The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1867-04-02
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Gentlemen Of tie Senate and HouN of
Representatives. - Upon representations
made to me Of the suffering condition in
which the important business intcl ests OF
the Southwestern portion of this State
had been suddenly and Unexpectedly
iced, by hostile acts of certain railroad
corporations Of an adjoining State, and
which appeared to me to demand imme-
date legislative relief, | have felt con.
strained 10 call you together at this time,
in extra session.
| deem it my duty to make you a brief
statement OF facts in relation thereto, as
they have been represented to me-, and on
the c rreciness of which | have reason TO
rely.
1t appears that connected with the
Rutland e Burlington Railroad at Rut-
land there have been, for series of years,
three railroad routes to Troy, in the State
of New York, forming connections there
with other railroads leading South II; d
West that these ,ilroads have been, to
a considerable extent, rival roads, com.
pcting with each other for the frcights
and travel which enter upon and pass
over these from other railroads, termed
t0ouyh BUSINESS and that each of said
roads depends mainly upon such through
business for its support and successful
operation. Onc Of these roads, which
was chartered by the name of the West
ern Vermont Railroad, and is now the
Bennington 4 Rutland road, runs south
crly from Rutland through the counties
of Rutland and Bennington, to the west
line of the State, near North Bennington,
a distance of fifty four miles, its track
being thence continued by that of another
railroad in the State of New York, about
thirty-one miles further to Troy, the lat
ter road being unler the management of
the Troy & Bo>ton Railroad Company
There is also branch of the Bennington
& Rutland road to Bennington, five miles
in length.
Another of the rival roads, called the
Rutland & Washington Railroad, runs
westerly from Rutland by way of Castle
ton and Salem to Eagle Bridge. where
1t connects with the Troy N Boslon Kali
road, the latter road extending from
thence to Troy.
lhe third rival road known as the
RENSSELAER, d Saratoga road, uses the
track OF the last ment'onei road from
Rutland to Castlcton, distance of eleven
mlieS, ana from thehcc II runs ny way OF
whitehall ana Saratoga Springs to Troy.
inns ROAD Is twelve miles longer than
either oil the o'her two, and does not seem
10 NC inc natural route Tor either travel
or freight between Rutland and Troy.
Inc Rutland ~ Washington Railroad
hai been competing line with the
Rensselaer, d Saratoga road Tor through
business until about two years ago, when
1t IS understood that the company owning
Inc latter road made purchase OF the
former, since which time their rivalry
has ceased, and they have both beer
under the direction and management
within this State as well as out OF it, OF
the Rensselaer, u Saratoga Railroad Com
pany' corporation existing under an
by v rtue OF the laws OF the State of Ne"
No!k'
The Western Vermont, now the Ben
n'nSton d Rutland ka'lroad, WAS pu
IN operation IN the year 1902, and tol
ten years, ending the 10th OF Januar,
last, had been leased to the Troy d Bus
ton kallroad Company, and during tina