Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-12-04
Great Expectations.
Island Pond Booming.
A COPPER AND SILVER MINE
DISCOVERED.
A Railroad to Newport to be
built in the near future.

| may seem somewhat cnlnerlcal. InaC
a mine should be discovered in the
hills OF Vermont, which would be use
full, except to boom for speculative
purposes, would astonish many ; yet
they would be no more astonished than
were the people at and in the vicinity
of Gorham, n. H., who are now enjoy
ing several actual mining operations,
the realization of indications which
had been noticed for some time previ-
Gus. If a certain condition of things
which existed only fifty miles from
here indicated valuable mines, the
same condition of things here, accom-
panied with very rich specimens Of
copper and silver ore, may not be de-
spised. Men, assuming to be scientific
men, land we know no reason why
they are not give positive assurances
that discovery has been made within
two or three miles of this village of
great importance, and which all indi.
cations point to as being the founda-
ton Of a permanent enterprise. Now
we don't propose to go off and borrow
a dollar on the strength of this, and
indulge III unusual extravaganza, or
induce others to, although we do not
think the prediction impossible, and
perhaps not improbable but it gives
us pleasure to call the attention of our
people to real practical and proba-
BILE enterprise.
We have always had one great diff.
Guilty to struggle against. 1t is more
or less common to the whole State.
We are shut ont By q ridge of hills and
mountains, one of those ranges which
run longitudinally, either entirely
through the State, or through it with
some Interruptions and irregularities.
Much of the productions of our locality
float down the Connecticut river. We
have our intercourse from necessity
with AMI supplies from neighboring
States, and are in as convenient social
position with respect to Maine and
New Hampshire, and even to Canada,
as to our own people. The life blood
of our State has not an open vein
warming and inspiring this remote
member through the body. Our
mountains running longitudinally, of
course the valleys do likewise, and
railroads have followed these valleys,
so that circulation through the State,
North and South, has been free and
uninterrupted. But how shall we get
across the State East and West? The
only serious hindrance to the progress
of the northern part of our county is
the want of an easy egress to the vari-
Gus parts of the State; and it has al
ways been II wonder that while GOD
and nature so invitingly formed val
ley from here down the Clyde river,
with almost an absolutely level grade,
falling only from four to six feet for
the first thirteen miles, and compar-
atively easy grade from thence to New
port, that the invitation of Providence
has not been accepted, and the route
made available. But this is easily ex-
planned. Hitherto it has been for the
interests of the valley, and its develop
nent alone would not warrant the un.
dertaking, Immense sums would be
saved in freight, and the advantages
to the people of the valley of rail-
road are not apt to be over estimated;
but great as they are they would not
be likely to warrant building road
But they, with the importance which
junction at this place would be, will
warrant us all in doing considera BILE
towards it. We do not believe that
the past has indicated the wisdom of
bonding towns for railway purposes,
or of their taking any stock in these
enterprises, but they can we'll afford
to do considerable in this behalf by
way of furnishing the right of way,
and contributing in other ways for
this purpose all that they feel they
can consistently. Hitherto the rail.
way interests have not sufficiently de-
manded the opening of this valley for
their traffic. Conflicting interests and
rivalries have been opposed to such
project more or less. But a different
state of things, it seems to us, is now
occurring. The Canadian Pacific
Road, which controls line running
to Newport desire to get their freight
to the sea board, and Portland being
their most objective point as winter
port, and having peculiar facilities for
the transhipment of their goods desire
road up this valley which will make
them a route in connection with the
Grand Trunk which would bring Port
land forty or fifty miles nearer Mon
treal than it now is. The cost of build
ing this link is estimated at about 80
900 per mile, being about $4,000 for
the whole. 1t has been surveyed, and
a charter granted. If we have been
correctly informed there is interest
enough now in the road to build it,
and with sufficient encouragement we
do not see why it will not be built. Its
advantages appeal to the public spirit
and private interests of every indivii-