The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-08-09
PEOPLE AROUSED
IN Wilmington
Boat Plan of New England
Power Co. Said to Be
Unpopular
SPECIAL MEETING
OF TOWN AUGUST Ia
Establishment of New Industries Sug-
gested as Means of Making Railroad
Pay Expenses, Thereby Removing
Need of Discontinuance.

Nttu OF DISc0ntlnuance.
Wilmington people viii meet in their
town hall next Monday afternoon at 1
O'Clock in response to the selectmen's
call for special town meeting to con-
slider the proposition of the New Eng
land Power Co. for the establishment of
a boat line from the Nottingham dam
to Wilmington and the giving up of the
section of the Hoosae Tunnel & Whining
ton railroad between the two towns.
There is sure to be record attendance
as this is a matter that vitally 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
100000 in cash if it is allowed to dis
continue that section of the road and
substitute 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 NAV he
discontinued if such a 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 foIlow-
ing editorial
Developments in the matter of tbe
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
Ya!ey VINO 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 ia the reservoir. the
dIscontlnUance of the line would nroh
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
tenn. 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-
facturlng plants to replace those alb
sofbed and wiped out by the Power com
pany IN Its development work. In the
Wy AGstuIt VI lHlISS I0eSe pants would
be Embarrassing plants. There are thous-
aEds of acres of hardwood still un-
touched around the headwaters of the
Deertield and its 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
beth
With such an arrangement much of
the conflict of interests that has OBJ
tajned in the past will be ebviated Hith-
erto the railroad and the manufacturers
have been playing at cross purposes with
re ults that were damaging to both
Such an arrangement would mean
that the narrow guage track to the tim
Der country would have to be relaid. The
iron of this track has been torn up and
4 portion of the road bed would need
regarding. Aside from this the cost
would be much less than when the road
wa originally built
As we pointed out last week. if VIII
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 :Ait is now up to those who
have suggestions TO make them known.
ard for the voters at the coming town
meeting to discard puny projects and
false theories, to work and vote whole
hedileddy 1oI tue salvation OF Unelf own
community that is now tottering to its
fall. 1t is a condition we are facing,
not a theory. HaIf-hearted measures
will fail The example of Guilford. AIarl-
boro, Stratton and other Windham
county towns lies on the one hand:
progress and prosperity on the other. 1t
would be little less than criminal to try
to minimize the danger of the situation.
We are ut the parting of the ways. There
can be but one choice"