The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-11-09
RPctifying Ancient Landmarks.

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the habitations of men change, also.
Had the the pioneers who laid out this
Green Mountain land been gifted with
''second sight," and had they been able
to foretell the changes a century of
progress would make in business con-
ditions, for example, they might have
saved future generations many afilc-
tions by running town lines to antici-
pate the revolution the coming of rail-
ways would make in the channels of
traffic and in the places of public con-
vocation.
When the iron horse poked his
nose up the Passumpsic valley in the
early fifties, population and business,
commercial and public, began to form
new centers. One of the earliest con-
sequences OF his advent into the com
munities of that valley was the propc-
sition to change the county shire from
the time honored heights of Granville
Green" where the Legislature of Yer
mont in its wanderings had once assem-
bled, to the blooming" village several
hundred feet below, in the valley.
Irasburgh, the shire town of Orleans
county, bowed toQA evtable and
the courts of the G. low dispense
justice at Newport, Tvs only ques-
ton of time when the present shire of
Essex county will succumb to the
same dominating influence. Change has
no mercy for the fate of communities
outside the track of progress.
From similar causes similar re-
adjustments are going on in the towns
of the State. The records of the Leg
islaiure for the past ten years show
how busy change, demanded by new
business or political conditions, has
been with the town lines. New illus
trations are pending in the Legislature
at its present session. The DAILY
JOURNAL has gone over the essential
points in the proposed annexation of a
part of the town of Berlin to Montpel-
Ter. There seems to be no answer to
the exhibit in this case. The facts
seem to demand that the ancient land
marks shall be removed and that new
ones, adapted to modern conditions,
which it is clear will be permanent, and
the reasons for which will increase
with the passage of time, shall be
established.
A similar case, of similar strength,
is the proposed removal of part of the
ancient landmarks separating Hyde
Park from Morristown. To anyone
familiar with the natural situation and
the conditions existing, the prayer
of Hyde Park that the boundary
lire be readjusted by the Legislature e
has strong foundation of reason and
justice. The railway passes the vii
lage of Hyde Park just over the south
erly line of tie town, in Morristown.
Hyde Park railway station is in Nor
ristown. The railway line is inevitably
the site manufacturing industries seek.
Thus Hyde Parks greatest industrial
establishment is, and must necessarily
be, in Morristown. The new industries
Hyde Park seeks to establish must
have their situs, also, in Morristown.
Hyde Park cannot, therefore, offer to
any individual or association of individ-
uals one strong inducement that Nor.
ristown, or any other town in the State,
can present to locate in town, viz, ex.
emption from taxation for period of
years. If MOrristown offers this bait it
is on condition that the industry shall
be planted in or near the village of
Morrisville, three miles away from
Hyde Park. The latter place is thus
unreasonably handicapped.
Just beyond the railway track 10 the
south is the Lamoille river. Hyde Park
asks that its boundary line shall be eX-
tended to the rivera natural limit.
This rectficaion of an ancient and arb
itrary landmark would transfer to HYDE
Park about $50 acres of Morrisiowu's
territory, but it would give the former
town a chance to expand on its own
domain. 1t would bring part of the
railway line and the Hyde Park rail.
way station within the town of HYDE
Park, and it would give to the town a
great industry already owned by citi.
zen of Hyde Park and operated BY
Hyde Park capital. This is but one
phase of the question, but it alone
ought to be conclusive. Supplemented
by other considerations that are OF
great incidental importance, the case OF
} Hyde Park seems to be invncible,
The town is willing to give its neighbor
as much in territory and grand list as
1t takes. Morristown will be none the
poorer for the change, HYDE Park will
be greatly advantaged. Under the Cir.
/, cumstances Morristown can hardly af
, ford, and will not elect, to play the in
glorious part of the dog in the mauger
Hyde Park gives good reasons for her
petition, and her prayer ought to be
I heard and answered
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