Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1896-05-22
essts County 4'rala.
Are Governments AMI Railroads
Based upon Favoritism or Private
Interests?


There is an active complaining dispo-
sition in the minds OF Us all which is
constantly bringing unhaPpiness. There
is also a disposition Of inquiet, unrest
stirring up, disturbed and unpleasant
conditions. But the most gloomy fall !
is an ill-boding disposition. 1t foretells
disasters; it anticipates trouble, and
supplies unhappy reflections. Not only |
this but they are so apparently founded
on the actual condition of things as to
make the credulous uncomfortable. This
disposition fasting in these days of scar
CITY gets hungry and voraciously lays
hold OF everything it can find, sensational
and irritating, Finding nothing else at
hand it asserts that one OF the divisional
termini of the railroad is TO be fixed at
Norton, and speaks of it as a great disas-
ter to Island Pond. Well, what If that
should occur? Is that any occasion for
any general or individual grief? Island
Pond is so fast becoming n local centre OF
business and trade that it is becoming to
a great extent self-sustaining. Besides II
the terminus of this district or division
of the railway system should be fixed at
Norton that would open up the extreme
northern part of our county; highways
,youId be constructed so that free COM
munication would be had, and it would
bring local commerce into the whole OF
that section, thus building it up and our
town with the rest. 1t would bring into
the northern portion of the county a
necessity for the employment OF a large
number of hands and such kind OF men as
would become permanent citizens with
families here. So that this idea that
any great calamity is going to tall upon
any locality in any event is mere idle
talk. 1t would not be worth noticing i
it were not for the fact that there are
those in every community credulou'
enough to be influenced by it, and vision
airy as it is it does injury to some. II
temporarily affects the value of property
and injurously affects individuals in thei
plans. The reasons on which these con
lectures are based are as unreasonable
as the imaginations themselves. 1t il
even suggested that landed proprieto
will donate lands necessary tor tn
change, as though that would be an in
ducement to a great railway system e
change one of the principal conditions
Its operations, and do large amount Q
grading on one of the heaviest grades OF
the line. 1t is also asserted that as con
solidation is the order of the hour thi
will occur This entirely overlookS tn
fact that in order to accomplish this tn
length of the divisions will be unequa
while Island Pond is almost eXactl
enu;-distant from Montreal and Portlan
and is the exact point at which sue
consolidation if it is properly so Gale
can be best effected. 1t is even suggeste
that this change is to be effected by tn
influence of some personal friend of pal
ties interested locally, as though th
great railway system was to be change
RI respect of one gifts principal feature
simply to favor some individual interest
or as though some man was going to in
fluence an administration, whether it b
republican or democratic, to so far los
sight of the public interests as to max
an important change simply to favor on
at the expense of many. Whatever ma
occur nothing will come about by reaso
of any absurd rumors which are now, i
the air. When the time comes that cor
ditions are such that it is thought to b
for the interest of the government or TIL
railway system to make a change it wi
probably be made. but it will be lon
time before we shall see Uncle Sam an
Mr., Hays walking arm in arm into an
corner grocery store to consult quc
nuncs about what shall be done or hoy
either of those great machines are to b
run.