Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-01-26
The Northern Railroad Trouble,

The Northern Railroad Trouble.
The Journal has already given consider
able space to some Of the many sides of
the questions which continue to agltate
our northern railroad connections. and
since the managers the Central Vermont
take exceptions to some of the statements
lately published, we propose To give u
brief sketch of their views of the causes
that have produced the present state of
affairs. As long ago as 1870 the through
line, comprising the Lowell, New Hamp-
shire and Central Vermont roads, was
formed for the purpose of securing the
better and more harmonious working of
their traffic. The contract then entered
into allowed the Central Vermont to
give a certain proportionate part of its
business to the Cheshire route; and at the
same time the Sullivan railroad was
leased to the Central Vermont by the
Northern, both contract and lease having
20 wears to run.
Under this contract and lease the traf-
tic was conducted up to October, 1877,
though complaints were made bv the
Central Vermont that the roads between
the Connecticut river and Boston were
encouraging competing lines and diverting
traffic from the line formed by the con
tract; and while the Northern and Lowell
roads claimed that the contract was giving
the Cheshire route more than its share,
the Central claims that this was owing to
the tact that for cattle, hogs. lumber, etc.
the Cheshire line was enabled to make
deliveries to certain points better than the
other route.
In 1877 the Northern road proposed a
modification of the contract, by which it
was agreed that the restriction upon the
traffic to the Cheshire should be stricken
out, and the basis of the rental of the
Sullivan railroad should be changed from
specific sum to percentage of its gross
receipts. In the interest of peace and
harmony this was consented to, and the
Central Vermont paid rs per cent of the
gross earnings to the Northern road. This
arrangement allowed the Northern to
participate in the increase of traffic via
the Cheshire line as we'll AS that over its
own line. For the year ending July l,
1880, this rental amounted to $4,000 in
stead of the specific rent of $4,000 rs
undlr the former agreement. AT the time
the Modification was made the president
of the Northern agreed that if at any time
they should consent to sell the Sullivan
road the Central Vermont should have
the preference of the purchase at the
price offered.
The recent sale of the Sullivan railroad,
especially as it is claimed that it was
accompanied by a contract to prevent a
free connection with the Cheshire, was,
har la,lr Cd 1. 1
faith upon the part of the Northern, and
leaves the Central Vermont at liberty to
secure perpetual connection with the Che
shire by the construction of new road on
the west side of the Connecticut to Bellows
Falls, or to avail themselves of the charter
for road to Greenfield, known as the
Forrest Line charter, should it be neces-
sary to build it, and thus give shorter
line TO Boston than any now existing
The management CT the Central also
claim that in the lease of the Ogdensburg
road all profits or losses were to be divid.
ed among the Central Vermont, Northern,
Concord and Lowell railroads in exact
proportion to the gross receipts of each
from the business coming from or going
TO the Ogdensburg railroad, and at the
same time the Arrangement was made
with the Northern transportation company
upon the same terms. These leases re-
suited in large losses, which have been
carried by the Central Vermont, though
efforts to effect settlement have
been made. At last the Central Vermont
offered to leave the subject to arbitration
with view of removing this disturbing
element from the line.
70 this proposition the Northern has
quite recently refused to accede. and at
last wholly repudiated the contract and all
obligations under it, and refused to make
any settlement or to recognize their OBJ
legation to pay any sum under its provi-
slons This action justified the Central
Vermont, as they claim, in the severance
Of all friendly relations with that road.
In relation to statements that have re-
Gently appeared the claim is made that
west bound freights have not been with
drawn from the Lowell. The balances
due that road, accumulated during great
blockade of freight upon the Lowell, which
caused considerable confusion but no
difficulties between the roads, and while
the Central Vermont was willing to allow
their claim for interest, the Northern
absolutely refused to accede to it. The
Central has paid its proportion of the
claims, but the Northern refusing, the
Lowell notified them that further daily
settlement would not be made. Unwilling
to have its daily settlements interrupted,
t he irelghs of the Central were sent via
the Cheshire. The road esat of White
River junction have given the Central
Vermont consideration larger than the
pro rdt1 division upon its local business
from Boston, but none upon any other
traffic. The officials of the Central Yer
mont seem TO regret that the rupture with
the Northern road was necessary, but
claim that under the circumstances it was
unavoidable.-From The Boston Journal