Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-02-01
che Railroad Troubles in Bennington
County.
Inc Bennington Banner gives the follow
ing statement Of the facts, in the railroad
complications in that quarter

ing statement OIL tnc taCte; ~ WI iS"N
complications in that quarter
The lease Of the Western Vermont (now the
Bennington and Rutland) Rail Road to the
Troy and Boston Railroad Company Tor ten
years, expired on the 10th Of this month, and
on the 10th inst. suit was commenced by the
lessons, claiming heavy damage for breach Of
covenants in the lease TO keep the road IN re-
pair. Jasper Vial, formerly for many years
Sheriff Of this county, was authorized TO serve
the attachment. and attached, at North Ben
nington, three locomotives and quite a number
Of cars. Keepers were placed on each Of the
locomotives, and the switch was SO adjusted that
the locomotives could not be moved without
moving off the track. and was locked with a
paddock.
About two hours after the attachment. large
number Of Irishmen headed and directed by 4
man by the name OF Wellington, road-master
for the Troy and Boston road, forced the men
placed at the switch away, unlocked it, throw
ing the rails in place, while a number more
with engineers jumped upon two Of the engines
and started the engines for the State line, hold
ing the keepers by force until they had crossed
the line. when they put them of and allowed
them to return to this State. The State line is
about two miles from the depot where the prop
erty was rescued. Attached 10 one Of the en-
gines was baggage car and a passenger car.
The whole thing was done quickly and before
alarm could be given. Those who aided in the
rescue, we are glad to learn, are not citizens Of
Vermont, but were employees Of the Troy and
Boston Company and from Troy.
The property rescued at North Bennington is
estimated to be worth $4,000
The same day another writ Of attachment,
against the came parties was placed in the hands
Of Mr.. Powers, our sheriff, who attached early
in the evening at Pownal, locomotive, one bag
gage car and passenger car and placed the
whole in charge of keepers.
About day light the next morning, N engine
was sent up from Eagle Bridge with gang Of
men. and by force took the whole Of that prop
erty into the State Of New York, and as IN the
other case took the keepers with them.
We are informed the property was rescued
from the sheriff by express orders from the
Office at Troy, by telegraph.-The property res
cued at Pownal was valued at so, 600
On the 18th. Wellington, who aided in the
rescue at North Bennington, was arrested, and
IN default Of bail, Is now in jail. Ii Is
not known that any other party engaged
in either rescue, is in the State, rs they
all, or nearly all reside IN the State Of
New York, and left with the captured property.
the rescue Of this property, under the circum-
stances, IS the most hWless and high-handed
act we have heard Of in our laW-abiding state.
and We hope the offenders viii be brought to
speedy justice.
The owners Of the Bennington and Rutland
road appear to have leased it to Gov. Smith and
the Hon. John 3. Page, under the belief that
they, from their connexIon with other railroads,
would be able to run it TO the satisfaction Of our
community and make it pay. But the day the
al a.
and Boston Company gave notice that in future
they would not run their road from H1osick juno
ton to the State line, where the two roads con-
meet, and since that time we have no train from
the West, and our mails frcm New York and the
West come to Us two days behind time, by way
OF Rutland
We understand the excuse the Troy and Bos-
ton managers give for this action is that the
Trustees under whom they have run the road fJr
the past ten years have sued them Tor q breach
Of contract. II seems a new anl not very legit-
innate mode Of defending q suit, 10 stop running
a railroad and shut up an avenue Of trade
which has been IN use Tor the past fifteen years.
Mr.. 7. W. Pax, President and owner Of
the Bennington and Rutland road, in a pub
lished statement, ayers that the Troy and
Boston Company, during the ten years Of
their lease, wore out the rails AMI suffered
the road, its buildings and fences, to run TO
decay, SO that at the end Of the lease, the
road, which was comparatively new At its
was nearly worn out lie
adds:
While cur Company have no interest in the
If 81 Il ~
We have an interest IN common
with the res, Of the community IN the prosper
ity Of business on the road.
We all sceept the situation that is thus i'm /
posed on US. and do the best We can under the I
circumstances The course Of business will I
to great extent, be changed, as 10 /
future We shall have 10 direct communication /
With Troy or Albany. We msy console our /
selves, however, with the knowleige that there I
,1ist millions Of people who prosper. and yet /
nave no communication with those cities, and no I
opportunity to travel or do business over the /
Troy & Boston Railroad
The managers Of our road, W. are informed,
Ire making arrangements 10 open freight aud
passenger lines TO New York and Boston by the
way Of Rutland, and hope and expect to be able
o DO business at rates not exceeding those here
ofore paid by way Of Troy. We must submit TO
- iEANcl VI tut llhl htle MleEE We nave uCel
to do our business, and we have no
loubt We shall prosper as heretofore, although
ge have 10 use other channels Of business.
II is TO be hoped that before q long time We
ball have 4 southern outlet by the way Of
nathan or Piitsheld, TO New York, and not be
ueject TO the whims and caprices Of the man
gers OF road who appear to have a chronic
abit Of disregarding alike the accommodation
( the public and their own obligation to those
Eho befriend them. While the state Of things
'hich has been thus forced upon us is greatly
D be regretted, we believe that our people OF
Western Vermont, can live as long without the
roy < Boston Railroad, as the Company own
ag that road can without our business, and that
heir novel attempt to cancel their pecuniary
abilities by making war on the public, will not
e likely to succeed.
or course We know nothing Of the parti-
llar facts at issue in the case; but 1t seems
7ident that the Troy L Boston Co. are
ndeavoring to carry things with high
and, and utter disregard of the convenience
considerable portion Of the public. Mr..
ark is wide-awake enough to keep the law
his side. and has the means and energy
protect the rights Of his road, and he will
likely to have the sympathy of Vermont
: generally,in his fight with foreign cor.
ration.