Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-11-23
The View Railroad War.

Since last Saturday a new and rather unex-
pected local railroad contest has furnished the
leading subject of conversation and specula-
ton TO the people of the towns on the line of
the Vermont Valley railroad. The facts in the
case. as we understand them, are briefly
follows The Central Vermont railroad occu-
pied the Vermont Valley railroad from June.
1879, to October, 1876, paying TO the Rutland
railroad. which professed to have a lease of
the Valley, and had agreed to sublet to the
Central Vermont. $1,000 per month From
October l, 1876, to April g. 1877, the Central
Vermont continued to occupy the road, but
have not paid the rental. At the last men
toned date they were obliged to vacate the
road under decree of the circuit court of the
United States. The Vermont Valley road has
been occupied and managed since April by
Its own oficers-G. Morris president, S. NJ.
Waite, D. L. Harris and Frederick Billings
executive committee TO manage its affairs.
From April up to Nov. /, the managers of
the Vermont Valley have been paying the
Central Vermont some $50, 600 per month for
freight charges on freight going down over
the Vermont Valley, and at the same time
have been persistently urging the Central to
pay or adjust the rental account referred to,
from October l. 1876. to April &, 1877,
but the Central has neglected to do
any thing more than to promise to amicably
adjust the matter November the Vermont
Valley refused to make any further advances
for freight until this account was adjusted i'll
some form. To Offset this the Central Yer
mont, since last Saturday, has diverted its
freight at Bellows Falls, and now sends that
destined for Brattleboro and points south via
the Cheshire railroad to Ashburnhan, Mass,
and thence by the Vermont & Massachusetts
To Millers Falls The Ashuelot railroad would
afford an outlet into South Vernon and the
New London Northern road at a saving of 81
miles less than the distance via Ashburnham,
but the Central Vermont officials ignore the
Ashuelot road because it is now operated by
the Connecticut River railroad company a cor
poration which is interested in the manage
lnent of the Valley road. The distance to
Brattleboro via Ashburnham and Millers Falls
is l12 miles against "a miles by the Valley
road direct. Carrying freight after this fash
ion may furnish amusement for railroad Off
Gals. and may be easier than to settle and ad-
just accounts, but it will be hard work to make
the public see it in the light of a money -mak-
ing operation for the parties doing the work.
If, however, such proceeding please railroad
magnates, stockholders may as well keep qui-
ct. All the rights they possess in Vermont
consist in paying the bills and providing a
sinking fund.
In order 10 secure the debt claimed to be
due them from the Central Vermont We learn
that the Valley management have trusteed the
funds in the hands of the Central Vermont
station agents at BRttleboro and Bellows Falls,
the Central Vermont deposits in the First Ma
tional Bank of Brattleboro and the bank al
Bellows Falls, and the funds due the Contra
Vermont by the Cheshire road for the trans
portation of freight
The latest development in the fight is the
attachment at BnttleborO this, Thursday,
morning by the Central Vermont, on writs Is
sued At St Adams, of three engines belonging
10 the Valley road The three machines mi