Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1896-01-08
ELECTRIC ROAD FOR SPRINGFIELD.
C0gent Reasons why II Should Come to Bel
lows Falls Instead OF CharIest0wn.


Springfield is one of the busiest and most
enterprising towns in the state of Vermont.
Ii has u population of about 5000 and in
spite of the fact that it is six miles from
railroad has built up large and varied
manufacturing industries. For several
years its public spirited citizens have been
figuring ON railroad connection with the
rest of the world Lines to Gassetts,
Rockingham and Charlestown have been
under consideration. A survey for an
electric road between Springfield and
Charlestown has just been completed, the
expense being borne by two of SPRING
fields wealthiest and most progressive citi-
zens.
But building the road to Charlestown is
merely tentative; Springfield is going to
have railway facilities the difficulty is to
determine the direction the road shall take.
We believe that Springfield will make a
serious error if road is constructed to
any other point than Bellows Falls. These
reasons will be given from time to time
through the columns of the TIMES. We
shall also publish what influential citizens
both in this town and in Springfield think
of the project. We invite communications
from residents of both towns.
| Il. III. Allbee was asked what he thought
of the project, and expressed himself as
decidedly of the opinion that the road
should come to this city. He said. .In
my opinion the best route would be from
this village along Rockingham street and
road to the &. S. Albee place, thence to
the Williams River bridge on line sur
veyed three years ago for a highway; then
follow the highway to the Lewis Olcott
place, thence keeping on the plain to the
BLACK River, not going down the grade to
David Fairbanks. This route would not
have any serious grades. The road should
be built the standard gauge so that freight
cars could be taken direct to Springfield
from any line. If bridge must be built
at Charlcstown, | believe the road could
be built to this town at about the same
cost it could to that town. The most Sc
rlous difficulty would be in crossing the c.
" r. r. which would have to be done
near the Williams river BRIDGE
/ c. II. Williams is another believer IL
this project. He said, II think that the
single consideration OF competition il
freight rates should lead the Springfield
people to come this way. A road connect
ing either with the B. & NJ. or the c. V
would leave shippers at the mercy of tn,
road they connect with
Hon. A. n. Swain was seen. 81 believe
that the construction of the road would b,
a great benefit to both towns, but o
greater benefit to Springfield than thi
+ place. 1t is said that Springfield mer
chants favor Charlestown and oppose com
ing to this town because they fear tina
trade would come this way to large cx
tent, but this objection is open to criticism
1t is true that some articles of merchandis,
;, can be bought cheaper in Bellows Fall
than in Boston, and also true that som
+ are sold cheaper in Springfield and Sax
tons River than in Bellows Falls. This
chiefly because rents are cheaper. Tha
being the case Springfield merchants shout
reap as many advantages as they woul
lose.
Electric roads are being constructed il
all the larger towns of the state and wit
; marked success. The road from Bennino
ton to Woodiord has just declared u pc
cent dividends the Brattleboro road ha
been success from the first: ST. Johns
bury and Barre are both to have road i
the near future.
Next week we hope to give interview
with some of the leading citizens of Spring
field.