Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-08-01

HGnl
The new charges which Mr.. Davenport
makes-and they comprise everything in his
article which can be said to even approach
well-defned point-are that throo-foot road
is being put on two-foot road-bed, and that
there is something out of the way about the
proposed issue Of $50, 600 of first mortgage
bonds. In regard to the first of these charges,
let us say that the standard width of three
foot road beds as used, or conceded to be es-
sential, on the GOOO to 5000 miles of narrow
gauge road in this country is eight feet. In
no case is the bed of the Brattleboro d
Whitehall road less than this standard width
in many cases il is twelve feet wide, and it
will average not less than ten feet wide.
So far as the cost of the road and the issue
OF bonds is concerned, we repeat our asser-
ton of last week, that since the location into
Brattleboro was finally decided upon, and the
construction contract definitely completed,
nothing has been added to the cost. The
original plan of the road was for it to end at
the Valley track in the rear of Mr.. Goodalrs
farm. Finally, for the best of reasons, and
to secure the only possible independent line
into Brattleboro the present location was fixed
upon, adding by this means two miles of CON
struction, including the heavy rock cut oppo-
site the Estey farm and the West River bridge
The cost is increased but the advantage &C
cruing is worth the cost, and more. The
bond question is well explained by our New
fame correspondent this week When the To-
cation into Brattleboro had been finally fixed,
and the construction contract completed. the
directors in due legal form voted to authorize
the issue of Sl50 600 in first mortgage bonds,
the amount being fixed at this sum in order
to provide for contingencies, and not, neces-
sarily, that this whole amount should ever be
issued or used. Afterward, at stockholders
meeting legally warned and held, this action
of the directors was formally ratified-both
directors and stockholders fully understanding
that the gauge of the road was to be three
feet. And this is all there is to the bond
question.
AS regards the land damages, in discussing
% which the younger Davenport, especially
grows angry and abusive, let us say once for
all that our information comes from Judge
Stoddard of Townshend, who has, from the
beginning, had these damages in charge.
Within a few days Judge Stoddard has stated
that up to this time the land damages amount
to only some Sl2, 800, and he further said that
he did not see how they could go much above
this sum. Judge Stoddard has also said that
in his opinion the damages by the Esteyville
line would have been much greater than by
the line finally adopted. We cheerfully place
this statement from one of the purest and
staunchest men in the county by the side of
that of either Davenport.
G. n. Davenport asks us how much trestle
work there is on the Vermont Valley road
the Rutland the Vermont Central, etc When
he has informed us how much trestlo there
was on any of these roads when first completed
and what their general condition was at that
time compared with their present condition,
We will answer him. This whole attempt to
compare the condition of new and incom-
plete road, designed for local traffic, with
that of a main line which has had the benefit
of years of business and constant improve
ment is Enthusiastically unfair and dema-
gogical. If Mr.. Davenport had ever visited
the salmon hole" bridge above Fayetteville
he would have included that in his unwel-
come and compulsory task of following his
sons example and 'eating his own words
about the masonry of the road.
Fortunately for Mr.. w. A. Haven, the
| chief engineer of the road, his professional
record of so years standing places him en-
| tirely above the criticism of a man like Chas.
| N. Davenport. During these 30 years Mr..
| 10, a.
construction of 400 miles of railroad. OF
this 400 miles b. ID. Harris has, previous to
| the construction of the Brattleboro 4 White
hall road, built one section of A miles and
one of 10 miles. Such being the case, the
/ public can judge to what extent Mr.. Haven il
| B. d. Harris's imam" Mr.. Haven began
work for the Brattleboro d Whitehall road on
the 18th of May, 1873, at salary of $1,000 per
year. He continued there until March last,
when he was called to responsible position
on the Erie road Since that time he has
| given one-fOurth of his time here for $50 per
month. From these figures our readers can
| Judge to what extent the company's money
has gone illegtimately as intimated, Unto
Mr.. Ravens pocket"
In regard to the demand from father and
son for an Investigation. " we again emnhat
ically second this demand But let us remark
! at the same time that for an evbibitio,, "a
simon-pure CHECK" Mr.. Dayenports nron.
ositon to pay one-tenth the expense of an in.
vestigation, leaving the friends of the road
who are already satisfied with its construction
and management, to pay the other nine -teuths
takes the lead by good many points. With
Mr. Davenport's shameless talk about private
individual negotiations for the construction