Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-04-27
The Reorganization of the Central
Vermont

ators of the Central Vermont Railway
company effected an organization, and the
work will be consummated when the road,
now in the hands of the receivers, is
transferred by order of the United States
Court to the interests which have pur-
chased 1t and the new company assumes
the actual management and operation of
the property with the beginning Of next
month. IT is evident from the constitu-
ton of the new board of directors and tho
list of officers chosen as well as from the
announced policy Of the management that
the Central is to continue to be identified
with Vermont to a marked degree and
that the interests Of the public are 20 lie
promoted in every reasonable way. The
fact that 1t Is a business undertaking de-
pendent upon the public for its support
and profits would naturally point out the
adoption of the policy named, even were
the head of its dominating interest not an
American railroad man. who thoroughly
understands and appreciates the spirit
and sentiments of the American people
The efforts made to secure for the board
of directors a number of gentlemen whose
names alone would give strength and
character to the now management and in
spre feeling of confidence on the part
of the public, is proof in and of itself that
the recognized Central Vermont will 20
FAR in its desire and efforts to satisfy the
people upon whose patronage 1t so largely
depends. Gov. Smith, who is in a position
to know whereof he speaks, has expressed
the belief that the increased financial
strength resulting from the union OF the
Central and the Grand Trunk and the new
traffic relations thus opened up will be
beneficial to the interests of Vermont. and
this view is substantiated by the state
mont of General Manager Hays of the
Grand Trunk that the road will b. con-
Quoted on strictly business principles.
1t was known that an enlarged career
was In store for the Central Vermont. but
it remained for the day of reorganization
to disclose the full significance of the
roads new relations. The election of
Chairman Aldace +. Walker of the board
of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe
road as a director of the Contra! Vermont
does not mean an alliance in the strict
application of the term as we IRE inform
ed by the highest authority, but under the
circumstances it unquestionably prov, s
the existence of more than ordinarily
friendly relations between the official
heads of tho two great systems represent
ed. The Grand Trunk has in the CANA
dian Pacific a transcontincntal competitor
and with close traffic relations established
l..,t IL
just secured an entrance to San Francis
co, it in effect reaches out to the broad
Pacific.
1t is natural for the people of a COM
munity to inquire how a railroad change
like that in question will affect their in
| terests, and viewed from this standpoint
the change can not be regarded otherwise
than advantageous to Western Vermont
and to Burlington in particular. Local
pride and State sentiment combined to in
spire the hope that tho Contra. might
continue to be exclusively managed by the
interests with which the property had so
! long been identified, but financial troubles
whose seed was sown long before Gov
Smith assumed the management made it
impossible to prevent reorganization of
the road, although owing to skillful man
agement the disaster was postponed until
long after some of the greatest railroad
systems in the country had gone into the
hands of receivers
change in the Central Vermont hav-
Ing become inevitable, the road could not
We'll have formed a union better calculat-
ed to promote the interests of Burlington
The New York Central for example. one
of the strongest American competitors of
the Grand Trunk might have secured the
property but Burlington in that
case would have semaned a one
railroad city as it had contin-
ued during the most important period
of it's experience. With the Grand Trunk
controlling the Central Vermont and the
Rutland coad with its newly extended
connections controlled by Vanderbilt in
terests, Burlington becomes point of
contact between two of the greatest sys-
TENS of railway on the continent, which
VIII in all human probability remain indie
pendent Of each other for all time to
come. This city is thus assured all the
advantages which result from the GER
tainty of permanent railroad competition.
one city is now in effect upon two trans
continental routes with far-reaching traf-
lic connections in all directions. so that
we are assured first class transportation
facilities, no matter what the solution of
the problem regarding the Rutland extern
sion's route through Burlington may be.
Our business and industrial interests have
already begun to feel the effects OF inn
proved railway facilities.