Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1911-12-13
ORLEANS COUNTY MONITOR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER
Help the Back Towns.

The Bennington Banner touches up
on an important subject when it says:
First and foremost in the develop
ment of Vermont we need some intel
ligent effort to improve, develop and
put new life into the rural communl-
ties of Vermont. The life blood of
these communities has been sucked
out by forty years of emigration
and, not all, but scores of these COM
munities are tod ay suffering from de-
cay in too many cases, moral, mental
and physical weakness tending toward
degeneracy. This is the greatest
problem that confronts Vermont to-
day. These isolated communities and
men and women raised under these
conditions often even in the larger
towns are the ones who are making
the record of serious crime in Yer
mont so long these days. The matter
should be taken up by the governor
and legislature at the first possible
opportunity.
There will never be the develop
ment in Vermont that there should be
until the back towns, those away from
the main currents Of activity, are re-
populated and rejuvenated. Most of
| these towns have been losing popula-
ton steadily, and many have less
than half the population they had SO
years ago. Nearly all the young
blood has migrated, and maintainin g
schools, churches, highways and the
other essentials of civilization has be-
come an increasing burden. Vermont
must help its rural communities or
our dream of progress will never
materialize. Falls Times.
Railroad Rumors.
We have railroad rumors galore in
this vicinity. One of the latest is
that the Grand Trunk people have
practically decided to take over the
charters of the proposed railroad
from Waterbury to North Troy and
that early in the spring the work of
building the new road will be begun.
With this rumor, loo, comes one to
the effect that large sums of money
will be spent ia Waterbury in erect
ing railroad shops; and taking into
consideration the fact that this place
divides the distance between Montreal
would be the logical junction point
for the new railroad, the latter re-
port is given a certain tinge which
looks reasonable. If the shops are
built as proposed, the title of the
Railroad City" would have to be
changed from st. Adams to Water
bury.
All are aware that President Meller
would like to block the Grand Trunk
moves in this locality and no one il
surprised at the rumor of the sale O.
the Mount Mansfield Electric railroad
to the New Haven and Hartford ant
the Boston and Maine people. JUS
, how much truth there is to the report
no one is able to find out; but thos
who are on the inside will not deny
that the owners of the local electro
line have been asked to name prize
! for the road. and the man who /
negotiating is doing it in the interes
OF one of the large railroad corpora
tions doing business in Vermont.
! 1t is a fact that since the meeting
! held in Waterbury last month map
have been studied, former survey
checked up and. through certain sec
tions, new surveys made. Those mos
! interested in the proposed line are tn
, Grand Trunk people, and it is entire
ly conceivable that they are maxim
the proper moves Waterbury Rec
= ord.