The Press., 1899-02-09
goods bought at the "cut price" stores in
the city, and their clerks standing around

=
the city, and their clerks standing around
half the time and doing nothing.
So much for the theory. Now what
will be the facts And this brings me
back to my text, the letter from Rock
Vile. Note especially these words: GA
number of the stores report increased
business over last year, and the sales of
many merchants were about the same as
last year" When the matter OF running
trolley to Hartford was first talked
about, many of the merchants of Rock
vile prophesied dire disaster to their
business, just as the merchants of this
place do now, but the prophecy has not
come true, for the merchants as whole,
do as good trade as they did before the
advent Of the trolley OF course, it is
not to be denied that few--perhaps
many-more people trade in Hartford
than used to when the Rockville branch"
was the only mode Of conveyance. But
then this has been offset-and will soon
be more than offset-by the growth of
Rockville and the opening up of new ave.
nues of trade for the local merchants,
both OF which have been brought about
by the trolley. And now let us apply
this home to ourselves. If the merchants
sof Rockville, only II miles from Hart
ford, admit that the trolley has not hurt
their trade, is it not reasonable, Mr.. Edi-
tor. to conclude that the trade of the
merchants, about IA miles farther off, if
the road went through West Stafford,
and about 81 miles in all from Hartford.
would not be hurt by trolley connect
ing 1t with that city? Indeed, l venture
to say that, in the event of trolley,
much fewer people In proportion would
go from h re to Hartford to trade than
now go there from Rockville for that
purpose, and for very obvious reason
the expense OF the round trip, aside from
the possible cost of lunch, would prob
ably be at least 10 cents, and one would
have to be very heavy buyer indeed to
save even "a quarter" above his expenses,
and then his bundles would be so heavy,
Or SO bulky, as to make it almost, II not
quite, impossible for him to bring them
home with him. But even allowing, for
Hthesake of argument, that the building
.spf trolley up this way would result In q
Few, perhaps many, more going to Hart.
ford to trade than now go to Springfield
for that purpose, think what would soon
Offset that! AS the advent of the trolley
has brought about the more rapid growth
of Rockville and opened up new avenues
of trade for her merchants, so would it be
with Stafford Springs. Wherever the
trolley has been introduced, other things
being equal, either it has made growing
towns grow faster, or it has made places
grow which before were at standstill.
Among the latter class think we car
safely place Stafford Springs. If I am
not mistaken, our borough is not grow.
ing bit. Indeed, am not sure but thai
1t has lost little In population In the
past year. Now run trolley through
the streets of our beautiful village, con
Meeting US with Worcester in the one di
rection and Hartford in the other, anC
just see how it will grow! 1t can't hell
but grow. The better railroad facilities
town has, the more desirable it be-
comes as place of residence. And Il
Stafford Springs should grow, would MOI
our merchants reap some benefit from it
Another thing, If trolley were built
bringing the borough within easy reaci
of Stafford Hollow, Hydeville, Stafford
Vile and Wales, our merchants woule
soon begin to have customers they rare
ly, If ever, had before. Farmers and 9th
ers to the north of us, living on the lin,
of the trolley, or within two miles OF
either side of it, would find it very con
venient to board Car and ride here to d,
their trading, at total expense Of 10 O
30 cents for the round trip. AS result
this place would before long become ia
more of shopping center for the peopl
north and south of us than 1t is now
Another thing yet, l said that Staffor,
Springs would groso on account OF tn
trolley. might have mentioned one par
! ticular way in which think trolle
would make 1t grow. Once upon tim
this place was famous summer resort
l have an idea, Mr.. Editor, that one eli
feet of trolley through here would b
that Stafford Springs would recover som
of its folmer prestige in that respect
Why not The delightful spring, witt
its wonderful medicinal powers, is her
still, and we still have the same gran
old hills, the same sweet, bracing air, tn
same endless variety of fora, and tn
same soul-inspiring scenery; and we ais
have much more beautiful village thai
we had then, containing convenience
which were then unknown, not amon
the least Of which is hotel that is frs
class in all its appointments, and as fin
as can be found in any village of this siz
~ the state, If not in New England. Blu
how many city people of means know al
this about Stafford Springs? How man
~ell-to-do residents of Hartford, for ex
ample only 81 miles away, have eve
been here? Very few, comparatively,
venture to say. Why? Simply becaus
Of the i'sGccessi6i1ity of the place. Al
though but 81 miles from Hartford, "a
TIP crow flies," railroad wise we Nigh
jSt as we'll be up In the middle Of Masss
chsetts. Now buil1 trolley and ope
u, this beautiful region to the outsid
vprld, and what will you see? /? believ
J, u will see our splendid hotel full t
derfiowing every year from May to Octe
br, and doing paying business the res
q the year, thus bringing our public
sfrited citizens who built 1t substantis
rfurn on their investment. also proph
eE that in the course of time you will se
olr surrounding hills dotted here an