Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-10-03
THE RAILROAD QUESTION:.


Local Railroads "a Necessity.
Editors Of tie PhGnir win YOU allow
citizen to present his views in relation to Ga,
advantages that will accrue to the town h,
tho building Of the Bratteboro aud b .nnip o
ton railroad Certain towns are naturally
business centres on account of their location
Brattleboto seems to be one of those toyns
quit up to great extent by the inflow OF
business from other towns, as the business OF
all towns tends toward the most convenient
point. In consequence Of railroads the cours,
of business has changed materially sine,
their introduction, aud it has now become J
necessity for the people TO accept the change.
knowing they cannot return to the old styl,
OF business II they would, as progress is the
watchwotd In all the walks Of life.
Towns like Brattleboro have been preatly
benefited 10y railroads. There is hardly 4
business man, farmer, mechanic or a Ia.
borer III the county that would abolish rail
roads from Bnttleboro aud is it not fact
that railroad to Wilmington would benefit
this town in the same ratio that the other
roads do, aud would ii not restore to us the
business which formerly came hero. but
"hlch Is now fast leaving US for the mt of
railroad Take away the inflow Of bust.
ness from other towns aud how long would
business flourish here? Let the town run
down aud what would be the effect on real
estate What would be the effect on all
classes FROM the laborer to the merchant
Increase business and every individual would
be benefited and appreciate the change.
farm or building would be worth NO
more in Brattleboro than in Wilmington or
Dover If there were no railroads here, as il il
true that all kinds of property are worth
more for being near railroad People look
ing for farm or for business Of any kind
make it point to locate as near a railroad as
possible, aud estimate the value of property
according to its location. The laborer goes
for business near where there are railroads,
the business man and the mechanic do the
same, and our young men do not often stay
In town remote from railroads.
1t is no doubt true that a farm in Whining.
ton or Nottingham would sell for one.third
more If railroad is built to th0ss towns and
the timber land would double in value. All
the hard timber along the liul would be call
ed for for char stock, etc. Then it would
follow, Of course, that il business improved
all along the line and the decline in the back
towns stops, business would also improve in
Brattleboro. 1t has been fully demonstrated
in thousands Of cases that railroads give now
life to business and tue more railroads the
more business.
There seems to be no possible way to build
a short line Of railroad for local business
except for towns to boud, which is perfectly
consistent and equally a. just aud right as to
appropriate for turnpiNes, bridges, etc. in
fact the law giving towns the right to aid in
such enterprises was enacted for the purpose
of developing the whole country, and great
benefits have been derived from it, II would
be difficult to find a town that has bonded for
local railroad to 20 through or come to their
town that would give it up for ten times its
cost. l do not know Of such IA case off a
great through line. There are men that talk
of their willingness to subscribe literally.
but oppose bonding. Well, it is safe to talk
literally, when in fact it is apparent to every
one that the road can never be built except
by town aid, and all such talk is simply say
ing no railroad.
1t is well known that tho business that used
to come here from Wilmington, Nottingham
Halifax, i;earsburg and West Dover is fast
aving Us aud will eventually All 70 il we do
not lend helping hand. as North Adams,
Shelburne Falls aud ReAd-boro are making
strenuous eHJrts to secure the trade from
those places. II does not seem natural that
with all the facts before us we can afford to
20 against so important an enterprise one
that is sure to benefit every one much more
than the SNAIL tax it would iucur la oppos-
ing this enterprise we should not forget those
who have labored hard to help GU with en-
terprises and improvement that have helped
make Brattleboro what it is to day. 1t is
true that those men in their day were opposed
and their various plans for holpilg build up
aud accommodate the town were often met
with the bitterest opposition, bat such has
been the case the world over, as no great
public improvement often comes about with
out hard work and persistent effort
1t does not seem reasonable that any one
after due delibefatiCn eau decide to cut OF
one-seventh part of our county and the bust
ness which should come to the town in pro-
portion. 1t would not look like building up
Brattleboro to say to so large It portion Of
our county, go to Ma sachusetts With your
trade" when in fact those towns prefer to
remain in their own county and do their
business here as formerly. Those towns are
the best in our county aud the supply OF tim
Der near them almost inoxhaustible
Many men have made all1hey are worth in
Brattleboro aud still do not see the advantage
of a live aud growing town, but on little
reflection it may appear differently to them
The question before the town is a serious
one. 1t is not simply whether q small tax is
levied, but, shall such an enterprise be al
lowed to go by forever, as il is now or never.
Should we withhold our aid it would he a Sc
rious blow to our town not only in this gem
Grafton but to those who are 20 come after US
OBSERVER.