Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-01-30
The RatlrOnd Wnr In Western
Vermont.

The Railrond War In Western
Vermont.
In their origin railroads we're chartered for
the benefit and accommodation Of the people,
and not for the purpose of giving their owners
and managers powerful instrument of monopc-
ly.extorsion aud corruption. This is the theory
Of railroad corporations. But in practice it has
not unfrequently been found that the managers
Of railroads take infinitely less pains to be of
public service. than to make private gains, or
vent private malice at the option Of th.se COT
trolling them. A railroad war broke out in
New York . week or two since, between the
Central, and the Hudson and Harlem railroads
which temporarily severed the connection Of
New York city with the West by the way of
Albany, except 1t the greatest inconvenien ce to
the travel and business on the routes bat the
legislature OF that state was opportunity in
session, and At once inaugurated such vigorous
Legislation % to induce the parties to the coz
troversy to come to terms of agreement, COM
pose their differences, and resume the regular
connections at Albany. Western Vermont is
just nov being vexed with controversy, which
10 similarly vexatious to the people who have
been in the habit Of doing business over the
Western Yer mont { now called the Rutland &
Burlipgtop,) railroad, controversy to which
We alluded last week. The facts are these ::
The Western Vermont road has been
leased to the Troy and Boston road, New
York corporation, for ten years, the lease ex
piring the 18Th of this month. In the mean
time, T. w. Park, Esq, of Bennington became
the owner of the Western Vermont road, end
leased it to Hon. ]. G. Smith of st. Adams.
tho lease to take effect on the expiration of the
lease to the Troy i Boston road. The next
day after the expiration of the lease TO the
Troy & Boston road. the trustees Of the West
ern Vermont road, brought a suit against the
Troy and Boston corporation, claiming $780,,
600 damages fer injury to the roadway ard
iron of the Western Vermont, which the Troy
s. Boston we're by the terms of their lease to
keep in good condition. On this suit several
engines and cars belonging to the Troy & Bos
ton, found on the Western Vermont road, wee
attached, but we're afterward violently taken
from the attaching officers and run across the
line into; New York. Since that time the
Troy & Boston company run their cars only to
Hoosick Junction, which is four miles from
the line of the state where the Western Yer
mont terminates and this action sewers the
connection of the people Of this State below
Rutland. with Troy and Albany by rail, and
compels them to come to Rutland and go over
way of Bellows Falls, to 60 West or to New
York, either with passengers or freight.
Mr.. Smith, who has associated with him
Hon. John b. Page in the management of the
Western Vermont road, has met this action of
the Troy g. Boston by announcing that pass
engers and freight will be carried to New York
or Albany rio. Rutland and Bellows Falls as
cheap and quickly possible, and Mr.. Park,
in behalf of the Western Vermont, advises the
people especially accommodated to be as pa
tient as possible with this break in their con-
nections with New York, and comforts them
with the reflection that they can get along as
we'll without Troy and Albany, as Troy and
Albany can get along without them.
The above, we believe. are the substantial
facts, in this railroad war. Thus far this
ton of the Troy i Boston corporation has In
Aicted great Inconvenience upon the people in
the southwestern part of our State has been
in gross violation OF the laws of this State, in
forcibly rescuing property lawfully attached
and has, for the time being, very much injured
the value of Mr.. Smith lease Of the Western
Vermont road. The course of the Troy &
Boston is also, evidently, without reason, ex-
cept IN the spite OF its managers because they
could not obtain new lease CT the Western
Vermont. This State cannot reach the offend
ers, but we trust the New York legislature will
be made to see this dog -the-manger policy
of one of the railroads of its own creation,
and compel a connection of lis corporations
whose roads reach our State line, with connect
ing roads in this State. Such legislation can
not injure its own corporations, would be of
great public advantage. and would be a meas
ure of interstate comfy which our Legislature
would cheerfully recprocate at the earliest OPP
portunity. The New York legislature made
commendable haste in letting Vanderbilt UNDER
stand that be must connect with the Central at
Albany, however it might interfere with his
private schemes, and they certainly ought TO
follow up that good work by giving the Troy
& Boston road hint to connect with the
Western Vermont on reasonable terms.