonding in q small sum four times its
| grand list like Halifax The grand list of
Brattleboro for 1883 was $33 i92 81. Four
times this gives us the small sum OF Sl33,-
9700l. Perhaps Lawyer j. G. Eddy would
be in favor of having Brnttleboro, il it bonds
at all, bond for a respectable amount say six
or eight times its grand list, instead of the
small sum of four times
Halifax has to raise tax OF 100 cents on
the dollar Of its grand list to pay running or
current expenses. The town is considerably
in debt, which its citizens offer as an excuse
for bonding for so small q sum a. four times
their grand list; but yet the people Of Hall
fax believe that il Brattleboro will bond no
heavier on the dollar than they have, the road
can be built. Now can Brsttleboro afford to
lose forever the business of this part OF the
county; Every railroad built into Brattle.
boro will build up the place, will build up
manufacturing, increase its population aud
wealth, and make it more Of an object for
some railroad TO extend its line to that place
Bratteboro must certainly be benefited more
than any other town on the line by the build.
ing Of this road. Why not take hold and,
ike Halifax, be willing TO give a small sum
for this enterprisey Yours truly,
-