Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-09-15

The Board of Aldermen held one of the
most important meetings in many months
nst evening. The meeting was called to
mablc the railroad committee to make a
report upon the application Of the Bur
hngton and HinesburGh Railroad company
Tor permission to use certain streets OF
the city but before a motion to adjourn
Vas passed the board had granted to the
Burlington Traction company the right to
construct and operate lire over the low
or road to Winooski. The report upon the
lower road application was unexpected,
bmong n part of the board at least It's
Introduction provoked warm discussion
and several times the debate became
heated and bordered closely upon thc Wit
operative. Aldermen who usually keep
their tempers became became excited
and the twenty odd spectators, most of
whom had direct interest in the matters
under discussion, were well repaid for
their attendance in the entertainment fur
n!shcd. Aldermen Mason. Shea ana NG,-
ley used every eifcrt to secure n joint re-
port upon tao request of both the Bur
lingtun Traction company and the Grand
Isle airodd company and in this they
were supported by the vote of Alderman
Hayes. The remaining members of the
board. all of whom were present, voted
with the railroad committee in their roso-
luton 10 give tne burlington lTuCl'ull
company the lower road. Thus the vote
stood four to six upon every motion or
resolution affecting the disposition of the
resolution or the report upon the request
OF tho Grand Isle Railroad company.
The business relating TO railroads open
ed with the offering OF the report OF the
railroad committee upon the application
of the burlington and Hinosburgh rail-
road for permission to use certain streets
Of the city. This report was accepted ana
placed on file and a resolution authorizing
the company to proceed i'll it's work un-
der certain restrictions was adopted, upon
motion Of Alderman Isham. The resolu-
luton is practically the same rs that
passed by the beard by n unanimous vote
on .Tuly G, 1897. 1t provides for the usual
restrictions upon the construction and
operation of the road, running Of ears and
fares IN relation to the commencement
of work the resolution says: Said COM
pany shall within so days commence the
construction OF the road and prosecute
the same to completion with all reason
able diligence commencing at the inter
section of Pine street and Howard street
thence along Pine street toward ParF
avenue. The resolution must be acceptot
by the company within ten days. W. I
BGbooch, the president of the company
Mas present at the meeting.
There were evidences of surprise upol
more than one face among the aldermen
when the report OF the railroad committe
upon tho request OF the Burlington Trac
ton company for the right to build lin
upon the lower road was offered. The re
port recommended that the request r.
granted and the resolution adopted. TIL
resolution was offered by Alderman Gut
chcll chairman of the committee upo
railroads, as soon IS disposition had beef
made of the report. The resolution pro
vides for the laying Of single track lin
from the terminus of the present line o
Winoosd avenue over the lower road I
WinoosSi. The usual restrictions as {
compliance with the orders of the rail
road committee. fares maintenance o
roadbed and other matters pertaining I
railroad construction are imposed.
places the tracks threct feet outside tn
Telford road, unless the railroad commit
tee shall otherwise direct.
Section 10 provides: THAT said com
pany shall offer and make no objection t
any street railway company crossing tn
track of the Burlington Traction compan
at grade and will also allow and perm
the Grand Isle or any other railroad con
pany, which shall have built five miles c
continuous road leading into said city I
run their cars over and upon that poi
ton of the tracks of the Burlington Trac
ton company covered by this resolution
upon such conditions as may be mutual
agreed upon between the two compani,
or prescribed by the railroad commission
ers of the State of Vermont" The PR
buttons relating to the Hinesburgh raj
road have been previously given in tn
paper. They are practically the same
those embodied in previous resolutions NJ
sn the same matters.
Immediately following the Offering
The resolution Alderman Shea was reco
n!zed and asked If the order of proc
dure was correct. He called attention
The fact that the application of II
Grand Isle Railroad company for the 10y
.EC., 4
Ing as the request OF the Burlington Ira
lion company and demanded considerable
Tor both documents without favor.
asked TO have the date verified and It Wi
found that both applications for the sire
came before the board on July 13th A
derman Shea called attention to the fr
that II granted the operation of the Blu
lington Traction company over the low
road under the conditions imposed pra
tically shut out the Grand Isle ralroa
He said that If the public safety deman
ed that the cars be operated other tn;
upon the Winooski hill they could be Sc
over the tracks of the Grand Isle cor
pany upon the lower road and scored {
railroad committee for making repo
upon one application and ignoring the OF
or. Alderman Shea closed his remarks
Offering a motion to lay the resoluti
upon the table until a report could
made by the railroad committee upon I
Grand Isle company's request for rigl
upon the lower road
Alderman Kelley demanded hear
from tho railroad committee upon the a
plicaton of the Grand Isle company.
President Mason called Alderman Isha
to the chair and addressed the board, O
vocatng the consideration of both app
cations for the use of the street and tn
the matter be laid upon the table un
the board could ascertain what amou
of money the franchise was worth to I
city. He did not favor giving away I
rights when company stood ready to p
the city for them.
Alderman Kelley made some caustic r.
erences to the control OF certain corpoI
tons upon aldermen and the ability OF
alderman to represent his constituen
He thanked God he came from wa
where n railroad corporation did not &C
troll and that he could stand for what
considered the right, He did not wa
any corporation to be allowed to shut {
another corporation.
Alderman Mason thought that II