Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-07-28

ENdNlonal Dank OF bellows rails.
THE position in the Vermont Valley
railroad in regard to a license on Gale
Island outside Brattleboro is purely one
Of business policy and we feel that a
saloon would prove a menace on account
Of the great number OF persons who would
cross the tracks In Brattleboro, going to
and from It. The crossing is at grade
and Is located at the foot Of a slight de-
clivity from the main street in Brattle-
boro. 1t is used extensively now by
vehicles and foot passengers going to and
from the depot and for the yards and the
bridge to Hinsdale
"A saloon on the island would Of course
attract great many more people in that
direction than at present and the danger
of the grade crossing would necessarily
be heightened. Besides, It is not un-
natural TO suppose that some of the
passersby would be intoxicated, which is
OF course another element OF danger and
one which must be considered. We do
not think it wise to increase risk at this
point. II Is purely a business matter
with us and 1t Is for the reason 1 have
given solely that we made our protest TO
the board OF license commissioners OF the
state Of New Hampshire.
I'VE are engaged in conducting a busi-
ness enterprise and we are not interested
In any local squabbles. Neither are we
conducting temperance society, and we
do not care whether Hinsdale votes license
and Brattleboro no-license or vice versa
IT Is not our concern in any way, and we
have not considered the temperance side
OF the matter. Our concern Is wholly with
the railroad which we manage. II a
saloon near Brattleboro In New Hamp-
shire will lead to an increase in the dam
ger OF accidents on account OF a greater
number OF persons crossing our tracks
then the matter becomes one in which
We are interested, ana It is proper for us
to register our objection, but we are not
concerned In any local squabble between
towns about the selling OF liquor. and we
do not propose to be.
I'VE prefer not to have saloons near
railroad stations II we can help It, because
they are great source Of temptation to
railroad employees, and we have some DIFF
ficulty on that account, but that is not
our reason for objecting to the Gale island
license. 1t Is due to the danger of acct
dents to great number OF persons cross
ing the tracks. some of whom might be
intoxicated and unable to keep out Of the
way of passing trains
THE Vermont Valley railroad owns and
operates the railroad between Brattle-
boro and Bellows Falls. and our tracks
extend beyond the crossing almost to the
depot, where they meet those OF the New
London Northern railroad, which is leased
to the Central Vermont. Our contract
with the Connecticut River railroad, which
Is operated by the Boston & Maine, pro-
vides that we shall elect any operating
officers named by the Connecticut River
railroad. but beyond that point the YER
mont Valley conducts its own line. The
contract permits OF intimate relations,
and Is mutually agreeable and profitabl
but in no way does II relieve the Vermont
Valley from responsibility for anything
which may occur ON the line between
Brattleboro and Bellows Falls.
hn q EnIx
trains and many Of the cars and locomo-
tives going over the road. belong to that
corporation, but the Vermont Valley pays
for every one and receives the fares which
may be collected for the journey. 1t also
has Its own locomotives and cars. The
stockholders OF the Vermont Valley are
guaranteed per cent. per annum on
their stock by the contract with the Con-
necticut River, which has been assumed
by the Boston & Maine. but IL the YER
mont Valley earns more its stockholders
are entitled to 1t and receive 1t.
This arrangement may not be gen.
orally understood, as II Is thought in
many quarters that the Boston & Maine
operates our line. Such is not the case
People may wonder why we are interested
In this license matter. II Is because we
might be responsible for any accident oc-
curing at the grade crossing on the way
to the island. II any person should be
On between BTatueDOfO
and Bellows Falls, suit should properly
be brought against the Vermont Valley
railroad and not against the Boston &
Maine. Notwithstanding that the Boston
& Maine mileage is accepted on the YER
mont Valley
1.-THE same situation prevails in regard
to the sullivan County railroad, which
runs from Bellows Falls to Windsor
where the Central Vermont tracks are
met. 1t Is easy to see, therefore, that
we do not want to run any more risk
than necessary OF having accidents oc-
cur at the grade crossing where people
must pass who use the bridge to Gale
island and thence to Hinsdale, and we
feel the risk would Increase II saloon
existed on the island"
Mr.. Williams was asked II he was sure
that the Vermont Valley tracks, instead
Of the New London Northern, made the
Brattleboro grade crossing, and he re-
piled that the Vermont Valley tracks
crossed the highway and continued very
close to the depot. He continued: IT hope
it will be made clear to the public that
the directors Of the Vermont Valley are
not interested In this question in any
manner from a temperance point OF view
but regard II solely from a business
standpoint and it is entirely on that ac-
count that we object. II 1t were not for
the grade crossing, the AFFAIR would not
concern us to any appreciable extent"
1t is stated that the matter will again
be threshed out at another hearing be-
fore the license commissioners OF New
Hampshire within a few weeks.