Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-06-22
A NEW RAILROAD
CONSTRUCTION OF THE WHITE
RIVER ELECTRIC ROAD BEGUN.

RINER ELESlkiS kOAD pLbSA'.
II Will Connect Rochester with {. V.
Ry. Line at Bethel, Eighteen Miles
Distant. 1.-The Projects Inception
and Progress.-.A Rich Valley
Opened Up.--A Boom Ahead.--
Road May Be Finished This Year.
Interest in upper White River valley
is keen in the electric railroad now
in process of construction, to connect
the towns of Bethel and Rochester,
passing through the towns OF Stock
BRIDGE and Pittsfield. For years the
road has been agitated, and though AT
times there have been many dis
couragements, there is now little doubt
that it is going through to completion
and will prove of the greatest possible
benefit to one of the richest and most
beautiful valleys i'm Vermont.
As the student OF geography well
knows, the White river has its source
high up among the Green Mountains
in the town of Granville. From there
il flows in generally southeasterly
direction, through the towns Of Gran
vile. Hancock, Pittsfeld and portion
of Stockbridge, successfully. In the
latter town, il turns toward the north
east, which course it pursues until IL
reaches Bethel. where it receives the
branch flowing south from Randolph.
The Central Vermont Railway Co.'S
line follows the White river mp from
White River Junction as far Us Bethel,
where, instead Of continuing along to-
ward the head waters Of the main
stream, it follows the Randolph branch,
crossing the divide at RoXbuy. thence
into the Dog and Winooski valleys.
The upper White river valley has
therefore been without railroad iacil-
tiles, which has proven a great detri-
ment to it, but Notwithstanding. such
are its natural resources and such the
enterprise of its inhabitants that il is
one Of the most prosperous farming
sections in Vermont, and considerable
manufacturing and mining, as well as
an immense numbering business. are
carried on with profit. Traffic flows
up and down the valley by teams and
the amount OF freight business, especl-
ally, is very great. OF course the eX-
pense of teaming from Bethel is so
much that disadvantage results and IL
is the purpose ofthe new railroad TO
handle the freight and passenger bust
ness Of this valley cheaper and more
expediticusly.
At the session of the General As
sembly of 1896, a charter was procured
for the White River Valley Railroad
company, ''for the purpose and with
the right OF constructing. maintaining
and operating a railroad in the towns
of Bethel. Stockbridge. Piltsfeld and
Rochester, Its capital stock was
fixed at 5000, 000. divided into hundred
dollar shares, which stock might be
increased as necessary 10 complete the
road. Commissioners were named 10
receive subscriptions TO this stock, and
as soon as POO shares were subscribed
the charter gave the company the
right TO organize, elect directors. etc.
The charter forbade the commence
ment of the road until $500 of the
stock had been subscribed and al least
80 per cent of said amount paid in.
The company has the right 10 fix it,
tolls for service. but in case of COM
plant, the tolls may be adjusted by
the railroad commissioners. The rinht
OF bonding to rs per cent of the value
OF the property was given. These are
the main features of the charter.
II was appreciated at the outset that
II would be impractical TO build and
maintain road to the extreme head
waters of the valley. The expense
would be too great and the revenues
rom the remote sections too meaore.
The upper terminus of the road was
therefore fixed az Rochester. Above
that, the people would have TO depend
on teams, the same as before. but
would be benefited by cheapened
Irelghts as far as Rochester and
would be virtually moved some eight !
zen miles nearer their railroad depot.
Il was anticipated that these towns
would be willing to aid i'm the enter. |
prise to some extent.
The plan to build road by local
support il seriously considered AT
irst, did not materialize before a new |
project was introduced. MIR. II. w /
Burgett Of Boston, who had built the
stowe electric road, became interest. |
"a IN the White river scheme. At his /
invitation, a party of those most in
crested IN the building of the road
ocally paid visit to the Stowe road
md returned enthusiastic. Mr.. Bnr-
sett was invited to make a proposition
Is TO the terms on which he would
Duild an electric road from Bethel 10
rochester, under the terms of the
'harter. He offered to build the road
hacked by outside capital. provided
rs company could receive a bonus or
outright gift from the towns or peo.
lie Interested along the line of s55. 900
ms was to be paid over when the
Dad was completed and in successful
peration and was to be pure giff
howing the faith and interest the sec,
ion had that the road would be ofI
'enefit to il.
linen began a campaign of educa-
lOn' 10 raise this o,,o,,,. =