Year: 1870

w A"'S3 eAAc WSSnt w SilAOhiSiC PIto


gress. Bridport has voted to bond for


the sum of $4,000 in the event of the


eastern terminus being located at middle


bury. Middlebury, ON the same condition


votes, with great unanimity, to bond for


the sum of $4,000. Private subscriptions


to this fund are increasing it materially.
All we now need to insure success in this


enterprise, is little lift from adjoining


towns, which will be largely benefited by


the building up Of an important town at
this point. Salisbury, Cornwall, Wey-


bridge and New Haven, althoug gh not
equally benefited with Middlebury and


Bridport, are yet to receive very material


benefit from a junction of important lines
of railroad at this point, in the creation of
center of business, in the enhancement
of the value of their woodlands and their
products generally.


All these towns center in at Middle


bury, naturally. Salisbury and Corn
wall and portion of Weybridge and


New Haven have, with US, common
interest. The mere distinction of name
can hardly be allowed to distract us from
realizing the benefits of a natural unity.


Beyond the advantages to these towns,
referred to above, we might add that
large town here, would soon call for the


development of the valuable peat deposits
of Salisbury and Cornwall, and immedi-
ately bring into use the water power in


Weybridge and New Haven. It should
be remembered that Weybridge shares
with us in the ownership of the valuable
water power at Papermill village, which
will be within one-half mile from the
junction. The influx of capital conse-
quent upon the development of that pow
er, will aid largely in all the enterprises
the town of Weybridge may undertake,
and the increment to her population and
influence will not be inConsiderable.
I Bat a matter of more tangible import
ance to the people of both, Cornwall and


Weybridge, is the establishment of a
depot, very much nearer a large portion
of the people, easy of access, perhaps in
the Fair Valley, where they can receive
and ship heavy freight. The matter of
freights is more important than it may at
first seem. To illustrate, take the one lit
tie item of coal consumed in the village
of Middlebury. The amount now con-
sumed is not far from 700 or 800 tons per
year and is rapidly increasing. Mr.. Mar
shall estimates that very soon after the
completion of the Addison railroad the
amount consumed will be more than 1000
tons year, Taking this estimate as the
basis, and his other estimate that at least
$3.50 per ton will be saved in transporta-
tion, and we have the snug little sum of
$4,000 per year, saved to the village of
Middlebury, on this one item But this
is only small part of the heavy freight
age that now comes out of us, either in
bringing from, or carrying to, market.
Weybridge also shares with New Haven
in the possession of the valuable power at
Belden's Falls, and, still further down,
Pecks Falls, and besides, has the immense
power, all to herself, of the Lower Falls |
Under the impulse given to improvement
and business enterprise at Middlebury |
and vicinity, the power now expending
itself in lashing the rocky sides of its own
channel would be gathered up and ap-
piled to tho of and business. |
and wealth would be created, or at least
appropriated. 1t is wicked waste of the |
opportunities the God of nature has given
us to allow the 5000 horse power, which
is low estimate of the power of these
falls, to go longer unimproved, when the |
opportunity is open to us, as it now is, of
securing the benefit of that improvement
by simply putting out our hand and TAX
ing it.


We expect something from these towns,
and something generous, too. Their citi-
zens have never been found to be "half
penny" men; and emphatically so when
any measure of public benefit invites
their attention. If it was matter of un-
about the value of the stock
when the road is built, the matter would
be different. But we presume that mat
ter is settled in the minds of all con-
cerned. The guaranty by tho Rutland
road for the interest of six per cent,
make the value of the stock par before it
is built. The credit of the towns, and
The payment of the interest the first year
perhaps, is probably all that is necessary
to enable us to realize the advantages of
this road and junction.