The Press., 1890-07-24

STAFFORD has been several times stirred up by railroad talk within the past 25 years. The Ponagansett talk began about 1865, but died away again. Then Springfield began to agitate for railroad to the Sound, and voted money to build to the state line in that direction. There was hard pull for choice between connection with the N. L. N. railroad at Stafford Springs and one with the Hartford, Providence and Fishkill road at Rockville. Finally the choice became de- cided in favor of Stafford, and. the road was built to the state line, but interested parties met it there with road to East Hartford, the N. l.. N. road, which had surveyed and seem- ed likely to build to meet the new road at the state line, being on very she rt notice leased to the Vermont Central, and so that scheme died, and Springfield got road of little ben eft to itself, and one which it was a privilege a little later to almost give away
 Then the Providence and Springfield road built to Pascoag, R. l., gave few spasmodic jerks toward extension to Putnam and thence via Stafford Springs to Springfield. The hat was passed around and surveys made running through Westford and into Wilmington, fol lowing the Roaring Brook valley to the Willi- mantle river, and so up to Stafford, and on over the old survey through West Stafford, Hampden and East Longmeadow to Spring field. The surveyors got a good job, took the money, and that was the last of that. Then later surveyors came forward again and talked Ponagansett. The scheme then talk ed of tickled everybody. The proposed road wound like snake over Eastern Connecticut and touched every village, so it was easy to get the towns to vote money to pay for the survey. Stafford seemed especially favored
 The route was from Westford north to Staf- fordyille, then down the valley on the east side through Hydeville and Stafford Hollow
 The valley was to be crossed on high trestle above Stafford Springs, and the road to turn north near the house of Chester Holmes on Edgewood, and gradually work down the hill, reaching the grade of the N. L. N. road near the Forestville crossing, thence on to Springfield. This survey was made, and again the surveyors seemed the only ones ben eftted by the job Nevertheless, the Pona- gansett has always been the chief hope of Stafford in the railroad line.
 When John Gilman, about year ago, talk ed railroad. and so fired up some of our neigh boring towns, Stafford was slow to enthuse
 and, so far as we know, did not come down. The 111fiDoafnDn xuoc-&ho rood will ho built, and those villages which do not con- tribute for surveys will be left out in the cold. A survey made did leave Stafford Springs at one side, but the village was con- placent and patient under the aff1iction.
 There has never been move for a railroad ike the present. Parties interested pay their own bills; the hat has not been passed around, nor will it be. Everything is being done in business like way. Providence wants new road, has plans of which it is a necessary part, and will have it if something else does not promise better. People do not put their money into railway surveys for the fun of it, and never was an enterprise began in more straightforward business.like way than this last move for the Ponagansett.. We are yet restraining our enthusiasm, but hope some day to cheer the arrival of the locomo- tive straight from Providence and bound for the west. The executive committee having in charge the arrangements for the reception of the national encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic, at Boston, Aug. 12 to l6, announce the following program for khN parade; in the evening, Grand Army and
 Woman's Relief Corps joint reception in Mechanics Hall 18th, meeting of the na- tional encampment at 10 a. m., in Music
 Hall meeting of the national encampment, Woman's Relief Corps, in Fremont Tenn | pie in the evening Grand Army camp fire in Mechanics building 14th, contin. ued sessions of the national encampment. l G. A. R. and Woman's Relief Corps in
 the evening banquet to the delegates of the national encampment and to invited guests 10th, excursion by rail to Plymouth, and clam bake there for the delegates oi l the national encampment, G. A. R., and Woman's Relief Corps; in the evening campfire by Woman's Relief Corps at Fremont Temple 18th, steamboat excur- | sion for the members of the national en- campment with fish dinner on boat. A reunion of naval veterans will be held dur ing the encampment. Reunions of other organizations will also be held. The Wo- mans Relief Corps, department of Massa- chusetts, will furnish lunch for delegates each day during the session. The com mittee on accommodations are prepared to secure quarters for all posts or Grand Army men who may attend. They urgent ly desire, however, to receive all applica- tions on or before the 20th of July.
 Governor Warren has issued procla- nation, calling the first Wyoming election for September Il. 2,