Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-07-21

regularly and preventing proper bal
lasting OF the roadbed until the next
spring. The motive power. at first
limited TO the Brattleboro and London
derry. was soon afterward increased
by the addition of third engine
named the j. l.. Martin. a machine OF
lighter model than the first two and
designed for use especially In passen-
ger service. The Martin was burned
In Il fire which destroyed the South
Londonderry roundhouse In the sum-
mer of 1901.
Although frequent accidents have
taken place during the life of the road
the one calamity which overshadows
all others occurred August 49, 1880
when the bridge across West river
went down beneath the afternoon mix
ed train. H.. A. Smith, the engineer,
was caught In the cab of his locomo-
tive and drowned. ]. j. Green, the
station agent at Newfane. suffered
such serious injury that he died that
evening, and Ave other people were
seriously injured. They were r. NJ.
Butler. station agent at Wardsboro. a.
b Ashley, then station agent at West
Dummeryon but now a resident OF
Brattleboro. Mrs. Kendall Hildreth
of Hinsdale. n. H., Conductor j: H.
Worthen and Brakeman Michael
O'Connor Just what caused the dis
aster was never definitely determined
although II was supposed to be de-
feet In some portion of the bridge
construction.
Although the policy of the Central
Vermont toward the Brattleboro a
Whitehall branch was never liberal,
the results of its careless manage
ment were not brought prominently TO
a.. - IL. hA xxFtr
ter of 1901 and 1902 after the Central
Vermont had been absorbed by the
Grand Trunk system. At that time
conditions on the narrow gauge be-
came so bad that traffic was virtually
brought to standstill. Both ocomo-
tives were practically unfit for service
for lack of needed repairs. there was
no suitable water supply along the line
of the road. proper fuel was almost
unobtainable and the rolling stock was
entirely inadequate. Upon complaint
to the Grand Trunk and Central Ver-
mont officials promises of Improve
ments were made. but there was delay
in their fulfillment and seeming lack
of interest in the welfare of narrow
gauge patrons which aroused the ire
of all the business interests In the
West River valley. In the summer OF
| 1902 a secondhand coal burning loco
motive was bought to take the place
Of the engine burned the previous
year and while this helped matters
somewhat many things were still LETT
to be desired.
Finally in June 1903 the Brattleboro
e. Whitehall company brought a PIN
| in chancery against the New LONDON
Northern and the Central vermont;
praying to have the lease of the ROAD
abrogated and receiver appointed to
take immediate possession The bill
4 set forth that the Central Vermont
had failed TO live UP to the agreement
made at the time of the lease,and AZ
the hearing June % large quantity
az evidence was produced in support OF
this claim. Soon afterward the New
London Northern. placed on the de-
/ fensive in the state courts. TOOK w
offensive in the United states CIRCUIT
court by petitioning for a decree ol
foreclosure on the grounds that ths
Rrattlehoro& Whitehall bonds had be-
come dine but had not been paid.
There were several hearings on these
counter sujts and 1t was not unth
February 9 of this year that an agree
ment was at last effected. BY It's terms
the Rrattleboro & whitehall company
allowed the New London Northern 10
take a decree of foreclosure upon tne
narrow gauge property WIN a c, p,2rI
sion in the decree binding the Ien.la,
Vermont 31e lessees of the New London
Northern Northern to build standard gauge gauge
road between Brattleboro ,,,s ana sI Iaos
Ia - onerate it in a manner promo.
tive Of the best business interests ol
Nc towns along the line. The New
= nrdon Northern company 1urthe,
aarnad to nav the Brattleporo
agpfed II corporation $4,000 in cash sh
5000 worth Of G tn V. b eosds W. 10 ore Re
useu ~ and TO extend the cour-
sas;as Of free transportation to the
s ste'II once year when the an
nual meeting takes place 9.,,;tebau com
Inc took the Central Vermont bonds
R n lieu Of the cash offer and Sas will a ase
interest from t 1ns~ ie nssD ht
aus s simply formal, it having sur n,
eo edared all title in the property which
4 Two, worked so diligently to construct