The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1909-08-06
SOUTH VERNON TO
LOSE IT'S STATION
Commission Issues Order for a
New Site
IN THE TOWN OF NORTHFIELD
Grade Crossing at the North OF Present
Station Will Also be Eliminated
Site of New Station About 400 Feet
South of Present Structure.

The Vermont public service commission
has made its report in the matter OF the
petition of the Boston 4 Maine railroad
and the Central Vermont Railway com
pany for permission to discontinue the
passenger station at South Vernon. In
making its report the commission states
that these petitions supplement- each
other, and together ask to have eliminat-
ed the railroad highway crossing at grade
Just north of the union passenger station
at South Vernon, and that the passenger
station be discontinued and abandoned
upon the completion of a new union pas
senger station, which the petitioners in
tend soon to construct in the town of
Northfeld Mass, on the east side of
their tracks, and about 400 feet south of
the present passenger station at South
Vernon.
The commission in making its report
says,
village has grown up IN said town of
Northfield and that its only railroad ac-
commodation is at South Vernon station;
that so per cent of the passenger traffic at
South Vernon comes from said village of
Northfield; that the railroad commission
ers of the state of Massachusetts have re-
Gently ordered certain alterations in the
highway leading from said village of
Mortified to said passenger station at
South Vernon, and the construction of an
overpass spanning the petitioners rail
road, for the purpose of eliminating GER
tain railroad-hi highway crossings at grade
on the petitioners roads; and that be-
cause of those alterations, and the dilapl
dated condition of the passenger station
at South Vernon and the better to ac-
commodate the patrons thereof, the petl-
tioners have agreed upon plans for new
union passenger station, which they IN
tend soon to construct on the location
above described, which would be at the
eastern terminus of said overpass.
From all the evidence, including our
careful examination of the locality, we
find that said railroad highway crossing
at grade lust north of the passenger sta
ton at South Vernon is very dangerous
to the travelling public, and that public
safety and convenience require that 1t
be eliminated, and that the present pas
senger station at South Vernon be dis
continued and abandoned as such, all in
the manner, at the time, and under the
terms and conditions stated in the follow
ing order, which is made by the consent
and agreement of the petitioners
In making its order in the matter the
commission grants permission to the Bos-
ton & Maine railroad and the Central
Vermont Railway company to discontinue
ana dDdnuOu lue JItStnU pdsSCHStl
station at South Vernon as soon as they
shall have completed and opened for pub
lie use a new union passenger station to
be constructed on the location mentioned
above, subject, however, to several terms
and conditions. In enumeratlng the con-
ditions and terms the commission says
that the petitioners shall so arrange their
business and buildings at South Vernon,
and so settle and arrange with the per
hon vim rinbtS n lands east
of the grade crossing that IS north OF the
passenger station there, that, after the
abandonment of the station, the 4Dublc
will have no necessity further to use the
grade crossing, which forever thereafter
the petitioners shall fence and bar
against public travel; and shall also con
struct and forever thereafter maintain, on
the west side of the railroad track
fences, so situated and constructed as
reasonably to prevent the public from
traversing the railroad right of way north
and south, although. of course, it Is not
expected that the petitioners shall insure
that result.
Should the town of Vernon construct a
footway from the village of South Vernon
to the westerly end of the overpass, the
Boston & Maine railroad and the Central
Vermont Railway company shall pay the
expense thereof including the eX
pense of the right of way therefor,
to the extent of $1,000; provided that
such footway shall not cross the railroad
tracks at grade, and provided it shall be
finished within one year from the com
pletion of the work ordered by the Mas
sachusetts Railroad commissioners, as de
scribed above.
The town of Vernon may from time to
time as the construction OF such footway
progresses, exact from said railroad com
panies payment of the expense then in
Cured. and that expense shall thereupon
be paid by the railroad companies on
vouchers approved by the public service
commission, and no payments for this
purpose are required to be made by the
railroad companies except upon vouchers
so approved, and in no event shall Their
total payments exceed $1,000, nor shall
any payment be made until the commits
sion is satisfied that arrangements have
been made for the completion of the foot
way
At the hearing at South Vernon July |
9 the Boston & Maine railroad was rep. |
resented by John Young of Newport, and
r. w. Erwin of northampton, Mass,
while Charles W. Writers appeared for
the Central Vermont. Judge A. +.
Schwenk represented the town OF Yer |
non. G.. f. Alderman, A. A. Dunklee, 1. |
w. Brown. Arthur Martindale, W. NJ.
Dunklee. G.. H. Alley and John L. |
Wright, who were interested in the mat
ter. C. II. Williams, the states attorney.
appeared for the state. The full board of
tr-aG