Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-07-25

gate of any Of the great cities of the coun-
try, whose traffic must necessarily cross
her borders and pay her tribute.
Her only policy is to reach out for, and
draw into the State, business which is
bound for destination beyond her limits.
This business, which is merely passing
through the State, although IL may be OBJ.
tanned at low rates. pays good part of the
running expenses of the road, and enables
its owners to give TO those who live along
their line better facilities aud a lower tariff
than they otherwise could. If this bust
ness is ever lost to our railroads an addi-
tional burden will be thrown upon the bu-
sness interests of the State.
The three great lines of rail transporia-
lion between the east and west have been
those by way of the New York Central,
the Erie, and the Pennsylvania Central
roads. Western freight is carried over
these lines at n uniform rate, and as far as
that business is concerned they are blended
in one interest and make common cause
against rival lines. In opposition to these
lines the Vermont Central managers have
laborcd to establish another and entirely
Independent freight line between New En-
gland and the west. This line not only
takes from the others n portion of the bus.
mess, but exerts controlling influence in
fixing the rates of transportation. II the
lines without the State could break the
Vermont Central line they would not only
secure the whole New England business,
but could take II at their own rates.
At the time the Vermont Central manag-
ers were overborne by financial difficulties,
they had obtained such leases and made
such arrangements as secured them both
north and south and east and west through
lines. 1t then became question whether
this system was to be suffered to fall TO
pieces, and Vermont lose all the advantage
of being thoroughlare for the traffic of
other States. Parties from without stood
ready to take and divide the estate as soon
as the Vermont Central managers were
compelled to lose their hold. Those inter-
ested inOther through freight lines between
New England and the West could well af-
ford 10 hold the Vermont Central proper
merely for the purpose of breaking rival
line. The Delaware & Hudson Canal Com
pany with lis branch into Rutland, and al
ready looking TO the completion of its line
north on the west side of the lake, could
well afford to hold the Rutland road for the
purpose of breaking the through line, so
long labored for and now almost re llized,
from New York to Montreal, running
through the entire length of the State.
These instances will give some idea of
what would have been the condition of our
railroad facilities if the Vermont Central
system had been broken into fragments,
and held piecemeal by various foreign
companies for the purpose of making the
disjointed members subservent 10 greater
interests elsewhere.
Fortunately Vermont has been saved
from an experimental knowledge of such
condition Of things. The Legislature at its
session last fall made provision for the or
ganization of Il company within the State,
which might succeed the managers of the
Vermont Central and keep intact the lines
so essential to our business prosperity.
This company has been organized, and is
now in now in possession OF the Vermont
Central lines. As provided by the az, of
iiifpi pun tlIbli, uldloiilN VA INC hlIf'tbIN
are residents of this State. They are not
mere financial shadows nominally in pow
err 20 meet the letter of the law, and repre-
senting the interests of other men but are
citizens of substance, who are personally
interested in the growth and prosperity of
the State, and have invested largely in this
enterprise, to continue to Vermont the con-
trpl nf har nd Sau 10 linas Xrh irb
draw the business of Other sections across
her borders. The non residents who have
subscribed largely to the stock of this new
company were primarily induced to do so
from the fact that they were already inter
ested in the New York, Boston & Montreal
Railway, extending to Rutland, and wish
ed to sec ure the remainder of the line north,
otherwise in danger of passing into adj
verse hands. Holding also the Vermont
Central line extending to the east, they
will have the same interest in the prosper
ity of "A through line to Boston that its for
mer managers had. The company have
Just taken the lease OF th1 New London
road, to carry out their design to keep up Il
north and south through line on the east
side of the mountain as well AS on the
west. The men who have taken this Ver-
mont system of roads have not taken il to
divide and destroy in the interests of other
lines, but have taken it to hold, build up
and strengthen. They have no interests to
conflict with the full development of the
lines which traverse the length aud breadth
of our State. 1t is not easy 10 calculate the
difference to our business prosperity be-
tween the present disposition of our roads
and such disposition az woIld have been
inevitable but for the timely action of the
gentlemen who form this company Nan
chester Journal.