Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-08-27
WHY THE DELAI'2

ABOUT THE RAILROAD SITUATION AND THE
FAILURE OF THE CENTRAL VERMONT COMPANY
TO RESUME TRAFFIC.
Ever since Monday morning the people in
Brattleboro and all along the line OF the road
have been asking why the Central Vermont
company does nothing toward repairing the
break, making connection with Brattleboro,
and reHuming the freight traffic. To this
question no definite answer can be given.
MIR Brooks, the Brattleboro 4 Whitehall SUI
perintendent, has no more information on
this subject than anybody has. he has re-
ctived no information from headquarters,
and only knows that nothing is done. j. l..
Martin, whom the Central Vermont managers
consult about all their Brattleboro affairs, has
no information on the subject and is entirely
in the dark about il.
The only attainable facts that can be stated
are that last Thursday, Mr.. Hobart, the Cen
trail Vermont general manager, said that
trestle would At once he thrown across the
gap for use while a bridge was being built.
III said timber for this trestle WAS then on
its way, aud in point of fact several car loads
of such timber arrived and was unloaded ut
either end OF the Valley bridge, and some OF
it was carried by teams to the break on the
west side of the river. Owing to the danger
that 3 trestle would be carried out Of the NV
er by the fall rains before the bridge could
be completed MIR. Brooks suggested that it
would be better TO make a connection with
the Valley road above its bridge aud run in
FRI light and passenger trains on Y. The
management approved Of this suggestion and
instructed Mr.. Martin 10 see il 1t could be
carried out. He found Mr. Bradley entirely
willing to grant the company right OF way
across his land, and Mr.. Mulligan Of the
Connecticut River road cheerfully assented
to the proposition to have connection made
A. Ul,,N LaWa Nt.a
matter rests. Mr. Martin has heard nothing
further and Mr.. Brooks has heard nothing.
Beyond this everything il conjecture, and
many rumors are ahoat
1t is known that for some time the Central
managers have been claiming to be sick of
their contract to run the Mario " gauge road.
They claim to have run it at q steady loss,
ihsy have said that it's construction was faulty
and not equal to the requirement made OF it,
and worst Of all, they say, The people down
your way are all down on Gov Smith tue
three county papers all abuse him and every
body criticises everything that he does in
spite Of all that he has done for them. "
Whether the Central people really want and
mean TO give up the operation OF the road
or whether they are only at loggerheads with
the New London Northern company a. TO
which shall bear the expense of the new
bridge with other needed improvements on
the road, in purely matter OF conjecture.
/ The most significant thing which has yet de-
| veloped il the well authenticated rumor
| which has become known to few persons
this morning that orders have come to
| Bridge master Clark to have the trestle tim
/ Der above alluded TO reloaded and shipped
! back TO st. Adams. This looks as though
mischief was brewing.
The thing in which our people are Interest
ID Ia that nothing is being done TO get freight
trains running aud the Inconvenience and
loss to shippers has already grown to be
! great. Whatever the plans or claims of the
/ Central people may be they cannot be held
/ gultless GU this point. With vigorous work
/ four days time at the outside would have
/ been sufficient to fill the break. Less time
than this, even, would have been necessary
il the offer of the Valley road had been &C
cepted. At the very latest, freight trains
should have been running as usual on Mon
1 day morning OF this week. After that the
/ Central Vermont and New l. Indon Northern
companies would have been ut liberty to diff.
fer and settle their difference about a NE "
bridge aud other points IN best they might.
10 have got around by the Vermont Valley
/ bridge would not cost above $500 to $1,000
Even supposing that there is any thought oil
abandoning tue road which some of the ru.
mors hint at, the only square, legitimate thiul
to do would be to make the connection as ha,
been suggested, give shippers aud all persoul
Interested chance to till existing contracts
and thtn give notice As to when traffic will be-
stopped. IL il not right or business like fol-
the company to keep not only the public bu
its own local III managers in the dark as to thei
plans.
But the road will not he abandoned. Ii il
leased to the New London Northern company
for % years, and comes under Central Yer
mont management through the lease of tn,
New London Northern road 10 the Contra
Vermont. 1t is Understood that there il nj
regular lease OF the Brattleboro * Whitehall
road 10 the Central Vermont, but is operated
by the latter company under simple agree
ment which lasts only for the term of tn
lease Of the New London road to the Central
That lease has only two or three years NOR
to run, and it may be that the question at is
sue between the two companies IL as to wit
shall bear the cost OF "A new bridge, as al
ready suggested.
The final responsibility rests, in any case
with the New London Northern company
and their lease by its terms oblgstea them /,
operate the road. The obligatory claus
bound that company to complete the road AN,
have the cars running not later than Oct.
1880, and TO ''operate the same az to reason
ably accommodate the business which una,
come upon it," Should the company ut an,
time neglect or refuse to operate the road tn
remedy would lie in an order of the suprem
court compelling them TO fulfill their con
tract. A claim from either the New Loudo
Northern or Central Vermont company tina
the construction of the road was a fraud an
the lease not binding, would not hold for
moment because the officials of those compa
MES inspected the road before the lease, the
completed the construction, and knew JUS
what they were taking Moreover, it woul
be put in proof that the road was ample i
its manner of construction for the bushes
expected Of a nairow-gauge road. The sui
stquent fact is that the business has bee
larg' ~ in OK, esi of what was expected an
the demand on the road bed, bridges, etc
proportionaiely greater.
We do not soc how Gov. Smiths plea tbs
Windham county people are down" on hin
can avail bis company anything in this case
The trouble is, evidently, that be makes an ut
fortunate attempt TO mix business and politics
There has never been anything but cordis
approval and appreciation of what GOV
Smith has done for the people along the Iii
Tie railroad in business way. HIS method
have not met with captious criticism, but theT
has been sincere effort on the part of everyon
to help the business OF the road along I
make it a success. II tha road has nc
proved profitable il is not because the receipt
have not equaled the operating expenses, bu
, because so much has been done on construt
ton account. The fact that Windham couI
ty believes that the state should have a raj
road ommssion to help sd inst Just such case
} as this, and that they prefer Mr.. Edmund
for Senator to Gov. Smith has no bearing o
the case.
The wise thing for the people to do will /
: to wait patiently few days for develOI
ments, II is learned to day that Bridge Nj
teIs Clark and Frisbie have been for two day
/ going over the line of the narrow gauge roa
, and carefully examining the bridges, culyert
etc, 1t il fair TO presume that the Cel
trail Vermont management thinks il wise
before taking any further step in the matte
to ascertain just what is necessary 20 be dor
TO the road to put it in proper shape for th