The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-04-11
tFrom the Chicago Railway Review.1
John Gregory Smith and Vernon,
Railways.

!. rtFrom the Chicago Railway Review. ]
, John Gregory Smith and Vernon
Railways.
Our remarks upon "Vermont Railwa
Consolidation" in the Reriew of the 10,
q inst. rather naturally suggests the quer.
r how Vermont-considering her size, 81
, uation, population and wealth-a small
: isolated and agricultural State, of br
little commercial Importance, and expor
ing but few surplus staples,--has acquire
and wields so much power in the railwa
arrangements of New England.
Her position, lying in one Of the gres
pathways to commerce between the North
west and the Atlantic, has had much t
do in endowing her with this power. Bu
as much, or more, is due to another hap
py fact. The projectors, the fathers an,
sponsors of Vermont railway enterprises
from their very inception, and their sue
cessors in management to this hour, hav,
always been men of great abilities ant
unquestioned integrity and honor. Tt
such men, for example, as Charles Paine
John Smith, and Lawrence Brainerd
founders of the Vermont Central, ant
Timothy Follet, the brothers John ant
Harry Bradley Of the Rutland and Bur
lington r. R.'s-all now deceased
mont owes her railways, and to then
much of her prosperity.
They assumed the labors of procuring
the charters, subscriptions to stock, and
took heavy responsibilities many times
and their successes were owing to their
characters. There were giants in those
days Nothing less than the high char
acters Of those men could have prevailed
over the deep seated prejudcies Of the old
fogies in tho Legislature of Vermont, in
the struggle to procure charters, which
were strenuously resisted.
All the mantles of these railway elders
have we'll fallen upon their successors,
now managing these great corporations.
The virtual consolidation of these two
railroads-the principal ones in the State
has brought them mainly under the
general management and control of Hon.
John Gregory Smith, Ex-Governor of the
State, and President of the Vermont Gen.
trail X. R., and also of the Northern Pa.
ci6c Railway.
No man could have had better school.
ing for his laborious and responsible po-
sition. Bred a lawyer, and for several
years a partner with his honored father
in a large and successful law practice,
they both abandoned that profession to
assume the weightier cares and labors of
railway management. In this they be-
came associated, among others, with Hon.
Charles Paine, ex-Gov., etc., and Hon. L.
Brainerd, whose brilliant and accomplish
ed eldest daughter became the wife of
Mr.. j. G. Smith Mr.. Smith (senior)
lived long enough to see all his railroad
projects succeed, to leave his son we'll
versed in all the details and duties of
their management, and the Vermont Cen.
tral became thoroughly systemized and
popoular road. He died in the fall of
1868, to the poignant res.:.. vr ~ s-c-
pie of Vermont. among. whom he had so
man of honor and aDlI,ye y,sS" Ro,sS.:!S" as a
Auence in the welfare Of his State which
is felt to this day.
We alluded above to the struggle had
in the Legislature to procure the charter
of the road. Few who were not eye.wit-
nesses can appreciate the difficulties and
delicacy of the situation. A charter was
granted in lS47, we believe-stating
from recollection. At that time there
were no roads chartered nor running in
the State. There was a strong feeling
against such gigantic monopolies," and
"mammoth corporations" etc., which it
was predicted, would "override all other
interests" respect no private rights, and
corrupt legislation" And again, the
projectors Of the rival line (the Rutland
L. Burlngton) were not only demanding
their charter, but were using all means in
their power-i. e., all means known to or
permissible in Vermont-to defeat their
competitors. Then, too, the Vermont
Central, it was believed, could not be op-
Grated successfully without bridge across
Lake Champlain at Rouses Point, fraught
with ruin to navigation. and with sundry
disastrous consequences, such as raising
the water and flooding the country, by
making ice.dams, and in all sorts of ways
till then unheard of in any philosophy
extant. And in addition to this strenu.
Gus resistance, came difficulties in precur.
ing money and securing its judicious out.
lay. BODYBUILDING was but little under
stood appliances and machinery were
rude and Inefficient the country trav.
ersed was mountainous, and it seemed to
many to be impracticable to build road
or maintain it proftably when built.
1t was against such manifold difficult
ties that the Messrs. Smith soon found
themselves contending. and that, too, as
master spirits. They were often, in the
infancy Of the railroad, compelled to give
pledges which many men, less sagacious,
pronounced over-hazardous from which
many less bold. less COILS ious of their OWL
abilities, shrunk buck, and dare not follow
And these pledges to the people of Yer.
mont have been honorably redeemed
To no other living man do those people
owe more gratitude and honor than te
John Gregory Smith.
While congratulating him Oh his last
and crowning success, the control of the
Rutland & Burlington X. r., We are SAT;
in the prediction that if his life is spared
it will not be his last triumph. Thos.
acquainted with the relative situation o
the two corporations, have long felt tha
they ought to be under one management
The objections which might be urgeG
against fostering great consolidated
monopolies, and perhaps properly enough
sometimes, do not obtain in this case, fol
the people have had experience enough
Of Mr.. Smiths management, to feel ass
ured, that as long as he has the control
their interests will never suffer nor theil
prerogatives and privileges be encroachct
upon.