Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-11-06
RAILROAD POLICY,

RAILROAD POLICY.
On the occasion of vote taken the other day,
favorable to the Western Vermont Railroad bill,
we took the opportunity to express gratifcation,-
although the road in question is not one in which
we are directly interested, and is in fact of great
advantage to gentlemen who have been bitterly
hostile to the road which is of vast Importance to
the people of this section of the State. In diff
fereht spirit we deem it our duty to advert to two
extraordinary resolutions, before the House,
giving construction to the charter of the Central
road suited to the particular purposes of rival in
terests
/ The first resolution declares that the Central
Road does not possess the right to build its road
from the valley of Onion River to Canada Line
a point which the friends of the Central Road
doubtless consider unimportant, since the Canada
and Vermont Railroad BILL designed to connect
with both the Central and Rutland routes,) has
been passed.
The second resolution declares, in substance,
that if the Central road is built to point conven-
lent to connect with the Central road it cannot al
so be extended to point convenient to connect
with the FitchbuIgh road without violating the
rights of the Connecticut and Passumpsc Riv-
er Company. We do not propose to go into an ar
gument: but we will state the facts.
BY its charter the Central road was authorized
to connect either with the Concord road, the
Fitchburgh road, at any convenient point in the
valley of Connecticut River, conditioned that it
shall not interfere with any road thereafter char
tered in that valley. The design manifestly was
to give the Company the power to choose, and to
20 either to the Concord Or Fitchburgh roads,
, In pursuance of this power, the Commissioners
of the Central Road endeavored to induce the Con-
cord road to meet them, but without success. Con-
WINGED that there was no disposition on the part Of
the Concord road to build to White River, SO long
as that road could force all the business of North
ern and Central Vermont to cross the backbone of
. New Hampshire in carts, and pour itself into the
Concord depot-the committee ofthe Central road
: deemed it their duty to the corporation and to the
people of large portion of Vermont, to enter into
r a contract with the Fitchburg road, to meet them
through the Cheshire road,) in the valley of Con-
necticut River in the vicinity of Cheshire Bridge.
- This contract made-thc stock of the Cen
e trail road taken under it, and has been paid in
: to the amount of $l3O,OO0,-und tie Central road
; has been located in part in accordance with the
: contract.
! We may add that the Directors of the Central
e road have endeavored to adhere strictly to their
charter in this respect, and are prepared to comply
= with every condition in respect to the Passumpsic
!. road or any other to be chartercd and that they
n do not seek any connection by their charter, with
" the Lebanon road. In locating the Central
road the Directors have located it near the mouth
- Of White River, being the best, and in fact the
lie only feasible route TO connect with the Fltchburg
e road but they do not deem themselves authorized
to connect with the Lebanon road under their char
f. ter having elected TO connect with the Fitchburg
Or When the arrangement with the Fitchburg road
r was made the Lebanon road not in exist.
Ir ence, and whether it ever will be built so that il
possibly connect with the Central road, is I'M
certain. There is no security that it will be built
% certainly none that it will be built to White Rv
" err. If built, will the Legislature compel the Cen
ut trail road TO unite with the Lebanon road, against
IS its will? viii compel the people of large por
ne ton of Vermont to suffer the Lebanon road to
he nopolize their business and dictate terms? The
II. legislature has not that power, clearly; and yet
we hesitate not to say, that the construction OF the
" charter in this resolution cannot for moment be
1t ente tanned, except on the ground of connection
at between the Central and Lebanon roads.
nj But the resolution assumes more than ths--as
u; sumes that the Central road only be built to
he point convenient to meet the Lebanon road wheth
of err the latter is ever built or not If such real
rs y the intention of the grantors of the charter 1t II
he certainly singular that any thing at all was inserted
he in reference to Fitchburg
ed The charter expressly provides that all its pro
he visions shall be construed favoraby for the compa
"a n.y. but here the House is gravely asked to adop
EST I'm entirely different rule, and to instruct the court
he without the concurrence of the Senate,l to unit
ITO in this violation of the charter.
no But we will not argue the point If that con
all structon is correct and is enforced, the presen
ter stock of the Central Road cannot be holden, an
els the people in the valley of Connecticut River, II
tly Windsor County, and in all Central ana iarg
not portion of Western and Northern Vermont, canno
have the benefit of this Road-at least for lonl
at ner;od Nav more--we believe, that if the Hous
I'm ic,r tho resolution is not even joint one under
tobos in this mode to tamper with charters, roa
he ., Fremont icH succeed If capitalists cannot rel
ian npon their charters-if they are to be subjected t
Ct construction after construction, not by the courts
nd but by the LEGISLATURE conflicting parties
in this mode directly invited to make the LegislO
a tive Hall the for contests about their char
tiers, and if these contests are be decided on
w. Railroad party or another shall have the ascendsn
oct cy-Vermont may bid adeu to all her hopes fc
j. y improvements of this kind.
II We are aware that the threat has been hastil
ami See An pnre