Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-11-30
The Local Railroad Controversy

To the reliable and carefully considered
statement relative to the contest between the
Central Vermont and the Vermont Valley rail
road companies, as published by us last week.
it only remains to be added that the five Val
ley locomotives which were under attachment
and in the hands of keepers on Thursday noon
were in the early afternoon of that day re-
leased on writs of replevin. and the business
of the Valley road went on AS usual. The on
ly delay in the running of trains was that oc-
casioned to the afternoon train from the north
on that day, which was an hour and n half
late, owing to the fact that the water was
drawn from the boilers of the locomotives at
tached at this place and certain length of
time was required, after the machines were
released, before steam could be got up and
Mr.. Waite. the manager, could start with one
of them for Bellows Falls, accompanied by
Sheriff Herrick, to release the engines Mt that
place and bring down the train. The train
reached Springfield in season to make connec-
tons for New York. SO that the delay was not
n serious matter. The Central officials state
that their purpose in making the attachments
was to do it in such manner as to interfere
as little as possible with the convenience of
the public and that, for this reason the at
tachments of the locomotives were not made
Immediately on the arrival of Sheriff Halbert
the night previous. 1t would seem, however.
that part of their expectation, in whose full
fillment they failed, was to entirely stop travel
over the Valley road for the time being as it
is known that dispatches We're sent to points
north and south directing that no sales of
tickets be made on Thursday to points on the
road below Bellows Falls or above Brattle-
boro.
In addition to the claim of the Central Yer
mont in the controversy, as stated last week
that they are accountable to the Rutland road
and not to the Valley for the rental of the
Valley road, it is now said that they also
claim that from the time of the decision of
the court that the lease was void, in September
1876, up to the time when the final decree
was filed ordering them to vacate the prem
ises April 6, 1877, they are under no circum-
stances holden for greater amount for rent
than the road earned during that time after
paying the expenses of operating. The Val
ley managers, on the contrary, assert that this
| precisely the same nature rs though trader.
renting store, should refuse to leave after
being ordered out and, having remained till
the court compelled him to go, should then
turn about and say that he was only holden
| for so much rent AS the place had been actu-
ally worth to him, after deducting running
| expenses from the time he was warned out
until he finally vacated
The status of affairs, so far as the carrying
of freight is concerned, remains the same as
a week ago, No through freight goes on the
Valley road, but all freight from north of Bel
lows Falls bound for Brattleboro or points be-
low goes around hy Ashburnham and Millers
Falls, Mass, and vice versa. 1t may be in
teresting to the public to know that by this
arrangement freight bound from Bellows Falls
for Brattleboro goes ll2 miles to get ~ miles :
| freight going down the Connecticut river
road travels l02 miles to get 81, and freight
bound down the New London Northern road
below Millers Falls goes % miles to get ~
miles, The profit (?) which there must
be to the parties doing business in this way is
all the more apparent when we consider that
the maximum grades on the Cheshire road are
lO2 feet to the mile against 10 feet on the Yer
mont Valley, and it is stated MS fact that,
whereas 30-tOn locomotive will readily draw
Il train of a. loaded cars on the Valley road, a
like machine can only draw II cars ON the
Cheshire. The Central people seem determ-
ined to stick to their present arrangement, al
though it would appear that sooner or later q
strong pressure must be brought to bear up.
ON them by shippers of freight for a change
As an illustration of the way in which this
roundabout traffic works, it is stated that last
Friday morning a car load of cattle left Bel
lows Falls bound for South Deerfeld, Mass.
which, going by the natural course down the
Valley road, should have reached its destna
ton at o'clock ON Friday afternoon. II
point of fact, however, the car, going viz
Ashbunham and Milers Falls reached Soutl
Vernon at o'clock Saturday afternoon, anC
during all this time the owner of the cattle
had not been able to give them either food OF
water. As a matter of accommodation the
owl passenger train took the car down tC
South Deerfeld on Sunday morning Freight
bound for Brattleboro is delayed from one t.
two days to the great inconvenience of al
parties interested The Valley road, we ar,
informed, having secured the amount of III
debt, is now ready at any time to draw Cen
trail freight and pay over the daily balances
The general course of public sentiment il
this vicinity is undoubtedly inclined to sym
pathize with the Valley road in the controver
sy. Contrary to an opinion somewhat freel,
expressed week ago, it is now evident tina
Nalla,y
indicated to secure the payment of what i
claims to be a just debt after careful delber
alton, and while acting under eminent lega
advice. As regards the loss likely to accrue
TO the Valley road by the stOppage of il