Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-07-11

a
STATEMENT OF ALL THE FAoTs IN THE CASE
TO THE PRESENT TIME.
Editors Of The Phenir. As facts concern
ing any enterprise are stubborn realities 1
trust you will allow mo a spnco in your paper
to again refer to the subject of the Brattle-
boro Bennington railroad. / am still con-
hdent that the people Of Brattleboro cannot
ahord to crush an enterprise which is of 30
much consequence to this as vol as to neigh
boring towns, and still believing the import
anoe OF the work will lead them to consider
the subject in its true light and in oil its boar
ings, and finally decide to take such a course
as will insure the building of the road, shall
continue TO advocate that which / consider to
be for the good of this and future generations
an enterprise which do not yet believe the
people OF Brattleboro are ready TO veto 1
have learned that all great improvements have
always met with bitter opposition. Prece-
dents teach me that all the great enterprises
that have been carried forward have been nc.
complished by persistent effort and untiring
devotion.
1t is not to be expected that all mon can SEQ
or think alike, but when individuals are in.
formed of all tho facts concerning case 1t
often happens that subject appears quite
different, and often different conclusions are
arrived at. Facts concerning the railroad TO
Wilmington, whom fully known and honestly
considered, are important in finally deciding
the vital question. Various influences have
much to do in shaping public opinion; per
sonal dislikes are often apowerful factor with
the people in developing opinion on import
ant subjects, and II is ofton tho cnse that the
most absurd falsifying is resorted to to mis-.
lead the unsuspocting and honest voter but
In this case it does not require great amount
of common.senso reasoning to fix upon facts
concerning this enterprise, and as all prece-
dents sustain tho theory Of railroad to our
neighboring towns, and as it is 80 well known
that railroads have now become a necessity
and powerful agent in building up towns
and counties, | cannot see that we should
abandon good cause oven if a few obstacles
are thrown in tho way.
DRATTLEBoEo WANTS TIE ROAD.
do not admit that it has been proved that
Brattleboro people have said they do not want
the road. The work and the results in the
year past arc too well known to need refer
ring to, but as to our last town meeting what
are the facts concerning it? largo meeting
truly, even larger than usual. Every effort
was made by the opposition, whether worked
by foreign parties or selfish motives l can
not tell, and II matters not, but what woro
the facts? About one-third of our voting
population were induced to oppose the road,
hhAlhA Nut O't NOblhb III lhNOI VI II TSIItbOul-
cd moro than two-thirls of our grand list
This could not bo considered u groat victory
for the opposition neither was it discourage
ing to the friends OF the road. II has not vet
been demonstrated that, when tho people fully
understand all the facts in the case q MAORI
ty of our 1900 voters are ready to say, I'VE
will forbid another railroad coming into our
town"
The mechanic and laboror must SEQ that
the more railroads We have tho more work
will be called for. The more thrift there is
in our own town or county the better it must
be for all parties The farmer would much
prefer to be in a section of the country whero
there arc railroads rather than in a section
where there is no life, no business, no enter
prise, no advancement. BrattloborO cannot
make or regulate tho markets, vet Let the
town run down, would our farms increase in
value? Do the people of this generation
seek for homes in towns where there are no
railroads? Is it not fact that the young
men, MS q rule, look for a location and home
not remote from railroads and il it not a
fact that few people can be found at this day
that would be willing to blot out railroads
and go back to old stage times The old
stages and teams served their purpose in their
day, but in the course of development we
must move on with the march of improve
ment, and most men prefer to accept the law
of progress, aud to help move the car forward
rather than return to former conditions.
In view of all the facts connected with this
enterprise, / can see no reason why the
friends of the Brattleboro ~ bennington rail
road should be discouraged. The tax for
those who have a small grand list would be
quite too small to harm, compared with the
benefits which every one must receive and
those with large grand list must be benefit
ed in proportion to their tax Tho burden
would, III fact, fall lightly upon all classes.
The tax (aecording to our PLAN would not DO
called for until the West river subscription
is paid, and then only in small yearly pay
ments. The town bonds could DO negotiated
for very low rate OF interest which would
make the burden of yearly interest very light.
TIE ROAD MUST HAVE TOWN AID.
It is well understood that the road to VIII
mington can never be built except by bond
ing hence when man opposes lending town
aid he virtually says mo railroad" " This il
a local enterprise, which our laws were made
to encourage and made with view to devel-
op and build up the waning New England
towns, which our legislators looked upon as
all-importaut for the whole people. The law
cannot be considered arbitrary any more than
the laws which levy taxes to build highways
and bridges in remote and isolated places that
pleasure. 1t seemed necessary to make a law
that would enable towns to consolidate their
strength and accomplish the work of general
improvement, and l do not understand that it
is unjust or arbitrary, as the whole comm1ni-
ty is benefited and each one taxed only accord
ing to his valuation.
All this talk about voting away other peo-
ples money is perfectly absurd, if it is legih-
mate to levy taxes for general improvements.
Those who claim to be so conscientious in the
matter simply mean that they do not want to
be taxed themselves. While they may assert
that they would be willing TO pay much more
than their tax would be, they know the road
can never be built by subscription. The
hOwls and protests against the West river
road have not been forgotten. The labors
and repeated efforts of its friends are still
fresh in our memory. day it is fact
that very few taxpayers can be found, either
| in this or in the other towns on the line, who
can honestly say they would be willing to give
up the road if they could see the town bonds
| all cancelled. This statement will stand the
closest investigation. In Wow of all the facts
and in Wow of the situation, it would bo the
| height of folly for me or the friends of the
| Brattleboro & Bennington railroad TO give up
cause which is entitled to fair and deliberate
consderation-a cause which must affect fu-
ture generations according to the action final
ly taken.
THE QUESTION OF TAXATION.
The burden of taxes imposed upon the peo-
| Pile of this town is light compared with that
of many other towns, yet it is often said that
| people will not como to our town because of
| our high taxes and debts; but 1 notice that
such remarks often come from people who
have recently chosen Brattleboro for their
home. 1t would be interesting to me to know
Of a single instance of a person passing by
our town on account of taxes. If we are Of
ten passed by, it is simply because we have
not railroads enough-not life enough. The
business man prefers to locate whore thero is
business-where there is life and enterprise.
| The foreigner does not care to locate in sec
ton where there are no railroads, yet he may
be induced to vote against an improvement to
save small tax on his home, forgetting that
the homo is made more valuable and import
ant by every improvement made by the peo-
| pie. The miser, who has his money all nicely
''salted," and can, in the language Of old, say
81 have goods laid up in store" ETC., forgets
that bis days are fast being told, and that
what he does for humanity he must do quick
ly. The work that devolves upon this gener
alton to do should not be left for Others tc
perform.
TRYING TO GET SECOND LINE TO SOUTH YER
NON.
| Since the first effort was mAdo by the direc