Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-06-03
Consolidation of the Vermont Cen.
trail Line of Railroads.

community as to the precise nature and
object of the grand consolidation scheme,
that has recently been submitted to the
Massachusetts, legislature for its action |
Its tenor has been little understood in
Vermont, only that it was great scheme
for the association of roads on long line,
rs it was said for closer connections, facil-
itating business, and enabling the parties
in interest to give the public cheaper
freights. This was very specious and
catching phase of the subject to present
to the people. While other States may
entertain this project, yet we are inclined
to the opinion that the people of Vermont
have not quite forgotten the attempted
consolidation of railroads in this State in
1858. The masses look with little favor
upon combinations of great interests which
place in the power of corporations, an OPP
portunity to Cypress the people, and ex-
tort from them unjust dues for the trans
action of business. We would not be I'M
derstood as conveying the impression that
such would be the case in this instance,
but such combinations place the people at
the mercy of great monopolies, if they
are disposed to use the combined power
consolidation places in their possession.
Another view of this particular scheme
as it is presented is that such a consolida-
ton would be greatly detrimental to all
those railway interests in the state that
ut h-ao Cd in
project leaves out the Rutland Railroad,
and would be an attempt to cripple and
embarrass its northern connections with
the Ogdensburg road, and in a measure
be calculated TO prevent the building of
the Whitehall and Plattsburgh Railroad,
and weigh much against the building of
the Whiting connection with that road at
the lake. This may look like a far
fetched view of the subject, yet when the
mice in this meal" are caught, we ven
ture the assertion that this point will be
more plainly seen by the people.
We find in the Ogdensburgh Daily
Journal, OF May Goth, an article, which
we give herewith, that strikes the key
note and speaks intelligently upon the
real purpose of this consolidation scheme. |
and our readers will do well to give the
article a careful perusal
There is at the present time great eff
fort making in certain quarters to secure
the consolidation of all the railroad COM
panies extending from Ogdensbur to Bos-
ton on what is known as the Vermont
Central Line Before this end can be Sc
cured, it will be necessary to obtain spe-
cial legislation in Massachusetts,, New
Hampshire, Vermont and New York.
The matter is before the Massachusetts,
Legislature at the presen. time. Col.
John II. George, of New Hampshire, was
recently before the Railroad Committee,
for the purpose of stating his reasons why
the, consolidation should be made They
We're very fine, and, for the object
il view could not well be bettered
OF course Col. George said the object
of consolidation was to make all the roads
pay better by bringing them under one
management, decreasing expenses and
lessening the burdens of the public. Any
one would naturally suppose this would
prove sufficient to procure the desired
legislation on the subject and il probably
will in Massachusetts, and New Hay mp
shire, but when it comes 70 Vermont and
York the cat will be dragged out IF the
new meal tub and skinned And we hereby
give the gentleman moving for c5nsolida-
tor notice that they will find t. lis hard
scheme 10 carry. This line of abroad has
been IN operation for twenty gears, but no
body dreamed of consolidat .on till now.
Our readers will bear III mind that re-
l, ,,tl L..
railroad communicates with Opdens-
hurgh, and party OF surveyors are at the
present moment Engaged in locating the
llhe TO It's lnterse' .:tion with the Nermont
Central Line IN Vermont The compile
ton OF tn's road is of the utmost impor-
lance to the welfare of the Ogdensburgh
X Like Champlain Railroad and the
Whole of Northern New York. 1t would
at once double the business over this road.
All the roads If the Vermont Central
Line, between the intersecting point and
Boston, consider the Portland project
dangerous rival.
That road would bring Ogdensburg and
the west nearer to Europe. and would
consequently secure the export trade.
Consolidation means the killing of this
Portland project or the placing of it at
such disadvantage as to render it of no
practical benefit to Ogdensburg. The
most direct and shortest route to Boston
from Ogdensburg is Via Plattsburg and
the Burlington y Rutland Railroad, and
large amount of business comes to the
Ogdensburg road over that line, which
consolidation means to cut off When the
Plattsburg and Whitehall Railroad is
completed to Ticonderoga and connect
ing link secured to Rutland we shall have
another all rail line to Boston, and when
the Plattshurg Il Whitehall road is finish
ed we shall have another all rail line to
New York. The projected roads will
open to the Ogdensburgh Il Lake Cham
plain Road a large amount of business
The gentlemen who are moving for this
consolidation have done their best to keep
the Ogdensburgh Railroad from doing
business with the Rutland & Burlington,
without success. The building of the
great railroad steamer to ferry cars across
Lake Champlain was necessitated by the
restrictions of the Vermont Central Line.
Without consolidation, the Ogdensburgh
Il Lake Champlain Railroad will have
four spouts pouring into her hopper, while
with it, its whole business will be forced
through one. This is what the consolida-
ton gentlemen are driving at. In oppo-
ston we shall have Portland, Rutland,
Ogdensburgh, Whitehall, Plattsburgh and
all Northern New York This thing is
very finely and nicely laid, but will fail
to connect.
Mr.. MOTLEY IN ENGLAND.-Mr Mot
ley, the new minister of the United States
to England, arrived at Liverpool on Sa-
turday at midnight. He was waited upon
next morning at his hotel by the Mayor of
Liverpool and the American Consul at
that point. He subsequently agreed to