Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-11-27

much as the other side had seen fit to ash
questions relating to the report and the bill
he should be pardoned if he briefly reviewed
the arguments that had been brought forward
IN favor of the Walloomsac road. He woule
not attempt to review all the evidence, but
only to confne himself to facts that had not
been controverted, and appeal to the com
mittee to substantiate his statements.
/ He then stated that this SO called Barden
road was made an issue in the election in
the town of Bennington, and in Bennington
county, in the last election and the opponents
of the road, both in Bennington and the coun-
ty, were triumphant by very large ajority,
and he supposed it would not be asked for.
But after week or two we began to be
overwhelmed by a set of LOBBYISTS. who
were parading before members, outside the
House, maps which were false on their face.
and which were designed To misrepresent
the care before the Legislature. These lob
bylsts were hired men who had been employed
to come here 20 influence members. and 1t
was all at once cried about the streets here
that those in favor Of that road were four
to one, and that the road would be granted
This was brought about by these lobbyists,
without any hearing of the case and before
any evidence had been submitted to them
On my part | have never enpioved man To
come here to influences legislation, save the
counsel whom ! subsequently, employed to
aid in taking the testimony At the first
meeting Of the committee, went before them
alone, and there found between twenty and
thirty outside lobbyists present to influence
the committee. Before the examination was
commenced, it was decided that the committee
should 20 to Troy and Bennington and exam
inc the country they went, but he did not
Mt that time see the benefit of the visit to
Troy. and did not go To that city with
them, but did accompany them To Benning
ton, and wherever they went in this State.
The committee returned, end for time
every one Of these hired lobbyists had for
exhibition one Of these false maps, and was
ready To show il To influence the members
with whom they cOnversed. pom the
We presented map made by our
own engineer. and sworn 10 be correct. and
which could not be gainsaid by the oppos
ton. pom the presentation of this map,
the maps of the lobbyists all Ut once disap-
peared, and no man has been able to see one
of them for the last two or three weeks
They knew they were not correct and had
taken the precaution to withdraw them from
exhibition, leaving only our own map in the
hands of the committee and before the pub
lie
Mr. Park then gave history Of the build
ing of the roads in Western Vermont, and
the various connections between the different
roads. exhibiting the map H. substantiate
that he had made and proposed to
make again He also repeated the statements
that have been made public respecting the
Troy Il Boston and the Rensselaer, Il Saratoga
roads, by which the through business from
Northern Vermont should pass over the Rens-
selear & Saratoga road to Troy, to the exclu-
sion Of the Bennington and Rutlund road
and read the contract made betw cen these
roads to substantiate his statements. showing
that the intent of the contract was 10 do
away with all competition for through bust
ness from Rutland south, and that 10 the en-
ire destruction of 90 miles of road from Rnt-
and to Bennington and known as the Ben
lingtOn and Rutland road
lie then stated the efforts that he had
made with the managers of the Troy & Bos-
on road, to obtain redress for the contract I
hey had made with the Rensselaer, Il Saratogo
Dad, whereby the Bennington Il Rutland I
Dad was to be utterly ruined, which efforts /
esulted only in propositions from them t. /
ell out to them the Benninton and Rutland .
Dad and thus place. not only the road, but +
he business interests Of South western Yer
mont entirely in the control of that foreign .
He did not, and would not .
Onsent 70 any such sacrifice of the interests
1 the people of Vermont, and therefore no
edres> was obtained
Matters stood thus up to the session of the
legislature in the fall Of 1866. when arrange
lents were made with Gov. Smith Of the
ernont Central and Mr. Page of the Rut-
md and Bennington, whereby they were to
axe a lease Of the Bennington and Rutland
BAD thereby hoping 10 settle the difficulties
ctween the roads. and resume such business
with the Troy and Boston az
mi % hon -he
nd Rutland road. But Notwithstanding the
ase. and the efforts that lie. in connection
18th Gov Smith and Mr.. Page. had made
he connection between the Bennington Il
utland and Troy i Boston roads was entire
broken off on the 10th day of January
st, and since then no cars have run from the
and Rutland road on to the Troy
nd Boston road, except in one instance
here an attachee of the Troy and Boston
lad came into the State in the night and run
8 some cars which had been attached and
ere held by the officer
Meetings were held on the line Of the
and Rutland road, u see what
Duld be done 10 obtain redress for the griev-
nccs that the business interests of Benning-
IN county were suffering under, and the re-
nit was that the TROY and Boston road abs0-
Itelv refused TO have any business cOnnec-
ions with the Bennington and Rutland road
ntil the people and the line Of the road and
ne people Of Vermont would put down T.
Y. Park, repeal the infamous attachment
RVS of Vermont. and put their road into the
ands OF others than NermOnters, 10 I've run
hen. and not till then would thew (the Troy
I'D Boston road) entertain any propositions
n the resumption Of connections with the
and Rutland road Then it was
mar the people Of Bennington were told By
be Troy and Boston. that they must join to-
ether and open up road for them to run
ito the village of bennington. To enable them
} give the people Of Bennington railroad ia
llIlies- Seeing no hope of getting such a road
II themselves, this Burden road was all at
nee brought forward it had been preached
efore; and he believed that the road was
esigned really Tor the Troy and Boston. al
lOugh the Messrs Burdens were put for
ard to get the charter.
lie then related the history of the applca-
ion for the road, and showed from the man
nat the road now proposed for them 10 North
bennington the one they originally
-anted, and a hundred per cent. better for
ne accommodation Of their own works than
ne one they had now asked for, only az it
-Ould be better for their friends the Troy
nd Boston road. 1t was only an effort Of !
lie Troy and Boston road To get into this
tate. through the Messrs. Burdens. az he
al convinced the committee. and an he be
eyed every member of this house would {
early see He also read from freight bills.
harges that had been made to the Messrs.
urdens and other parties for freight. show {
lg that the Messrs Burdens were charged
MY about one-half as much as others and :
$50 stated the fat that the Messrs Burdens {
ere allowed run cars on the Troy and J
oston road TO lnmodate their business in '
while business men of Yer !
ont were denied the same privilege. {
1t appears beyond dispute that the Messrs q