Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-02-03
SOME TROLLEY CONNECTIONS
Benefits That Would Come from Eleo-
trio Lines TO Adjoining Towns.

There Is a pervading air Of en-
couragement among our public spirit
ed men which promises a general
awakening TO the requirements OF the
town In order to insure its future anu
permanent growth says the local cor
respondent of the Springfield Repub-
lican IN his Sunday letter. 1t is seen
that among other things required Is
increased railroad facilities, quicker
and closer connections with the near
by towns which the extension of the
electric road would surely afford. Di-
rect connection with Hinsdale and
Mortified would unquestionably prove
advantageous In very many ways 10
both of these towns. The idea, which
is sometimes advanced, that Brattle-
boro would be the sole beneficiary
from such connections, is disproved by
the experience of other towns SIM,
larly located. There is reciprocal
trade always assured with such ac-
commodations and there Is no reason
to doubt IL would be the same in TINS
instance Some Vermont manufact-
urers have recently associated theni-
selves with New Hampshire interests
in the building of one of the best pa
per mill plants to be found in New
England and this mill, located on the
Ashuelot river, near the village Oh
Hinsdale, would be materially beneft-
ed by the extension of the Brattleporo
electric road; while with this con-
nection established there is reason
for believing that other industries
would soon be forthcoming in the VI
cinity of the new plant. Nortnheiu
would be not little benefited ana the
three towns would share respectively
the stimulus which additional railroad
facilities would give.
There are many good and sufficient
reasons why Brattleboro should again
urge the scheme of an electric road To
Jacksonville and Wilmington; CHIEF
of which is the opportunity now Of
fered for cementing for ala time the
business relations of these towns
which were severed when the Hoosac
Tunnel and Wilmington railroad was
built. Now that this road has passed
into the hands of outside capitalists
whose interests do not extend beyond
that of ownership and apparent IN
different operation of the little road---a
noticeable contrast to the ever watch-
full and neighborly policy OF the pro-
motors and builders of the road Wnose
nrofit Of management came solely
from their lumber industries which tna
new managers had not acquired, II IS
time to act. II is true that the pro
posed deal in which the Rockefellers
were interested, but which failed OF
consummation last fall, because or I'M
perfect title, included the timber
lands of the Deerfield river company
and several others, but the syndicate
onIv secured the railroad. This 1t Is
understood. was anything but a de-
sirable outcome to the Rockefellers
who were anxious to get controi Oh
the great area of timber after IL hau
been personally inspected by son
of the oil magnate.
patrons of the Hoosac Tunnel ana
Wilmington road complain that the
promised improvements. under the
new management, do not materialiZe
and without them their interests are
likely to suffer hence Wilmington
and Whitingham people are not whol.
lv nleased with the new order OF
things and in nursing their dlsap-
nointment express a hope that Brat
tIeboro will see their opportunity ana
take advantage of the present sltua-
tion nv fayoring a road through Gull
ford and Halifax TO JacksonVlne
thence on to Wilmington. 1t is more
than probable that with such cor
nection once established the industries
of Wilmington would prefer to pa
trOniZe 1t ratner tiidh " -
freight down the river. There are
certain things influencing such ae
sire and the reasons could be easily
obtained If a movement was 10 De
made 10 prove that Brattleboro act
uallv wanted to do something to re-
new the relations which 1t formerly
enioyed. Unless the suggestion IS
early acted on there are likely to ne
other facilities offered Wilmington
and adjoining towns for the accom-
mndation of their lumber interests
which, at present, are not satisfactor-
ilv cared for.