Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-05-28
THE SPRINGFIELD ELECTRIC
RAILWAY.

The Enterprise Of which =. &. Crosby
Has Taken Hold---History and De-
scriptIon of the Road 49, $4,000 q
Has Been Dropped In II, and $4,000
More VIII BE Required 90 Complete
It---A Good outlook for the New
Owners.
The new owners of the Springfield EIec-
trio railway are in possession of the prop.
erty, and the work of completing the road
was begun yesterday. The equipment OF
the road, which includes generators, cars,
etc, will begin to arrive in a few days
The new owners of the road, as stated in
paragraph last week, are +. c. Crosby, NJ.
A. Coolidge and a third man whose name
is not given.
Springfield is one Of the largest towns in
the state not in the enjoyment of railroad
connection The need Of such connection
has long been felt and several schemes have
been projected, none Of which came to
maturity. When the trolley system of
electric railways was proved a success it
was believed that this furnished the best
way out for the town and the project for
connection with the Boston d Maine rail-
road at or near Charlestown was actively
agitated A company was formed with
prominent Springfield men as directors and
Adna Brown as president. The town
voted to bond for $50, 900 in aid Of the en-
terprise. Private subscriptions carried the
capital in hand up to $4,000 or more
The work of building the road was begun
last summer and in September 1t was prac-
tically completed to Springfield station.
The money then gave out and the road
has since lain dead. The principal reason
for the failure to secure money 10 com
plete it was that the uncertain financial
condition last fall made it impossible to
sell bonds of the road which had been de-
pended upon for the additional money
needed.
While full details are not given of the
deal under which the new owners take the
road, it is understood that the town Of
Springfield and the other stockholders turn
over to Crosby and Coolidge the road as it
stands, and Crosby and Coolidge and their
associate agree to complete, equip and
operate it. There are concessions and re-
strictions on both sides which are not
made public. There were several suits
against the original company to recover
for material furnished or bargained for.
These suits the new owners assume where
they can make satisfactory settlements;
otherwise not.
The connection with the Boston 81
Maine road for freight purposes will be at
Springfield station. For passenger con-
nection the road will be extended a mile
and three-quarters down the river to
Charlestown station. An agreement has
been made this week with the Boston d
Maine company for an approach to the
station on the land Of that company.
The road will be equipped at the start
with six cars. part for freight and part for
passenger service. The length of the road.
including sidings and turnouts, will be
about seven miles. II is understood that
about $4,000 has already been spent up
on the enterprise. At least $4,000 Of
this was for three new bridges. two of
them iron bridges across the Black river.
The third was for a new iron bridge to re-
place the old wooden bridge across the
Connecticut. This is toll bridge aud is
owned by the new company. This bridge
is paying property, the other bridges
nearest being at Windsor on the north and
Bellows Falls on the south. Thirty thous-
and dollars to $4,000 will be required TO
complete and equip the road ready to OPP
crate. The power station is at Springfield,
where the Black river will drive the gen.
orator except for about two months in the
used. Two generators will be put in, one
for the water power and one for the steam
power. The river, when at average pitch,
furnishes $50 horse power for this purpose.
1t is now proposed TO have the road in
operation by July /.
Mr.. Crosby considers the outlook very
bright for the road to become a paving
property. The passenger business of it
self would not be profitable, but in addi-
ton 10 passengers the road will, in due
time, carry all the freight, express and
mail matter. The cost of hauling freight
between Springfield and the Boston Il
Maine road is now 81 a ton. This will be
about the rate charged by the electric road.
The total payments for freight hauling
last year amounted to $4,000. Pas
sengers are carried by the stage at 50 cents
each. The railroad fare has not been
fixed but it will probably be put at p or
so cents.
Springfield is a busy and prosperous
town of 5000 people. 1t has a cotton mill.
shoddy mill the Jones ~ Lamson Machine
company, the Parks Il Wilson company
manufacturing wool carding machines, an
iron foundry, which is the third largest in
the state, and other industries.
The people of Springfield are said to be
well pleased with the prospect of seeing
the road finally put in operation, notwith.
standing the money which has been
dropped in the enterprise. The town gave
authority for the transfer of its interest at
meeting held about two weeks ago.
The officers of the new company are:
Adna Brown, president, with Mr.. Brown.
Mr.. Crosby and the Coolidges of Fitch
burg, father and son, as directors. 1t is
needless TO say that Mr.. Crosby will be the
active and pushing man in the concern,
Success TO the enterprise.