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

Mr.. j. G. Eddy, in the Reformer of May
23 says that be is not opposed to a railroad
from Brattleboro to Wilmington but is OPP
posed to bonding on principle. That is just
the argument Of every opponent Of NE road.
They all use it for the want Of a good reason.
What more injustice is there in voting mon.
ey for that purpose than there is for schools !
There are some people who have but little
laterosI IN the rieiug generation, or anything
else in this world, aud nothing but the grace
of God can do them any good. They feel it
burden to pay any tax for any purpose, and
especially some bachelor or old maid, who
has strong dislike for children, will say,
you have children, school them; don't ask
me TO school your little brats for you" Why
is there any more injustice in bonding to
help this railroad than there was r few years
ago for BrattlebOro and Wilmington to be
taxed to build highway in the town OF
Marlborog
Nottingham is now supporting a family
that has no settlement in town and never had
one in the state, and never paid taxes in town
of any amount. Still, we have to support
them at great expense. Why tax a poor man
that does not keep horse to build and sup.
port highways? 1t is said these laws are for
the public good grant it, and they are all
right. Any man who says that railroads are
not public benefit is, like JEFF Davis alone
advocating lost cause, and he had better
accept of the advice OF Jobs wife, Course
God and die, for he is living in a wrong age
of the world and ought to have died fifty
| years ago. Is it not best for individuals and
communities to sometimes incur debt for q
purpose that will be of great benefit in the
future Is it not best TO sometimes help
each other?
Mr., Eddy was able to tell the town that
they could not get road TO South Vernon
by building one to Wilmington, and the court
after deciding the case voluntarily threw mud
on the enterprise by saying, "On the ground
OF discretion, also in view OF the decisive
vote to rescind, the uncertainty OF route OF
the road, the probability of further calls up
on the town as shown by the process, we
should decline TO force the town to the I'M
willing embrace of so shadowy a project.
This makes me believe there was power be-
hind the throne, and that Mr.. Eddy is in the
enemy's camp, and when he talks of Will
mington putting in only 500, COO when in
fact they put in more than twice that, and Of
mo reliable survey, uncertainty, unreliable
state Of things" he talks like an attorney,
whose business is to find fault with what has
been done. With these attorneys nothing is
right. They would find fault with the Lord 8
prayer II you would pay them for It, sup
pose what judges say in deciding case that
is outside OF the decision has no binding ef-
feet, and is of no more consequence than
what other men say. Yet Mr. Eddy quotes
it as though he had made a point, when in
fact think the decision would have been
better without it, and l don't believe it will
ever be reported in that way.
Mr.. Eddy thinks a road on the Deerfeld
would be better for these towns because they
will find such an excellent market at Hoosac
! Tunnel Hoosac Tunnel is about as good a
market as an ordinary graveyard. He speaks
of the large and competing line OF railways
| There is one double-track road at this point
would ask the editor of the Reformer to
review his course. He supported the West
River road and it was built. He has opposed
the one to Wilmington and it hangs fire,
| trembling in the balance. Has the West Riv-
or road done as we'll as he expected, or has it
been an injury to Brattleboro and done the
towns on the road no good Are the people
of Brattleboro satisfied with their action for
that road Would the towns on that road
| give up the road and take back their bonds
Can you to-day answer the arguments you
used for that road? Do you to-day want to
take the responsibility of defeating this road ?
Suppose you don't think it will do as much
good as some of the friends of the road think
1t will, II will do some good. The money is
soon paid and forgotten. The benefits are
for all time. You want to be doubly sure
that you are right before you defeat such an
enterprise as this GEO. PORTER.
Nottingham, June 2, 1884.