St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-02-02
THE RAILROAD SHOPS.
Movement i'm Behalf of Their Return to
ST. Johnsbury.

st. JOhnsbury.
Neither the severe cold weather, the
massive snowdrifts nor the eclipse pre-
vented a large attendance at the citi-
zens' meeting Saturday evening to
take action in relation to securing the
return of the railroad works from Lyn-
donville to ST. Johnsbury. The town
hall was we'll filled, great interest was
manifested and a disposition shown to
do anything in reason to bring about
the desired result.
A. F. Nichols, Esq, was chosen chair
man and Judge w. p. Smith secretary
of the meeting. In answer to inquir-
les Selectman Carpenter stated that he
had called the meeting as an individu-
al in response to many requests. He
had not seen Supt. Mellen but others
had and he (Mellen) stated that the
railroad company must have largely
increased works to accommodate in
creasing business; thought that st.
J Johnsbury was better location than
Lyndonville and that if the people
were interested enough to take hold of
the matter that the railroad officials
would gladly entertain any PROPOSE
ton the people would make. Mr.. Car
penter thought about $25, 900 was the
sum needed to be raised here.
A number of motions and amend
ments were made in an effort to get at
the business the best way. Rev. E. T..
Sandford moved that committee of
three or five be appointed to confer
with Supt. Mellen; H. B. Davis moved
that the committee consist of the Sc
lectmen; the selectmen themselves OBJ
jected to this action; Harvlin Pad
dock wanted the very best men of the
town appointed and urged wise and
thoughtful action. The selectmen mo-
ton was finally voted down and it was
decided that committee of three be
appointed to nominate. Chair appoint
ed Harvlin Paddock, Daniel Carpen-
ter and A. III. Mcleod. These gentle
men nominated the following commit
tee to confer with Superintendent Mel
len and ascertain what action was de-
sired on the part of ST. Johnsbury ::
Horace Fairbanks, L. d. Hazen, L. G..
Fletcher, E. L. Hovey and E. H. Bios
som, and the meeting unanimously con-
firmed the nomination.
A general expression of opinion was
called for and a number of citizens
spoke briefly. DR.. S. T. Brooks gave
expression to the universal feeling in
the community in favor of the restOra-
tion of the works to this place, and
the people should in every way possi
BILE encourage the movement and do
everything reasonable to bring about
this result. He called for an express
sion of the meeting by rising vote and
the audience rose in body.
b. G. Howe was called for but was
not present. Harry Blodgett, howev-
er, stated that Mr.. Howe had talked
with Mr.. Mellen and that the latter
stated that better and increased facili-
ties must be had by the road; that
shops must be built large enough to
employ two or three hundred men.
Mr.. Howe understood that $25, ,OOC
would accomplish the business.
E. L. Hovey thought the town should
not be fastidious; that this wasn't a
shirt factory scheme but something
permanent and hoped that the commit
tee would not rest on the idea that the
shops would come anyway, but that
they should keep at it until they ac-
complished the business.
NJ. j. Caldbeck thought it a rather
cold blooded beginning and favored
raising $25, 200 on the start. The re-
moval of the shops to Lyndonville was
caused by personal antipathies. These
he would have removed at once ant
offered to subscribe $500 of the re
quired sum himself.
DIR. j. L. Perkins thought it absO
lutely essential that the railroad Offic
ials should make their desires know
in writing and moved that the commit
tee be instructed to so procure it; tina
we didn't want part of the works, ;
mere round house and tool shop, bu
the whole business.
Mr.. Mcleod, Mr.. Paddock, Mr.. Sand
ford, E. F. Brown and Daniel Carpen
ter thought that the meeting had done
all it could do until this committee re
port progress and all thought the com
mittee could be trusted to take wise
and judicious action in the matter
Selectman Carpenter did not think th'
town could legally vote the none!
any way, but that it must be raised b.
individual subscription. The entire
matter was finally left in the hands o
the committee, and the meeting ad
iourned to call of committee. Th,
best feeling was manifested by all pres
ent.
4 The above committee has instructet
it's chairman to correspond with MI
Mellen at once.
PEACHAM.