Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-03-27

which the extra session was called TO meet on the
9th inst 80
10 the GeHerat assembly ofHe state IF Yer
mont You memorialists, citizens OF the State
of ernont and inhabitants Of the Counties of
Rutland and bennington, represent that about
fifteen years since under o charter from this State.
the Bennington and Rutland Railroad, then called
the Western Vermont Railroad was constructed,
extending from the village OF Rutland through
ten towns in the counties of Rutland and Benning-
ton 10 the line Of the State of New York. dis
lance OF about sixty miles, and was put ia opera
ton,
That in the same year the Troy and Bennington
and Troy aud Boston Railroads chartered by the
State of New ork, and located within that State,
were constructed extending from the State line at
the point where they are met by the Bennington
and Rutland Railroad, TO Troy, New York, and
have since, until the 10th day of January last,
been operated by the Troy and Boston Railroad
Company and have connected with the said Ben
nineton and Rutland Railroad, thus forming
continuous line from Rutland TO Troy and part
of a continuous line from Montreal 20 New York
AND the West That since the construction Of
said roads, a large business has grown up in Wes-
tern Vermont depending for It's success on said
line Of Railroad. aud OF little value without Rail
road facilities. That for ten years next previous
TO the 10th day OF January last the Bennington
and Rutland was operated under a lease hy the
Troy and Boston Railroad Company. I'm conncc-
ton with their rail roads in the State OF New orz
That on that day said lease expired, and the pos
session ot the road was surrendered TO the owners.
That Immediately after the expiration OF said lease
the Troy and Boston Railroad Company. without
just rause and without previous warning gave
notice that they should not in future operate the
Troy and Bennington Railroad (Which road eN-
tends from the State line 20 the Troy and Boston
road at Hoosck Junction. distance of fyemilcs,
and since that time the said company have refused
to make any connection with the Bennington and
Rutland Railroad or to allow the managers of the
road To- run 10 Hoosick Junction and there to con-
meet with the Troy and Boston road, and accord
iugly no trains have been run over the Troy and
bennington road boy any company. but the opera
ton of the same has wholly ceased.
And your memoralists are informed and believe,
that since such refusal TO connect, the Troy and
Boston Company have, by lease or otherwise,
transferred them right to- and possession of, the
said Troy and Bennington road, 10 the Rensselaer,
and Saratoga Railroad Company with the under
standing and agreement that The same should not
be operated, and that no connection should be
made with the Bennington and Rutland Railroad,
and now both Of said corporations (the Troy and
Boston and Rensselaer, and Saratoga Companies, }
bv their officers declare that no connection shall
be made with the Bennington aud Rutland Rail-
road, so long as 1t is owned 10y Neunonters, and
such your mumoIIalists believe is their determine
tion.
And your mcmorialists further represent that al
though the said line of Railroads has been OF great
value and advantage TO this section of the State,
[ yet the people doing business on the same, have
| been subjected TO, and compelled TO pay 10y the
IroJ and Boston Company during all the time u
has been operated higher rates OF charge for pas
sage and freight as our mcmorialists believe,
than have been charged on any other line of rail
road in hc country. that such charges for passaue
have been higher than the laws Of New y ork per-
INIT them TO impose, and that on some parts of the
line within this State, the cost Of passage and
transportation 70 Troy on the same has exceeded
that formerly paid for passage and transportation
by teams, before said roads were constructed, by
at least fifty per cent.
Your memorialists further represent that the
Rensselaer, and Saratoga Railroad company own
and operate line of Railroad from Rutland, in
this State to Troy which line is longer than the
line through Western Vermont 10 that city, and
has heavier grades and shorter curves, and is prin-
cipaily IN the State OF New York And that before
the breaking Of the connection of the line through
Western Vermont. by contract between the Troy
and Boston Company and the Rensselaer, and
Saratoga Company, it was agreed that forthe term
OF ten years no through business either of passen-
gers or freight should 20 over he Bennington and
Rutland Railroad as has been lbs wont, but all such
business should bee forced to 60 over the road of
/ the Reusse laer and Saratoga Company to Eagle
Bridge in the State of New York and thence by
the Troy and Boston Railroad 10 Troy that if
such contract is carried out your memorialists
believe it will be, the bennington and Rutland
Railroad could not be operated but at q loss, even
T If the connection, now broken, were renewed,
and the value of the same would be wholly destroy
ed. And your memoralists further represent, that
by breaking the connection at the State line as be-
fore stated, the said Rensselaer, and Saratoga
Company are enable to force and do force, all the
business from the North 10 the South and West
I over their said road, and by preventing it from
going in its best and accustomed channel, Uid the
Bennington and Rutland Road they create monop-
oily of all such business aud are enabled to increase
the rates Of charge for doing the same at pleasure
to the great detrimeut of the business interests OF
the portions of this State lying north and east OF
Rutland, as well those Of the section on lifeline
OF the Bennington aud Rutland road, and also 10
the damage of other Vermont Railroads; and said
Rensselaer, and Saratoga Company have, in fact,
already since the breaking OF such connection, as
before stated and since they have obtained control
of the Troy and Bennington road, advanced their
rates Of charge on freight from this State to New
York and theWest, more than twenty we Der cent
and this your memoralists believe is but the be-
ginning OF injustice which the people of this State
I may well apprehend If this monopoly becomes per
manent. For il the connection is not renewed, or
if the Bennington and Rutland road passes into
( the possession, or under the control OF the same
company (Which it is believed is the only condi-
ton upon which it will be renewed,) then said
company will have the absolute control Of every
outlet by railroad from this State to the West and
from all Western Vermont TO the South
Your memorahsts further represent that, while
in consequence of the acts of the Troy and Boston
and the Rensselaer, and Saratoga Companies, other
Vermont Railroads will be seriously injured, and
the business interests Of the State North and East
Of Rutland will, by reason Of the exorbiant charges
for the transportation of freight and passengers
greatly suffer, the effect Of these acts upon the line
! OF the Bennington aud Rutland Railroad will
unless relief can be obtained be uinous, and will
be seen in the diminution OF business, the disap.
pearance OF valued business men, the general de
crease of population, the decay of our villages anc
great reduction in value Of taxable property
Your memoralists believe that the only remed,
for these great evils is the construction Of another
railroad, giving the State another outlet to til,
South and West that such route can be opened
and will make, when completed, the shortest ant
best route from Montreal TO New York, passing
through the entire length of the State, and secur
ing the people in future against the gross impos
tions Of the Troy and Boston and Rensselaer, anC
Saratoga Companies. Under this sudden and ex
treme pressuro your memorialists, and those the,
represent, require some legislative action, such a.
was not necessary, and the necessity Of which coul,
not be loreseen at your last SESSION to enable then
to carry out this project at en- early day. Will
such action at the extra session now called, il i
expected that the new road will be completed tn,
ensuing season.
Your memorialists therefore pray your honorabl,