Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-12-13
THE BRA TTLEBORO AND BENNING
TON RAILROAD.


Mr. Edward Crosby is one of the most
courageous men to be found in the county
or out Of it, and, like Gen. Grant, does
not appear to know when he is beaten. In
last weeks Phoenix he says, 81 yet believe
the Brattleboro and Bennington railroad
will be built This determination to never
give up, though the fates are against him, is
noble trait, and il would be strange if it
has not saved him many times from disaster
in business il not from ruin, when less
energetic man would not have weathered
the gale. Moreover. Mr. Crosby has been
of great service to Brattleboro by his broad
views and liberal spirit in all enterprises
that tend to the building up OF that thriv
ing village, and to the benefit Of the town,
and his liberal spirit is not local; 1t eni-
braces other towns and communities that
do not withhold their appreciation of the
man.
But with all Mr.. Crosby's energy, and
faith that the Brattleboro and Bennington
road will be built, he is doomed to disap
poiutment unless Brattleboro builds it, for
Wilmington is hors de combat. When the
question was up for bonding few years
w
but voted to bond to the extent of the law
by handsome majority, and several thou
sand dollars could have been raised by sub
scription If Bratteboro had shown that
she wanted the road by pledging her share,
the road would have been built, and that
thriving town would have secured the
business of Wilmington and the other towns
on the line. In effect Brattleboro said,
1--WE do not want your trade; we can
live without it." And it was currently re
ported that a heavy business man of Brat
teboro said 81 can live without Wilmington,
and presume Wilmington can live without
me, " which is very true whether the report
was true or false This town has waited
many years for a road, and when Brattle
boro refused her aid in an enterprise that
would inure 10 her own benefit as well as t.
that of several other towns, Wilmington
felt the disappointment, but was not cas-
down nor discouraged.
This town would now do nothing towards
road to Brattleboro, because there is
more feasible route, much shorter an(
cheaper one down the Deerfeld valley. Tel
miles will carry us To ReadsborO, wher'
connection can he had with Newton's road
the grade is easy, and the route seems T.
have been formed by nature for an outle
for this and the ad jacent towns The busl
ness of Wilmington is likely to increase il
| the near future, so that 1t will be difficult I
meet its demands with teams, which now ar
taxed TO their full capacity. If signs are no
delusive, the railroad project down the rive
Z is working under the surface, and will be
e fore long appear in sight to some purpose
b then Wilmington, that has caught at man
r straws of hope only to be disappointed, wi
- put her shoulder to the wheel and do he
part manfully. No. Mr.. Crosby will neve
: have the pleasure of seeing railroad froI
e Brattleboro to Wilmington. The golden oI
J portunity is past. His courage is admire
, ble and worthy of emulation, but he car
5 not remove mountains without assistance
o and this he is not likely to get.
IS Wilmington, Vt. Sc g.