Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-02-03

ened it in spite of all the enterprise, activity
and ability of its managers, and they have
been truly able and enterprising,-till 1t was
plain that it could not much longer maintain
the unequal contest.
Such being the case, and the question be-
ing whether Vanderbilt, the Rensselaer, and
Saratoga, or the Central should take the Rut-
land. we are perfectly clear that it is best for
the State that its control should be kept IN
Vermont hands, as it will be by the lease to
the Central. Give US for the management of
our roads Vermont men, identified with Yer
mont interests, familiar with Vermont ways
and Vermont people, and not SO familiar with
the ways that are dark and tricks that are
vain, which chaaeterize SO much of the
railroad management and control of railroad
legislation in New York State.
The Rutland road. by the lease, goes into
the hands of men who have demonstrated
their capacity as railroad managers. We
speak but the universal testimony when we
say that the Vermont Central line is a nota-
bly, ieeH managed line. 1t is conspicuous for
genuine enterprise, for liberality in extend
ing its facilities for the public comfort and
convenience, for prompt adoption of improve
ments, for careful and reliable management.
lts managers take the Rutland line, not to
smother or cripple it, or any business depend
ing on it; but to build up, deyelop,an make
it, if possible, Of still more service to the
public. They viii throw more business over
it than 1t has ever had. The immense bust
ness Of the Central was Just reaching the
point where double track to Boston would
be necessity. The lease of the Rutland
road gives them another track to Boston,
and it will be made the most Of
In what we have said of the lease of the
Rutland road to the Central, we have not in
tended to convey any idea that the Rutland
railroad company was in slaughtered eircum-
stances pecuniarily, or that its credit was
second to that of any other corporation. On
the other hand, We understand that, under
skilful management, its first and second
mortgage bonds had been almost entirely
converted into stock, and the time Of most
anxiety on that point had passed. But in
the competition for tie northern and west
ern business, the Central had palpably gain
ed the advantage. The time came when
other parties could afford to offer more to the
holders Of the Rutland stock and bonds than
the road could hope to make for them as an
independent road, and it was the part Of Wis
dom to accept the offer.
Looking at the lease, in reference to local
interests, it might be supposed, at first blush,
that after Rutland, Burlington was likely to
be the chief loser by the transaction. Our
business men have been wont to believe that
they derived very important advantages from
our location at the point Of competition he
tween the two lines-and that such has been
the case in years Iast is unieniabe Yet !
we DO not hesitate to say that on the whole |
we believe Burlington will be the gamer by |
the consolidation Al Of the facts bearing |
on this point we are not now at liberty to |
mention but We can say that We have full |
confidence that Burlington interests have
been and will be fully protected in the ar
rangcment; that neither the desires nor inter
ests Of the Central managers would lead them
70 curtail in the slightest the facilities offer
ed to business men at this point; that on the |
contrary, they recognize fully the Importance
Of a station which has paid TO them hitherto, 1
about one fourth of the entire receipts Of I
their road; that their plans include extern
sive additions Of new docks, and increased |
facilities at this point; and that no general |
increase Of tragh or pas snger rates Is COM
templated We have not doubt that more
business viii be done at Burlington and pass
through Burlington, under the lease, than
ever before.
In some matters Of &C nycuience 10 our cit
liens, there will be obvious advantages from
the new arrangement. Thus the New York
trains and mails, which have so often stopped
At Rutland over night, will heneetorth come
through. The Central depot viii now be-
come the union depot cur citizens have SO
long wanted, at which all trains viii arrive
and start in all direction +, to the great say
NJ of trouble ard annoyance both to our
OWN people and the travelling public.
The consolidation Ct the road is sa:istac-
DRY to the owners Of the Rutland road it Is
eeeiyed, as We arc informed, with general
abstraction by the employees and friends Of
hat road along its line and we believe it
viii commend itself in actual operation to
ur people generally.
The Massachusetts 81 Labor Refoi N League"
It its recent convention PASSED a :, ries Of
one Of which laid it down that
ny one who takes interest for money, or
snt for land, or dividends on stocks or profits
q capital, or sells anything for more than it
lst him, - is a thief, whom law should lock
P and bring to justice Another affirmed
lat no man has any more right to own land
ian to hold slaves, and that all sales Of the
overnment domain are void" Still an
her settled the average cost Of money I
one per cent, and declared that all rates q
interest above this axe q - fraud These +
eas are decidedly progressive. The
onder is that the modern Jack Cades who
Id them should openly proclaim them.
ley evidently scorn policy as thoroughly as
ey do political economy.