Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-04-04
The Railroad Controversy.

Having published heretofore full re-
ports OF the public meetings held in ref
erence to the interruption of railroad
travel from Bennington to Troy, and the
extension OF the Bennington and Rut-
land Railroad to Chatham, we deem it
but justice to all parties that the state
ment of the matter made by the direct
ors Of the Troy and Boston Railroad
should also be laid before our readers,
as all have an interest In the various
railroad lines in controversy, centering,
as they do, at Rutland Believing that
all parties should be heard by the pnb-
lie, we therefore give the statement,
copied from the Troy IN. W Times, of
Friday March Doth
Editor Troy Times The statement of
the Rensselaer, and Saratoga Railroad
Company explains itself so far as that
company is concerned, in the controversy
between the Troy and Boston and the
Western Vermont Railroad Companies.
The character and position of the gen
tlemen who have signed it are sufficient
guarantee in this community for it's
fairness and ightforwardness. The
ne, citations are understood to nave
been made entirely by Mr. Cramer, the
President of the Company, but always
with the concurrence and on consulta-
tion with Messrs. Gale and Warren, and
they therefore very properly sign the pa
per with him.
Meanwhile, brief resume of the facts
which led to the shutting up of the
Troy and Bennington Railroad-the
reasons why so important an avenue of
our city trade has been closed-may
prove of general interest. They are Civ
en- from official sources
The lease Of the Western Vermont
Railroad to the Troy and Boston Rail
road Company expired on the 18th of
January 1857. Although it had proved
an Improbable arrangement to the Troy
and Boston Railroad Company, pecuni-
| arily, still, as Il added strength to their
line in general way, and as they felt
! an interest in the business of Western
| Vermont, which their operation of the
| road had contributed to develop, they
| offered to renew the lease at the old
| price $50, 600 per annum, which, in their
| experience of its traffic, was more than
! it was worth, and which would pay its
| owner an interest of ten per cent on
| his investment. The lease provides,
amongst other things, that at its expira-
tiOn the roadway and fixtures should be
returned in as good condition as they
were taken. the natural wear excepted !;
and to ascertain this comparative con-
! ditiOn, two referees were named IN the
lease to whom it should be referred. It
being impractiCable for the two persons
named to serve, two Others, both Of them
experts in the valuation Of property of
that kind, were appointed by the trus.
tees Of the Western Vermont Road in
stead. These gentlemen made q careful
examination of the road when its opera
ton was assumed by the Troy and Bos.
ton Company, aud doubtless preserved
the proper data for a re.examinatiOn
when the lease should expire, But no
such examination was called for. Up
to the day of the expiration OF the lease
no claim had been made-nO suggestion
that the road was not in as good condi-
tion as when it was taken and no sus,
piCiou. even. of such q claim entered In
to the minds of the managers Of the
Troy and Boston Company, for the very
good reason that they knew it was In a
much better condition than when it was
taken. And the President and Treas
urer of the Company felt so entirely al
ease and unsuspiCiOus on the subjec
that they were both in New York st the
time the lease expired. Under these
circumstances it is submitted that the
proper course for the owner OF the west
ern Vermont Road to have taken, was
First-To make his claim and demand
payment, as any ether business mar
would have done and
Secondly--(If the claim was denied
call on the referees, as provided by thC
lease. for report as to the comparative
condition of the road and
Thirdly-If the report Of the referees
was in his favor, and the Troy and Bos
ton Road still refused 8 settlement, avai
himself of any legal provisions in hi
power to compel q payment OF III
! claim.
But what, in fact, did the owner o
, | the Western Nermouh nallto toa" uo
On the night Of the expiration OF tn
lease. secretly aud in the dark, having
made no demand, and without the shad
: ow of an equitable claim, he attaches
the entire rolling stock and property O
the Trov and Boston Railroad Compsn,
in Vermont 1t was "big thing
BE had made a big thing in Maripo
; sa," sa' WI Why not in western Vermont :
=, the Troy and Boston Company to tax
+ new lease Of his road at au exorol'
ant price-or, if the responsible psrtie
(they must be residents OF Vermont
5 came forward to receipt snd give oono
, in a penalty Of $4,000 for the proper. !.
attached (not the eaS'esS In'ns ssrcs ~, theS
; into long litigation in foreign stat
: where his influence as millionaire eve