Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-07-13
BRATTLEB0RO LOCAL NEWS
So VERNON CROSSING
Hearing Before Vermont and
Massachusetts Commissioners
Three Plans Submitted, All Providing for
Abollshlng the Crossings at erade-An-
other Hearing.

other Hearing.
The commission appointed by the SUI
perior court to act on the separation of
grades at the South Vernon crossings of
the Boston & Maine and Central Vermont
railroads, consisting of E. X. Turner and
c. +. Innis of Boston ad c. w Hazelton
of Montague City, gave a hearing at the
house Of A. c. Hicks in Mortified Satur-
day at IL o'clock Mr. Turner was
chairman, r. w. Irwin of Northampton
appeared for the Boston & Maine rail-
road, the attorney generals Office was
represented by Walter Perley Hall Of
Fitchburg, W. A. Davenport was counsel
for the town of Mortified, A. f. Schwenk
of Brattleboro appeared for the town of
Vernon and some of the citizens of North
field and Walter s. Robinson of SPRING
field appeared for Mr.. Belden of that city,
an owner of real estate liable to be af-
fected. There are three distinct plans
proposed for doing away with the grade
crossings. The Boston & Maine road
would move the station TO the South of the
present building a short distance and
place it to the east of the tracks, just
north of the rock cut over which a bridge
is to be thrown. The plan submitted by
the town of Northheld, through w. A.
Davenport, is for the location of the sta
ton to the north of the engine house and
build underpasses for approaches, The
third plan-that of Vernon and some Of
the inhabitants of Northfeld-is to move
the station to the west of the tracks
not far from where it now stands, and
build an underpass to 1t. The ravine
which is desired as a location will be filled
in. The three plans were submitted to
the commission and a view taken of tine
premises.
At the hearing Mr.. Davenport called
A. G.. Moody of Mortified as his first
witness. Mr.. Moody said upward OF TO-,
900 people from Mortified go to the sta
ton every year For the convenience of
the people of his town he favored the To-
cation of a station according to the petit
ton near the round-house between the
tracks Of the Boston & Maine and Central
Vermont roads. He referred to the i'm
portance Of the interests of the people
and schools of Mortified as affected by
the location of a station. Henry d. Hol-
ton, a selectman of Northfeld, desired
the station kept on the old road from
Mortified to Brattleboro, and did not
fancy an overhead crossing where engines
are passing along and freights made up.
For that reason he favored the loca ton
asked for by the town.
w. R. Moody approved the statements
made by his cousin and emphasized the
fact that there had been many narrow
escapes in reaching the present station. As
for the location. he believes that should
be determined by the greatest good for
the greatest number. The work at North
field is steadily growing, and more people
go to Mortified each year. L. F. Howard
wondered that there had not been serious
fatalities at the various crossings, and was
in favor of speedy abolition OF the cross
ings at grade. DIR. N. p. Wood OF North
field admitted the soundness of the argu-
ments for abolition of the crossings, but
denied that the petition as presented by
the selectmen for the location of the sta
10 xvh 10
distance to the south OF the present sta
ton, represented the sentiment OF the
whole town. People at South Vernon and
100 east OF the river have signed a petit
ton for the location of the station higher
up. He favored the South Vernon petition
In that 1t called for one underpass. while
the Mortified petition called for two.
He then made plea for the little village
OF South Vernon, which had grown up
around the railway station. c. c. Stearns
of Mortified was another citizen OF that
town to favor the Vernon petition.
Aside from the Boston & Maine, there
were no estimates Of cost ready. The
figures as prepared by Mr.. Williams, an
engineer in the employ OF the company.
are $23,237. The estimated cost OF the
other plans will be submitted later. This
is probably the first time the abolition OF
grade crossings in which two states are
involved has arisen in Massachusetts,. The
boundary line between Vermont and Mass
achusetts passes through the present
station, which is reached by a very Circuit
tous route from Mortified. whence comes
the larger share of the travel. In passing
from Mortified to the station there are
three grade crossings. The Vermont
commissioners have held hearing and
will meet again today. Mr.. Hazelton
will join them, and later a joint meeting
Of the two bodies will be held. All parties
are agreed as to the desirability OF abol-
ishing the crossings at grade. but differ
as to the best way to accomplish the ends
desired