Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-01-20
The Essential Question In the Present
Railroad Discussion.


on the broad-gauging of the Brattleboro
& Whitehall railroad, and the letter Of
Charles r. Crosby on this subject, are
articles in this issue Of The Phoenix
which will be read with vital interest
| The Phoenix has no wish or purpose to
stand in the way Of such an important
means OF local development as the con-
| version of the Brattleboro & Whitehall
railroad into standard gauge road and
its extension to the Somerset and STRAIT
| ton lumber region would be- And II does
not advise or encourage the Brattleboro
& Whitehall stockholders to put any OBJ
struction in the way Of this important
/ Improvement On the contrary, II be-
lieves that all due encouragement should
be given to the enterprise, and 1t hopes
sincerely that the Brattleboro & White
hall stockholders through their officers
and the Central Vermont management
will meet each other in spirit OF mutual
fairness, assuring this extension without
unnecessary delay, provided this can be
done in a way permanently to assure
ample accommodations and satisfactory
service for the people on the line Of the
road.
Since The Phoenix is veteran of the
bitterly fought contest OF iS77-1SS0 which
resulted in the construction OF the Brat
tlcboro & Whitehall narrow gauge rail-
road, and its opening for business at the
end of the latter year we are perhaps
entitled to state the facts involved in
very brief way Under a heavy burden
! OF expense and of selfsacrifce cheer
/ fully borne, both by towns and by in
I dividuals, and in the face Of determined
and sometimes venomous opposition, the
money to assure this enterprise was rails
ed The first cost Of the road, including
its equipment. was $i00 900. and OF this
sum the Brattleboro & Whitehall stock
/ holders paid one-half in actual cash
/ Under the terms Of the original lease to
the New London Northern company the
/ Brattleboro & Whitehall company was to
receive one-half the profits OF the road
after paying running expenses and in
terest on the bonded debt of $150,OO0. AS
a matter OF course this agreement still
held In force when the lease went into
the hands Of the Central Vermont as
/ lessces OF the New London Northern road.
For a few years partial annual state
ments were submitted to the Brattleboro
/ & Whitehall stockholders at their an
nual meetings, hut as a matter OF fact no
accurate accounting has ever been made
/ Of the actual earnings and Of the actual
cost of maintenance OF the road. II is
the belief, however, OF substantial men on
the line OF the road who have been IA
miiar with its operation from the start.
that just and accurate accounting would
| show the road to have been more than
self-sustaining from it's own earnings. say
nothing of the profit derived from its bus
iness as a feeder TO the main lines OF the
1 lessee.
II is matter OF common knowledge
that in recent years the roadbed and the
| equipment were allowed to deteriorate and
fall into disrepair to the extent that the
road became unsafe for passengers and
/ incapable Of taking care of its freight
business. and out OF this condition grew
the litigation mentioned In the articles
here referred to. and the withdra wal OF
which the Central Vermont management
now requires as preliminary to the pro-
posed extension.
In the course OF the efforts made to
reach a satisfactory settlement several
Of the Brattleboro & Whitehall stock
holders. The final one is this: That II
the New London Northern railroad COM
pany (the original lessees) or its rep
resentatives will build and maintain
standard gauge road the Brattleboro &
Whitehall stockholders will surrender all
rights, upon the agreement OF the lessees
to continue for 20 years the payment Of
the annual sum of S40O originally agreed
to he paid by the lessees to the Brattleboro
& Whitehall company for the purpose OF
maintaining its organization-a sum equal
to one fifth of one per cent. per annum on
the 100000 raised and paid toward the
building of the road. Under all the cir
cumstances does this provision seem un-
reasonable?
We have not rehearsed these facts with
any purpose to accuse or reproach the
Central Vermont lessees They have had
their own burdens to carry. and on the
part of the Brattleboro G. Whitehall
stockholders there is no feeling of ami
mostly or i'll will. We have stated the
facts because it is right that it should be
made plain on what ground the action OF
the Brattleboro & Whitehall stockholders
! is baSed. twenty-five years ago The
Phoenix urged the construction of this
road in behalf Of the business interests
Of the West River valley. Now, with
equal earnestness, we urge. in behalf OF
these same interests that no petty detail
or personal feeling be allowed to stand in
the way OF this proposed extension and
improvement.
The essential question is not one of de-
tails. 1t is not question whether the
little stipend of $500 year shall be paid.
1t is not a question whether the
Brattleboro & Whitehall stockholders shall
continue to have even a semblance of
control over their own property 1t is
whether the Central Vermont company,
under its present management II given
free hand will agree to build sub
stantially and equip properly a standard
guage road and then to operate 1t for
the benefit of the people on its line, cor
recting absolutely and permanently the
depressing conditions of the past few
years. II a satisfactory guarantee can
be given on this fundamental point it is
| IA to hot ohgfa mill ha