Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1922-08-11
PEOPLE AROUSED
IN WILMINGTON
Boat Plan of New England Pow
. err Co. Unpopular
Special Meeting Of Town August ID
Establishment of New Industries Sug-
gcsted to Make Railroad Pay.

Wilmington people will meet in their
town hall next Monday afternoon at 1
O'Clock in response to the selectmen's
call for a special town meeting to con-
slider the proposition of the New Eng
land Power Co. for the establishment of
boat line from the Nottingham dam
to Wilmington and the giving up of the
section of the Hoosac Tunnel & Whining
ton railroad between the two towns
There is sure to be a record attendance
as this is matter that vitality affects
the towns future and the people are
thoroughly aroused over the seriousness
of the situation. AS previously stated,
the Power Co. offers to give the town
$100,00 in cash if it is allowed TO dis
continue that section of the road and
substitute a boat line, and on the other
hand it points out that fact that the
road is not paying operating expenses
and that the entire railroad line may be
discontinued if such n condition contin-
ues, which would leave the town with
neither railroad nor boats. With the
line from Nottingham to Wilmington
given up the company claims the saving
would be sufficient so that the rest of
the system could be operated without
loss.
The Wilmington Times says the boat
plan is not popular with the people and
suggests the establishment of some new
industries. The Times prints the follow
ing editorial:
Developments in the matter of the
transportation problem during the past
week have proven that Mr.. Harriman's
proposed boat line to Davis Bridge is
not popular plan with the people of the
valley who have given the matter any
serious consideration.
ASIDE from the fact that the terminal
OF such line would of necessity be some
distance from the village, or vary as the
head of navigation was changed by the
varying water level in the reservoir. the
dlscontlnuance of the line would prob
ably result in eventually cutting off
transportation from every Vermont town
IN the valley, and the permanent loss of
the right of way down the valley which
would be preserved by the relocation of
the track.
"The prominent feature of the prob
lem however, is in providing sufficient
business to warrant operating expenses
to the road. This obviously would neces-
state the starting of one or more manu-
featuring plants to replace those abb
sorbed and wiped out by the Power COM
pany in its development work. In the
very nature of things these plants would
be Embarrassing plants. There are thous-
ands OF acres of hardwood still I'M
touched around the headwaters of the
Deerfeld and itg tributaries. Much soft
wood will be available before the hard
wood is exhausted. The logical plan
would be for the Power company to CO.
operate with the people of the valley in
such a way that this natural product
may be made mutually advantageous to
both.
with such an arrangement much OF
the conflict of interests that has OBJ
tanned in the past will be obviated. Hith-
erto the railroad and the manufacturers
have been playing at cross purposes with
results that were damaging to both.
such an arrangement would mean
that the narrow guage track to the tim
per country would have to be relaid. The
iron of this track has been torn up and
n portion of the road bed would need
regarding. Aside from this the cost
would be much less than when the road
was originally built.
As we pointed out last week, if Will
mington is to survive she must save her
railroad. To save the road she must
provide something for it to haul These
are the facts; it is now up TO those who
have suggestions to make them known
and for the voters at the coming town
meeting to discard puny projects and
false theories, to work and vote whole.
h"artedly for the salvation of their own
community that is now tottering to its
fall. 1t is a condition we are facing
not theory. Half-hearted measures
viii fail. The example of Guilford. MARI
boro Stratton and other Windham
county towns lies on the one hand
progress and prosperity on the other. II
would be little less than criminal to try
70 minimize the danger of the situation
We are at the parting of the ways. There
can be but one choice"