Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-10-11

lers on the upper lakes. and formed during
the season of navigation good and Efficient
line
The business accommodated by the line
was what is known and termed the interior
of New England business, consisting oil the
supply of Western products to the great
manufacturing districts and other points
in New England.
This traffic formed the most remuneratlye
business of the line. In addition to this
during the season of navigation, through
freights to and from Boston and the West,
found convenient and natural route by this
line. The Propeller line at that time con-
sisted of thirteen boats, making SEMI
weekly line between Chicago and Boston
Thus during the season of navigation, this
line did fair business, but on the closing
of navigation it could only be operated a.
line for local business between OgdensburS
and Boston.
The organization of the ear companies
known rs the ''colored lines, ander various
names of Red, Blue, White, Merchants
Despatch and the like. was admitted upon
the connecting roads leading from Boston
to Western points. and being ena bled to
transport freights by rail to all points West
without breaking bulk and on time contracts
and having the advantage of continuous
lines all the year round, offered great induce
ments to the patrons Of the Vermont Cen
trail line to withdraw from IT and send their
business over those lines, offering a addi-
tional inducement contracts for the entire
wear at uniform rates.
Many strong patrons of the Vermont
Central line We're thus induced to withdraw,
and the business of the line was seriously
threatened The 'colored cars from other
lines were reaching far into the interior
4 4
away business which fairly belonged to
this line. and which it could, properly
equipped, better and more naturally supply
than any other \ conference with the
| other roads now forming the line over which
the National Car Company run their ears
was had. and it WAS agreed that an effort
| should be made to hold this buineSs The
| change in gauge, however, constituted
serious drawback The patent which had
| been obtained for adjusting the wheels and
axle to Il difference in gauge was an expert
ment and 50 uncertain in its results that the
several companies constituting the line did
not feel justified in investing III the enter
prise rs corporations. Ii was therefore
agreed that if outside capital could be in
| duced to take the risk that a liberal con-
tract would be given by the roads in the
| way of ear service To test the experiment.
The parties owning the patent, therefore,
with confidence in the success of their IN
yention, undertook to organize company,
and contract was entered INTO
| with that company, signed by
all the roads composing the line,
permitting the Despatch Company 70 build
and place upon the road two hundred cars to
test the experiment and agreed to allow for
that number three cents per mile run for ear
service That company was, however re-
strcted TO the original number. and could
not add more without the written consent
/ of all the roads in the line The contract
also contained provision authorizing any
road in the line to terminate the contract by
purchasing the ears at cost. With a con-
| tract thus guarded the company was organ
| led. Being entirely an experiment, and in
| the Indictment Of many railroad men some
| what doubtful of success, it was not easy to
| enlist sufficient capital at first 10 give it
| trial To encourage II. therefore, many
gentlemen connected with the different roads
/ in the line came forward and subscribed for
| a portion of the capital stock. The number
| of cars limited in the contract were built
and were put into the line, and the expert
ment proved n success After year work
| ING or thereahout- the managers of the
several roads in the line became satisfied
| thatathough theco~t of these cars was some
| what in exce,, of ordinary ears. yet they
| could not feel justified in paving the high
rate of service called for by the contract,
and declined % admit any moro cars unless
| tine rate WAS reduced.
Thi, wa, done. and the rate two and a
| half cents fixed for a limited and small num-
| Der of additional ears Then the rate Wa,
afterward reduced To two cents on the ad
| ditional cars put in. Negotiations have
! been pending for the past three months for
a still further reduction.
Every effort has been per-i-teutly made
not only by the Trustees and Managers of
the Vermont Central. but by the managers
of the other roads in the line. TO reduce this
ear service.
There was not at the iir~t nor has there
been since any element of speculation OF
private OF personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT M 10
whatever nor have the ears, Iu the upiuIun
ofthe Trustees and Managers, been permit
ted any undue preference or advantage over
theordinary car, ottheroad. The instructions
ofthe Trustees and Managers from the out
-et to the heads of the departments charged
with the duty Of looking after such matters
have always and uniformly from the first
been explicit upon this point, and they are
fully assured hy the several departments
that these orders have been strictly obeyed.
The rates of freight between Boston and
the West are not regulated by the Trustees
and Managers of this road alone. These
are under the general coutrual of board of
managers of through line bushes, which
Board Is composed Of representatives of each
road constituting the line between ogden--
burg and Boston. and this Board Is organiZ-
ed again bv q Chairman and an Executive
Committee To this organization all queS-
tions of rates ON through ireight- are re-
f.,-r...l "a, nj - rrrtl.r rie5r t.surrn| M
stances cited in the public prints where the
amount paid for ear service exceeded the
amount received for the freight. may or may
not be true No such instances ON the Yer
mont Central road have come 90 the kuoWi-
edge of the managers. nor do they believe
they exist. If found ON other roads. 10 Is
believed that they are isolated ca-e-, and If
all the facts were given would find a -lti--
factory explanation.
No such instances have. however, been
brought to the notice of the managers ct
this road by any Of the connecting roads.
That the organization Of this despatch line
ha, been of actual and essential benefit to
the Vermont Central road. any candid ex-
animation of the business viii be- forced %
admit That it would be desirable that the
road itself should own the ears there can be
no room for doubt. and the managers can
not TOO strongly urge 'ne I'M am W .'.'
purchase 1t l. SIMPLY a question ol oaPl-
tai. II the road were relieved OF IT. present
restricted ana awkward position AT osa arr
the management ana were paced III lne
hands OF corporation |here tne proper |
additions to rs pant ana inc ll'lsS ngIg,
Sary Tor ltS expansion ana grown coulu III
its own legitimate and natural way he |
cauiiai-ed. all the difficulties and embarrass-
ment- which now hang over the enterprise |
would be relieved IL would adu new Ae't |
to every department OF the road, II would |
give it credit which trustee mana cement |
can never possess, it would bring de'elop- |
ment and growth which would surprise |
even it, most sanguine friends, and 1t would |
remove all the cause for Jealousy and suS-
picion which must ever attach 10 the man
ayers of road, however faithful and honest
who's, form of Office Is not dependant on the !