Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-07-25

friends preferred three-foot gauge to any
other A two-foot gauge was only talked of
on account of its supposed superior cheap
ness, and when the specifications were finally
submitted, and the present contractors ex-
pressed a willingness to put a three foot gauge
on to the sub-structure called for in the con-
tract at the same price as a two-foot gauge,
allowance only being made for the increased
cost of equipment, and a fractional increase
in the cost of ties, the officers of the road
gladly accepted the proposition, and were
seconded and upheld in this action by every
friend of the enterprise. 1t is undeniably
true that the bonds of three-foot gauge road
have an established character in the market,
while those of two-foot gauge have not
but with this fact, and the possibilities and
probabilities resulting therefrom, Harris Bros.
d Co. had no more to do than any other one,
two, or three men, who had a vital interest in
seeing the road put through. The attempt to
raise an issue on puerile question like the
above is precisely as though man should
quarrel with and denounce his green grocer
because, after ordering of him and paying for
bushel of potatoes, the grocer generously
sent him bushel and n half for the same
money.
''2. How much has been added to the cost
of the road since the contract was made with
Harris Bros. q Co.? How many new bonds,
if any, have been issued? How much larger
will the debt be than originally intended?"
Since the location of the road into Brattle-
boro was finally decided upon, and the con-
tract with Harris Bros. e Co. definitely COM
pleted, nothing has been added to the cost of
the roud. No bonds either new or old
have yet been issued, but when issued the
bonds will be limited strictly to the amount
originally authorized, and specified in the con-
tract for the construction of the road
''3. Do Mr.. Harris and the officers of the
road believe, as matters now stand, that the
road can go into business without a floating
debt! Do they believe that if it has a float
ing debt, it can do business for week with
out being sued?'
Both these questions are purely captious.
To the first it is enough to say that no rail
road in existence does business or can do
business, without a floating debt of greater
or less amount. The officers of the new road
are now confident of being able to complete
it within the means originally provided, and
consequently without mourning a floating debt
on construction account. The second ques-
ton is of precisely the same pertinence to the
issue which it was originally attempted to raise
as though it should be asked whether the Re-
former, The PHOENIX, or any other business
concern in Brattleboro could have "a floating
debt and ''do business for n week without
being sued" If the same prudence, economy
and integrity are maintained in the affairs of
the road to its completion. as have been OBJ
served up to this time there viii be no dan
ger of the concern being sued on account of
floating debt" unless at the instigation of
some lawyer who is bound to make trouble
anyway.
~. As to the trestle work, we ask Mr.. Har-
ris, rs an expert railroad man, if he does not
| consider it poor economy to use it on any
railroad? Does he not think it would have
been good policy on the part of the managers
| to have used the several thousand dollars
which they have laid out in changing the
route, in making substantial fills and culverts
instead of putting up trestle which will have
to be replaced every few years?
-. Harris Bros. * Co. may also have full
filled the terms of the contract in the matter
of ties, so far as they have furnished them ;
but do they pretend to say that it is good
economy to use hemlOck ties? Instead of
| paying these fancy land damages, by improve
ments in the route, don't they believe that
the money could have been better expended
i'll purchasing at distance if need be, chest
nut, oak and tamarack tiesl
The propounding of inquiries like these is
manifest begging of the whole question
These questions and all other possible similar
ones were fully and candidly answered by US
last week, when we said that such road is
being built the means of the company will
allow it to build and pay for, and as the con-
struction contract calls for. What would be
aquestion of true economy and ''good policy"
for rich corporations doing a through bust
ness, like the Boston q Albany the Pennsyl-
vania Central, or the New York Central roads,
is not such question for n new local road,
like the Brattleboro & Whitehall With equal
pertinence might Mr.. Harris ask the Reform
err whether it considers it good economy to
hire its printing done, as it now does, instead
of owning press, like the New York Herald
or Times Tor even The PHGNIx), and doing
its own work. Because in the Reformer's
case it is matter both of necessity and con.
venience to hire its printing done, that fact
does not necessarily compel it to print scan.
dalous sheet, or prevent it from printing q
reputable and Trustworthy one. If any fur,
ther reply was needed than has already been
given in regard to the use of trestle work
hemlock ties, etc, that reply is found in the
plain and unequiyocal words of Chief Engi
neer Haven, elsewhere quoted. The Reform
er's hit upon fancy land damages" is exceed
ingly good, in consideration of the fact thai
two weeks ago it charged the management Of
the road with enhancing the land damages
$l2, 900 to $15, 900 by changes in the route
when the fact was and is that the tchOle lane
damages on the line will little, if any, exceed
Sl3, 900. The Reformer was obliged last weel
10 eat its own words in regard to the qualit,
of the masonry on the road, and it woulC
have been very manly thing for it at tn,
same time to have acknowledged its gros
error on the question of land damages
, sc. As to the general question whethe
, the road is being properly and honestly con
structed, we are not competent to discuss
One man besides Mr.. Davenport, who ha
railroad experience, says il is not We Gale,
, for an examination and further disintereste,
testimony. Can Mr., Harris or the officers Sc
anything Objectionable in that z"
SO far from seeing anything Objectionable
. Mr.. Harris, the officers of the company, AM
l all other friends of the road, cordially endors
o the proposition for an investigation, if the par
3 ties who claim to be so deeply interested ar
p willing to pay for it. In order to settle any
r thing, or be satisfactory to either friend
or opponents of the enterprise. such an il