Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-04-20
The Central and the Vermont Valley Read.

The Woodstock Standard comes out with
the announcement that the Central gave
up the Valley road only after fierce
fight and signal defeat, and that its loss.
following close upon the loss of the
Ogdensbnrg, must seriously cripple the
| Central Let Us see what the facts are ::
Instead OF making a fierce fight to retain
the Valley road, the Central managers
didn't even make an appearance in court !
| Whatever contest there was, was between
the Valley stockholders and the Rutland
Railand Company. The Central Vermont
being in possession of the property under
sub-ease from the Rutland. was party,
technically, but had no real interest in the
matter at all, for reasons We shall explain
| The Rutland Railroad Company filed an
answer IN the case and Judge Prout,
Its counsel, who prepared that answer,
not wishing to run any risk OF his
clients being prejudieed by the entry
OF default against any of the
parties defendant, drew up himself 1.-THE
answer of the Central Vermont Railroad
Company, to the best of their know ledge
and belief, thought the facts set lorth in the
answer Of the Rutland Company were true.
And that answer was absolutely the only
appearance Of any kind made by the Cen
trail in the suit After Judge johnson
made his decision the Central Vermont, as
party in interest, had the right to appeal,
and by doing 80 could have retained pos
session OF the road during the tendency of
the appeal-prObably from three to five
years. This they declined to do, and AMIGA
bly, handed over the road. Not much fight
about, was there?
Now why ddni the Central managers
contest the matter and endeavOr to retain
possession Of the Valley road? Simply be-
cause they are fully rs well. if not oet-
ter off, without it. The Valley road
was naturally and originally part of
what Is called the Connecticut River line
to New York, formed by tine Central YER
mont, Connecticut River and New York,
New Haven and Hartford roads. When
the Rutland, a rival interest, leased it, in
lS6j, it was, as it were. broken out of this
line. When the Central obtained possession
of 1t by release from The Rutland, it was
restored to the line Going back now, by
this decree, into the hands OF the ConncctI-
cut River interest It's position and relations
remain practically unchanged Its only
value to the Central was as part of this
through line; by rclinquishing it they
save all risk of loss IN connection with il,
and, by amicablc agreements with the Con
nectcut River people, secure Just as
favorable terms and Just A. good facilities
for the conduct OF their Traffic over it aS
they had before.
The state Of facts IN relation to the Og- |
densburg road is similar. Tho circumstan-
ces which rendered it absolutely necessary |
for the Central to obtain possession of that |
road no longer exist Before the Central |
leased the Ogdensburg road. there was a
coalition between it and the Rutland and |
Burlington. and by means of the water /
transportation they could and did cut most |
oI their through traffic around the Central, |
by the lake from ROu-cS Point to BurliDg-
ton, and lett 1t ont III the cold completely.
10 stop tins the Central had to get posses
sion Of the Ogdenshurg road, and did 81.
After while the Central leased and still
holds the Rutland road and possession oi
that being an equally ellectual and more
directly profitable preventive OF tins cutoff
policy, it has no further need Of the Og-
d ensburg road, and hcIng IN II position to
exact equitable terms from it IT necessary.
and furthermore in perfectly amicablc and
friendly relations with ITS present mana
gers, Issicttcr OIL without than with 1t. In
Iact, 80 lar from being "crlpplcd, the ecu
tral Vermont : thruu IN rcla tons were new
Pr so strong and healthy as to-day N.
Adams AdrrtiSfr.
WmAr is known aS the Murphy temper
,ncc movement IL passing over central
Dino and Indiana lifn tidal wave. 1t Is
noticed ms curious tact that IN those towns
md Villages where the famous w0man's
crusade of three yeal ago had che greatest
success, the number ul saloons huS increased
md drunkenness has been more common
than before. The plan of operations adopt
ID by Murphv'S followers is simple. Night
" meetings are begun IN each town, gcner-
lily by one or two prisons from Pittsburgh
Or some point where the revival has already
gained hcadway. \ thorough movement
10 secure pledges is then inaugurated, the
.igncrs wearing badges ot blue or red rib
hons. In several citics Of the size of Mans
ield, Troy, Nenia. rhana, etc, nearly the
,ntire male population have become inter
,stcd in the movement and hundreds ct sIg-
natures to the pledge are added Tally. The
eiormcrs in some eases visit the saloons,
,ut attempt no direct interference with the
iquOr sellers business.