Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1896-07-29
Letter from Charlestown.

ASOSh mum Su0blSStVWus
DEAR TIMES:
In your issue of Wednesday, July 2a,
we note little editorial comment with re-
gard to the electric road and the impro-
prlety OF having it run through Main street.
As there are always two sides to ques-
ton, and gold and silver basis in politics,
OF course there must be difference of opin-
ion.
Individually the writer does not care
where the line goes, but when it is stated
that "those who pay the most taxes and
are interested in keeping the village just
what it is now" wish to control privileges,
don't you think it is little autocratic? A
sort OF "Rule Britannia" song to say the
least? All the tax payers do not live on
Main street, neither are there so very many
who have purchased residences because Of
the wonderful beauty of Charlestown. A
greater part of these Main street residences
were inherited by the present occupants
and they were obtained by way of trade.
There are tax payers all over Charlestown.
and some of them feel that as they do nav
taxes they are entitled to few benefits
decent roads, for instance, and other re-
quirements.
Now dear TIMES | think you will admit
that II few wealthy men or women lust
came to Bellows Falls for a few months
and then went away for the remain
ing eight or ten months, even though they
paid taxes, the volume of trade in Bellows
Falls would not be largely increased. The
writer has been told that Main street resi-
dents objected to any kind of business COM
ing to Charlestown. What would the Bel
lows Falls Board of Trade say if all the
other monied men and women objected to
the busy life Of your thriving city?
Has not the working man, who owns an
humble home here in Charlestown, as many
god-given rights as his weather. brotherp
We want no English land laws here, and
no creed that discriminates between rich
and poor if all are alike honorable. This
monopolizing street or bit of country.
savors too much of the spirit of the late
Austin Corbin in his gigantic park enter
prise, when he compelled men to sell their
farms, which had been theirs by Inheritance
for generations, dear as the s'apple of their
eye" even if they were wild and rugged,
and as beautiful to them as Main street in
Charlestown is to its residents, and the
thought was as abhorrent to them of hav-
ing horde Of untamed foreign beasts sur
rounding their peaceful farms, as is the
thought of the awful Disagreement by
trolley poles and wires to our people,
Great was our admiration for the ability
and push of the late Austin Corbin, but a
poor mans rights were not considered in
his great park scheme. Further, there are
a few lahoring people on Main street who
might possibly be benefited in small
measure by having the electrics pass their
door; but enough for the writer if it comes
at all, even by the side of the Boston and
Maine track, which is only leased property
Another argument in behalf of the Main
street route is that less land will have to be
appropriated. There are several who will
be despoiled of land that have been i'm.
proving and bringing it into a state of
greater usefulness and beauty have planted
trees, laid out flower gardens, not like
those OF the millionaire who keeps his gar
dener, but have done it after day of toll,
and ought these to be despoiledp Damage
the beauty OF their grounds? No! Alas
there is no more ground to obtain and the
poor man enjoys his exclusive right as
much as the rich land owner. There
are merchants here who need business en-
terprise. We note thai in years gone
Charlestown was written OF as Zone Of the
summer country resorts, and even the
writer has more than once been solicited tc
write Of the advantages of Old No. as
mecca for the city people who deserved
rest. "Charlestown as it isl" Do yor
know, dear TIMES, that even score Of
people on this beautiful Main street declare
there is no law or order in the place? That
no evil doing is ever punished, or law
breakers brought to book. 1t is even so,
and trolly cars and electric lights would be
an innovation that would benefit the rising
generation in more ways than one and
"get move" on some of the detestable
habits of ''sundown loafng" about the
grand old elms, store steps and street cor.
nerS.
One OF THE TAX PAYERS.