Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-05-02
AN e.
The County Seat Since 1897.


Brattleboro's demand for the county
buildings has come once again like Ban
quo's ghost bobbed up to plague us, and
the thought of losing the one feature of
our town which gives us a small degree
of dignity and prestige, has tendency
to make our hair stand on end.
1t is no very uncommon occurrence in
the west to observe a court house bowl
ing merrily along over the prairie, perch
ed upon a double set of wheels drawn by
a score or more pairs of horses, and there
are instances reported where the county
records have been all worn out dragging
them around place to place, but we in
Newfane cannot but feel that the in
terests of Windham county are better
served by a continuance of the county
buildings and records in the town where
they have remained ever since the days
which mark the drafting of the consti-
tuition of the United States "a town of
which we believe we can say free from
prejudice that it would be difficult to
find one more beautiful and picturesque
with It's well-kept dwellings it's broad
park dotted with fine old elms and naples,
fitting site for the court house of
Windham county and the towns other
public buildings.
And there is one phase of the question
which it seems to me has never been
given sufficient prominence. There is in
this whole subject a principle involved, a
principle of vastly more Importance and
which effects the welfare of the state of
Vermont more than any other argument
which can be presented for or against
removal If Brattleboro must needs have
the county buildings now located here
at Newfane; If 1t were possible for
Bellows Falls by act of legislature to
absorb Leland d Gray Seminary now
located at Townshend; If Rutland and
Burlington and Barre and st. Adams and
around them to surrender their academies
or manufacturing plants upon the plea
that these cities could boast somewhat
better railroad facilities or connections,
somewhat better hotels and somewhat
better sidewalks than the small towns, -
would such change be benefit to the
state of Vermont as a whole? What
ever with conditions as they are is going
to be the ultimate fate of rural Vermont?
Each year marks a falling off in the popu-
lation each year shows a decline in the
grand lists, and yet the same highway
mileage must be maintained. the same
high standard of schools must continue,
and the same number of bridges and
embankment ratings must be kept in
repair as when these towns contained a
third more inhabitants and % per cent.
larger lists.
The hope and strength of this county
of ours will ever be in its rural population.
will help to check this decadence of the
small towns of the state of which this
commonwealth is largely composed; laws
that will foster and encourage rather
than such as have tendency to render
practically non eXistant.
The question of the location of the
county buildings will be decided by the
state legislature and that body will be
responsible for the result. The fact that
no change can be made except by their
formal act indicates that it is a question
which involves the states welfare.
The benefits accruing to Brattleboro.
the irreparable injury done to a smaller
and weaker town, even the interests of
Windham county itself ought not to be
considered primarily except as inciden-
tai to the bearing they have upon the
best interests of the state at large. but
to the people of Newfane 1t looks as If the
passing of an act which has for it's OBJ
ject the benefit of one town at the ex-
pense, one might almost say ruin. of
another, is not only wrong in principle but
will in the end be disastrous to the
best interests of the state as a whole in
its results.
F. \. DEWITT.