Connecticut western news. [volume] (Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Conn.) 1871-1970, 1901-03-28
THURSDAY, MARCH %. 1901.
The Tarifiyille Extension.

The Tariffville Extension.
The Hartford Courant recently pub
lished an editorial opposing the Tariff.
Vile extension of the Connecticut West
ern Railroad. That editorial was copied
and endorsed by the New Milford Ga
zette of March %. The Courants edI.
torial is misleading, because it is not
statement of all the facts in the case.
Inasmuch as other newspapers have
pointed out the errors in the Courant's
editorial and have proved that some OF
the Courant's statements are purely i'm
aginary it will not be necessary for the
NEWS to publish the Courant's editorial
and the replies to it. Nevertheless the
NEWS feels constrained to call attention
to some facts which both foes and
friends of the Tariffville extension have
apparently forgotten. At all events the
editor of the News has not seen the fol-
lowing facts mentioned in any editorial,
or in any newspaper discussion, in re-
gard to the Tariffville extension. All
know that "facts are stubborn things,
meet them as we may" The following
facts are stubborn things:
The survey of the Connecticut West
ern Railroad made by Chief Engineer
Oliver w. Barnes in 1858, three years
before the road was built) and the map
accompanying that survey. shows that
49, knp linn Ynk
viz 4, Springfield and Hartford. Com
mencing at point west OF Collinsville,
the north branch passed through Can
Springfield. The south branch passed
through Collinsville. Avon, Pennington
and West Hartford to Hartford. How
ever. for certain reasons, when the
actual work OF construction began, the
layout OF the south branch was changed
to pass through Canton, Simsbury,
Tariffville and Bloomfield to Hartford.
But the original intention Of building q
branch through Feeding Hills to Spring
field was not changed, neither will it
ever be changed.
Until about two years ago the Con-
necticut Western Railroad was fnan-
cially embarrassed and WAS unable to
build the Springfield branch. That
branch is now completed except for 313
feet across land owned by Fred O. Wag-
ner, o nonresident of Connecticut.
When the right to cross that strip of
pasture land is obtained the branch can
be put in operation in twenty-four
hours, with through trains from the
coal mines Of Pennsylvania to Spring
field and Boston; or with through
trains of grain from the Western states
or through passenger trains from the
Pacific coast to Boston.
It is preposterous for any newspaper
or any individual to claim that the
Springfield branch was never intended,
and that because Hartford put $3.50, 900
into the Connecticut Western Railroad
the Springfield branch should not be
operated. Hartford did put $3.50, 900
into the Connecticut Western Railroad.
and she has had millions returned to
her for it. She put the $750,000 into
the road in order to gain the support of
Western Connecticut to make Hartford
the single capital OF the state. Hart
ford got the support and has profited
By it." In fact, the white marble used
in constructing the capitol building was
obtained at East Canaan because the
Connecticut Western road made it pos.
sible to transport the marble at nominal
expense. But today "there is an al
most universal demand on the part oil
the business men of Hartford for the
completion of the Springfield branch.
Names that represent nine tenths of the
nofacturing and shipping interests oil
the city" have petitioned the Legislature
to grant authority for completing the
Springfield branch Notwithstanding the
opposition of the Hartford Courant and
the Consolidated road.
Necessity and public convenience de-
msnd the completion of the Tarifville
branch. As Q matter of fact, all the
towns between Millerton, N. Y. and
Hartford, Conn, burdened themselves
with debt to build the Connecticut
Western road, and of course they have
rights which should be respected
Many individuals in those towns also
invested heavily in the stock and bonds
of the @. W. road, aud they or theil
heirs also have rights which should bt
respected. All those towns, and all in
dividual holders OF stock or bonds oil
the @. w. road want the Tarifvillt
branch operated. Furthermore tn,
people between Millerton, N. Y, ant
the coal regions of Pennsylvania as vel
n many towns in Hartford County
Conn want the Tarifville branch
operated. In fact, it is q matter of in
terest to the entire state of Connecticut
All friends of the Tariffville extension
expect to have their desire granted
sooner or later. The unprejudiced, nm
influenced and unbought opinion OF th'
public demands the completion OF thu
Tariffville extension.
The Consolidated road can now make
host of friends by Withdrawing its op
position to the Tariffville extension
The Consolidated road is . rich corpo
ration, nevertheless it cannot afford Il
lose this unique opportunity to practict
the Golden Rule" viz, Sand as u
would that men should do to you, DE-
va nlao m them likawiae 4" and fhorahy
gain legion OF friends. Friends are
valuable and reliable worth having in
this world-but Riches certainly make
themselves wings; they fly away as ar
eagle toward heaven"
The only exercise some fellows take
II in rushing the growler,