Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-08-18
ROCHESTER SUED.
Receiver of White River Valley HALL
road Wants Bonus Voted.

Frank Paige, receiver of the White River
Valley railroad, has brought suit against
the town OF Rochester to recover the
amount OF the subsidy voted by the town
of Rochester to aid in the construction oi
the road, being the sum OF $4,000. The
suit is brought in the United States dis
trict court and is returnable September D.
1t is understood that the town will resist
payment on various grounds, the principal
of W hich are that the aid was voted To
build an electric line, whereas the road was
finally constructed and operated as q
steam line, and also on the ground that
the road was not finally completed and
running by January l, 1900, as was stipu-
lated in the vote.
Following long agitation among the
people of upper White river valley IN
favor of a railroad to connect them with
the outer world, in 1898 plan for building
an electric road, submitted by I'll. w. Bur-
gett. who built the Stowe electric road,
was adopted Mr.. Burgett agreed to build
the road from Bethel to Rochester, equip
and operate it, providing he was guaran-
teed a bonus of $4,000 when the same was
completed, he agreeing that it should be
done and in good running order over the
whole distance by Jan. l, 1900, and 10 claim
no part of the bonus il he failed. Roches-
ter voted to bond for $4,000, Stockbridge
for $4,000, Pittsfield for $1,000, Hancock
for y 600 and the balance $4,000 was
made up By private subscription.
Under a charter for an electric road, pro-
cured in 1896 and amended in 1888, Bur-
gett organized the White River Valley
Electric Railroad Co. and started to build
the road. He got as far as Gaysville in the
summer of i99. Then came financial COM
plieations familiar to most people OF this
section. The rails were laid as far as Gays
vile and grading done nearly to Stock
bridge when, on application OF creditors,
the company was placed in receivership,
by order OF the court. Rufus II. Sawyer
of Maiden, Mass, was made receiver. by
issuing receivers certificates, to accept
which he found certain capitalists willing,
SAWYER managed so as to go ahead with
the construction. 1t was his evident pur-
pose, when work was resumed in Septem-
Der, 1899, to complete the road before the
end of the year, so as to earn the SooOO0,
Accordingly, little effort was made to build
the road in permanent and durable form.
Grading was sighted and as the line APP
preached Rochester and the time short
ened little else was done than TO lay the
rails on the ties, wherever it was possible
to get along that way. Snow, ice and cold
all hindered but with remarkable perse-
verance the road was put through and a
train actually made the trip from Roches-
ter to Bethel Dec. 26, 1899. Steam power
had been substituted for electricity as a
motive power on account Of supposed
economy, etc.
Rochester people, more or less disguised
with the whole proceeding, did not com
ply with the demand for payment of the
bonus, and the other towns followed suit.
No part OF the $4,000 voted BY the towns
has been paid over thus far.
Sawyer continued to operate the road for
two years, another receiver, Il. 4. Paige,
having been appointed to serve with him
meanwhile. sawyer did not manage
affairs to suit the parties interested and
was finally relieved from duty by the
courts order. He filed a claim for 10000
salary, ia, 900 expenses and $4,000 alleged
loan when he retired, which matter is
still unsettled.i
The road was purchased by Messrs.
Samuel Williams, Jose, Parker & Co. and
the Gardner, Mass, bank at receivers sale
in 1902 for SOS, 240, and recognized under
a charter procured in 1902 as the White
River Railroad company.