Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-04-17
PUBLICITY AND PROGRESS

PUBLICITY AND PROGRESS
IF a man or a community or common
wealth has adeserving project in hand, one
can always afford public discussion there
Of. Indeed the more 1t is considered by
the people in general the better. 1t thus
gains attention and the public becomes
familiar with its merits. The time comes
when majority of the people are so i'm
pressed with its desirability that 1t can
not be defeated, and success is assured
. On the other hand, an ill-timed project or
Job" that will not stand the light of
day, cannot afford to invite public discus
sion. It must slip through legislative
body without letting people know what
Is going on. In this way many drive
on the public treasury or on the rights OF
The people is carried to success by the un-
foreground route.
The Enosburg Standard after comment
ing on our reference to the paradoxical
statement that Lieutenant Governor
Mason S. Stone in casting the deciding
ballot in tie vote on the barge terminal
bill in the Senate. and Governor P. w.
Clement were both charged with seeking
to make political capital with the people
out of Numerically opposite courses,
says:
ITO the ordinary observer this barge
terminal proposition has two sides to it.
In spite of the cock-sureness Of those
who have argued for or against 1t with
more or less heat.
ION the one hand there is enough merit
In the proposition, from the standpoint
of improved and extended transportation
facilities. to justify the attitude of those
members of the Legislature who support
ed the measure. Lieut.-Gov. Stone had a
right to vote as he did in favor of the
measure, without being open to abuse and
to being charged with improper motives.
ION the other hand, in the face of heavy
appropriations for the support Of State
government and matters growing out Of
the war, there was sufficient warrant for
the attitude of those who lined up in op-
position Governor Clement in his veto
of the measure, should be credited with
honesty of purpose and the right eco
nomical spirit
1.-The barge terminal discussion has been
good thing. If the proposition has merit,
the defeat will be only temporary. If 1t is
visionary scheme, it will fade from pub
lie consideration"
The barge terminal was simply one
means to great end. namely. the devel-
opment and improvement of inland water
transportation via Lake Champlain Bur
lngton is the chief port on this inland sea
No sane man would build boats to hau
freight to and from Burlington. before he
knew he would be assured a permanent
landing place for his craft. He would not
put thousands of dollars into a craft not
knowing whether he could have wharf
on which to load and unload freight. This
problem is entirely different from che ole
one as to which came first chronological,
the hen or the egg. Wharves must be as
sured before we can reasonably look fol
lines Of steamboats, or even of the large
pew barges contemplated by the New
York canal.
In view of the fact that the railroads
or interests affiliated with the railroad
have for decades controlled all tn
wharves in Burlington that are really t.
be seriously considered as wharfage 1t i
no argument whatever to point to the alb
sence of freight lines on Lake Champlail
as reason why such lines will not be estab
lished, when shippers and communitie
combine In affording terminals and bust
ness.
It may be necessary to present waite
transportation development to Congress
MS well as to State legislatures for som
years yet, but few more squeezes in tn
prices of coal and other commoditie
will bring people to point where the
will be glad to take the first means OF RI
lief afforded. They will be fully familia
with water transportation as sue
an opportunity to secure cheaper rate
ana consequently the lower cost Of Twin
we are all seeking.