Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-11-13
THE RUTLAND HERALD.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1s. 1875



the business of an important section OF
the State, and forced upon the common
wealth the expense of an extra session
of the Legislature, and burdened both
the State and the United States Courts
with Improbable and burdensome liti-
CATION. We do not propose to enter
into history of those complications nor
to express an opinion upon the relative
merits of the controversy, except to
state a single circumstance connected
with that history which may be neces-
sary to a proper understanding OF the
phase of the old difficulty that has re-
Gently broken out afresh in this village.
Our readers probably know that in the
old line from Rutland to Troy, via Ben
ninpton, there were several original
roads, one Of which was called the Troy
s. Bennington r. r, running from North
Bennington or rather from the State line
short distance below North Benning-
ton to Hoosic Junction where it con-
nected with the Troy & Boston road.
Soon after the break between the
Western Vermont Company, and Mr..
Park on one side, and the Troy and
Boston Company on the other, at the
expiration of the lease of the Western
Vermd mt road to the Troy and Boston
Company the Rensselaer, and Saratoga
road, that then had the possession and
was running the Rutland and Wash
ington road from Hoosic Junction 10
Rutland, leased the Troy and Ben
nington road at an annual rental of
$1,000, and suspended its operation.
This constituted a complete blockade
between the valley of Western Yer
mont and Troy. 1t is also well known
that few months ago the Delaware
and Hudson Canal Company took pos
session, under lease of all the roads
of the Rensselaer, and Saratoga Com
pany, running into Vermont. This
company, in running their road, con-
tinued tariff of rates for freight,
fixed by the Rensselaer, and Saratoga
Company, upon which they made GER
tain determinations against freights
going over roads in competition with
their own-as, for instance, marble
from West Rutland to Rutland, if it
was only coming to Rutland or going
east, the rate was five dollars per car
if going north over the Rutland road
the rate was ten dollars per car, and
if going south over the Harlem Exten-
sion road, the rate was fifteen dollars
per car. The managers of the Harlem
Extension road, T. w. Park and Will
liam Butler Duncan, felt that this was
an unjust discrimination against their
road, and they called upon Mr.. Dixon,
the president of the Delaware and
Hudson Canal Company, and asked
correction of abuses in the connections
at the State line, and discontinuance
of the determinations on freights
against them. Mr.. Dixon appeared
quite friendly, and professed to have no
knowledge of the grievances that the
Harlem Extension Company complain
ed of, and he asked that conference
might be had between some of the Off
GERS of his company and the managers
of the Harlem Extension Company, and
time was appointed for the meeting.
At this conference Mr.. Park was re-
quested to put his requests and state
ments in writing, and give the officers
of the other road few days for con-
sultation upon it. Mr.. Park then sent
them the following letter, which, with
the others below published, have been
sent us by the managers of the Harlem
Extension
New YORK, Oct. 16, 1873.
THos. Dixon, Esq, President Delaware
and Hudson Canal Co:
Dear Sir-Referring to our converse
ton of yesterday, in which you request
ed me to submit in writing what the
Harlem Extension railroad company,
desired of your company, beg to say j:
First-We wish to secure at Rutland,
freight from your road, that shippers
desire to send over our road at fair
rates, and that no discrimination shall
be made against our road.
For long time past your company
have charged freight on marble from
West Rutland TO Rutland, distance of
four miles, five dollars per car if the
destination was Rutland or east of Rut-
land, while fifteen dollars per car is
charged if the freight is to go over our
road. On this class of freight you
charge shippers to our road 375 cents
per ton per mile, and three times your
local rates. u8
am informed your company discrim-
mates against us as on other freights and |
from other points than West Rutland |
Sec'nd. We wish your company to con-
sent that the Troy and Bennington rail- |
road be opened for all business, both |
freight and passenger. The Troy and Ben |
nington road extends from the Vermont |
line, where it connects with our road, to |
Hoosic Junction, where it connects with I
the Troy and Boston railroad. Its |
Its length is about five miles.
For over fifteen years previous to 1867 |
we had line from Rutland to Troy, of |
which the Troy and Bennington road |
formed a part, and our road was built to
connect with that road
In 1867 the Rensselaer, and Saratoga |
railroad company acquired an interest in
the Troy and Bennington railroad, and |
closed the road to all through business,
thus effectually closing our Southern and
western outlet.
We are willing, as we always have
been, to concede to your road all that
we ask, and have never made discrimin-
ating rates against you.
have stated the facts in regard 20 |
Troy and Bennington road, for the rea-
son that you informed me that the ar
engagements in regard to that road were |
made before your company had any in
terest in it, and that you, person ally, had |
no knowledge of the facts. IS. -. /
Hoping to hear soon the disposition of |
your company, in regard to the re-
quests we make, am,
Very respeG ;tfullv yours,
as.ssa T. w. PARK.
To this letter Mr. Dixon made no re-
ply, and after waiting longer than was
Mr. Park sent the following: