The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1909-04-09
CENTRAL VERMONT CONNECTED.
Thought to be interested in Plan to
Control Sound Steamships. !,

l
A special despatch from Bridgeport,
Conn, SAYS: Judging from reports here
concerning the branching out OF the bust
ness of the Bridgeport and New York
TRANSPORTATION Line which is said to be
backed by Henry II. Rogers Of the Stand
ard Oil company and by the central YER
mont railroad, there is an important move
on foot to merge the INTERESTS oi tnls con
Germ into one organization winch may be-
come an important factor in the. freight
traffic on Long Island sound and which
NAV prove n Stiff competition with the
New Haven railroad and its marine de-
partment, the New England Navigation
company. ,.,
According to this story. the Bridgeport
line of boats to New York. the boat route
from Bridgeport to Port Jefferson, the
New Haven line landing at the City
wharf there. The New London line of
steamers now directed by the Central Yer
mont in the interest of the Grand Trunk,
a Providence line Of boats, a line of shall
low draft boats mp the Housatonlc river
to Derby, Shelton and Ansonla, and a
Hudson river line OF steamers are TO be
merged into one proposition--a community
of interest to cover freighting, and later
ON passenger traffic, from all prominent
shore points along the sound.
This possibility, it is said, is causing the
New Haven road managers to sit up and
take notice. :,
Just what the details of the plan are
have not yet fully materlallzed., 1t is
known, however, that men, believed to be
in the EMPLOY of the New England Navi
cation company have been here for weeks,
inspecting the loading and unloading of
the New York business of the Bridgeport
steamers of the line, indicating that there
is some anxiety on the. part OF outside
interests to keep track of the work of the
new competition. :,
They are also taking cognizance, it is
said of the fact that the Bridgeport and
New York line is considering the intro
duction of boats up the Housatonic river |
TO Derby, as indicated above, to act as
feeders for the new combination either at !
New Haven or Bridgeport; that the freight /
service of the concern at New Haven will
be added to quickly by. the putting on of
two New York propellers OF 1000 tons
of the route; that the John H. Starin line
to that port will be absorbed by the new
that the Central Vermont SER
vice from New London is being measur-
ably strengthened by the building of new
ships for that route, and that the opening
Of the proposed new Providence line will
be feature of the season.
It is calculated that the undertaking
marks the beginning of competition in
Sound freighting more important than
las ever been known before as it will be
| line which will be fed by trolley
reights along the Shore Line section in
astern Connecticut and in Rhode Island.
The suggestion is made plausible by the
act that Morton F. Plant, the eastern
Connecticut millionaire, who is largely in
crested in New England trolleys, is also
firm believer in steamboat transpor-
alton.
And back of this comes another story.
{ the Central Vermont railroad is behind
his move, as is commonly believed, it is
well known fact that the Grand Trunk
its hacker. For years the only outlet
,hich the Grand Trunk has had to the
ound is via the G. Y. by the way of
rattleboro, Willimantic and New Lon
on. At New London the Central Yer
ont has built the finest ocean pier in
lis state. 1t is calculated entirely for
he reception and shipping of the heaviest
steamship cargoes and that freight
aims are running night and day from
ON New York city via it's steamers to
e Grand Trunk, and thus forward it to
ID west. This roundabout line has al
ays been thorn in the side of the New
aven road managers who now make
,eral rate themselves on western bound
siness, but the New Haven has never
en- able to get hold of the little and old
shoned line of rails which the Grand
'unk has control of down to New Lon
n and which the New Haven does not
m.
The competition of the Grand Trunk
connection with its western business is
id to be thing zealously watched by
g New Haven road people.