Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-02-14
The Burlington and LamoIlle rramc Contract.

The Burlington and LamoIlle Traffic Contract.
The St. Adams Messenger remarks upon
the traffic contract recently entered into be-
tween the Burlington and Lamollle Rail-
road and The Central Vermont with lace
tiousness much akin to the CHASTITY GRIN
with which sufferer sometimes marks the
twinges of jumping toothache. The Mes
senger assumes that it was dread OF the
rivalry OF Msqusm Bay that led Burlington
to aid the Burlington and Lamoille road.
and it chuckles over the thought that Bur
liugton is now reduced to "the privilege OF
paying whatever the Central may ask for
freight, or for the delectable alternative OF
running line of boats to that little mud
bay near Swanton, that isn't deep
enough to float yawl.'"
This simply shows that the Messenger
does not know what it is talking about. 1t
happens to be the case that under the con
tract in question the Central cannot raise
the rates of freight to the points affected by
the arrangement and is likely to lower
them. As to the other suggestion, it was
no dread of Maqusm that induced
Burlington to 20 into the Burlington
and Lamoille road That action was first
the response Of Burlington tc the strong
desire OF towns along It's route and IN the
Lamoile valley. for railroad connection
with this city. Those towns we're willing
tba~aalrac IN a1i tho nrnlpat and
Burlington was willing to Join them. for the
mutual benefit Of all. There Is no whining
here or in those towns, so far as We are
aware, over the result. Certainly Buring-
ton has sensibly felt the impulse to its
business, resulting from this new railroad,
and there is no doubt that the trade thus
secured has been an important factor among
the causes which have kept the business oil
our city in healthy condition and our
merchants and manufacturers solvent,
while those of some other places IN Yer
mont which the Messenger may know OF,
have been rafting down like card-houses
The action OF this city was, second, the re-
Spouse of Burlington to the earnest desire
and request of the managers OF the Vermont
Division OF the Portland and Ogdens0urg
Railroad for a connection with this city and
with Lake Chsmplsin at this point HOW
strongly that request was urged, ard by
what assurances of cordial relations and
important accessiOns Tor the Burlington and
Lamoile road, of freight between Burling-
ton and St. Johnsbury, some OF our citizens
know. Burlington never asked or expected
the Portland and Ogdensburg road to aoan-
don Maquam Bay. But under the assur-
snces rendered, our people did expect, and
-. L. kaf mt Al
Bradley Barlow, Col. Jewett and Mr.. Fair
banks in Maquam Bay city lots and docks
would not be allowed to override every IN
terest of the Burlington and Lamoille road,
and to damage the business of their own
road, to which the Burlington and LamOille
road should be, and would gladly be, II 1t
could, the most important feeder at the
western end of the line.
We need not 90 into details of the way IN
which business to and from this point has
been INSTRUCTED by the management of the
Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad, Yer
mont Division. Ii Is enough to say, to-day.
that the distractions have been so great
and so perseveringly insisted on, that Mr..
Linsley felt compelled to protect the iu-
teres,s of his road and of Burlington in the
way in which he has protected them. The
time will come, We think, when the mana
gers of the Portland and Ogdensburg
Railroad. Vermont Division, will see the
mistake they have made. and when the
two roads, whose interests are so closely
connected. will establish the connections
and relations which ought to have existed |
from the first. At present. let the Messenger |
understand. the Burlington and LamoIlle |
road, so far from being reduced to "a
Central Vermont siding" has secured from
the Central an arrangement which is highly |
profitable to the Burlington and Lamoille |
road, and which gives it means of protecting |
and promoting the business of Burlington |
a. it could not do before.