Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-06-13
THE WILMINGTON RAILROAD.


The Real Good OF BratGlebOrO at
Heart.
Having defined my position long ago in re-
gard to the towns voting aid for the construc-
ton of the Brattleboro 4 Bennington railroad,
think it proper for me to state that after a
thorough examination of the country tributary
TO this road, find a very much richer field
for a railroad than ever supposed. Although
l have always lived near it, l never before
had occasion 10 examine closely with the view
of satisfying myself in regard to the pros
poets of the success of this enterprise. find
this section of our county populated with a
very enterprising and intelligent people, who
have almost invariably first-class improve
ments and plenty of productive grazing and
grass lands, with an abundance of fine stock
around them. find by talking with these
gentlemen that they are almost all very desir-
GUS of having railroad to BrattleboTo. where
they can come to do all of their court and
other business they wish to do outside OF
their own towns. While travelling over this
route and its tributaries which was several
days in doing, could not help being con-
WINGED that this Wilmington railroad is not
such wild project after all, taking into &C.
count these productive lands, the extensive
lumber country lying near its terminus, and
the fact that very large proportion of the
people will be liberal patrons Of a railroad, as
they are abundantly able 10 ride when they
please. With all these facts before me be-
came fully assured that BrRttleboro could not
afford not to have this railroad built, even if
we have TO bond to help build it, as we would
be much the largest gamers. l believe with
this Wilmington railroad We would be Of con-
sequence, and strong enough in a railroad
point Of view to demand reasonable freight
rates and liberal passenger accommodation at
this end of the road 10 correspond with 9TH
er points-say Bellows Falls on coal and
Shelburne Falls on Boston freights-and be
sure of getting them. 1t would be perfectly
proper to leave it with your commissioners TO
settle with the railroad at this point in regard
to reductions of freight, etc. With this ar
rangement there is not person in this town
who would not be directly benefited, as every
pound of coal and every article of oonsump-
ton that has to be transported by rail will
cost quite little per cent less than It new
does. BY this arrangement all small tax
payers will be directly benefited TO an amount
exceeding what they have TO pay out The
burden will come where it belongs-on those
who have large grand lists and are as a rule
most interested, and should be willing to pay.
This is the position have always taken in
this matter. Some have at times had doubts
whether the officials of THE railroad were Just
what they should be, As you all know, there
has been some pretty reckless public talk
about some of them. / have taken especial
pains to inform myself in regard to many of
these charges, and l am satisfied that they
have very little foundation. 1t will be an easy
matter to change the management if the ma
jority are not satisfied With careful and
guarded arrangement for the building and
completion OF this road, and all matters of
freight and all details connected with it, am
fully convinced that Brattleboro could we'll
afford to bond for twice its grand list, and no
more, in aid of the construction Of the Will
minRton railroad. believe it would prove
for the good of all, directly or indirectly.
d. s. PRATT.