Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-09-22
CITY GOT BEST OF DEAL
Railway Company Beaten in Lit.
tie Game of Track Laying.
Operations Hogan Early In the Morn
ing at the Foot Of College street,
but Were stopped by an
Injunction.

Prompt action on the part Of two mcm-
hers Of the board OF aldermen yesterday
was all that saved the city from
being handed a large lemon by the Cen
trail Vermont Railway company. AS It
was, the two aldermen, Messrs. Cowles
and Barnes, were able to check an at
tempt on the part Of tho railway company
to grab the foot of College street only by
the hardest kind of hustling and the able
assistance Of City Attorney Villas and
Mayor james f. Burke.
Tho attempt or the part Of tho rail-
way company to build tracks across the
foot Of College street and catch the city
mapping was only another move on the
checker board in the game that Is being
played botw een the railway and the city
for possession of the street. The city got
the best of the deal Yesterday, and the
thirty or more feet of trcstle work and
tracks which the company had thrown
across the foot OF the street disappeared
yesterday afternoon under the direction
of John II. Black. superintendent Of
streets. and big force of city employees
ljy the active work on the part Of the
city attorney the railway company now
STANDS 1eSuHllcu from iuTtlcT lHltIIel-
ng with the street. The injunction was
granted by Judge Z. L. Waterman in
county court yesterday and was served
upon G. f, Soulc, superintendent Of the
Central Vermont railroad.
Tie attempt on the part of the railway
company to obtain possession Of the street
b. laying its tracks across the foot of
the thoroushfare extending from the
yacht club wharf to the land at the south
&c College street, which lara. BY the way,
the city proposes to sequester. is char
acterized as a foxy move to checkmate
the city in its attempt to take possession
of College street.
Tie excitement began about s o'clock
yesterday morning The information came
! up from the lake front that the Central
Vermont had a big gang of men working
| on the keen jump, putting trestle and
track across the lower end of the street
at Tie waters edge.
This information proved to be correct.
In fact it is claimed that the railway
company rushed "A big force OF men to the
city from out of town It was further
claimed chat part OF the work was done
during Tuesday night. This was denied.
however. by the railway officials.
Certain it is. however. that the mon
We're working on the jump. There were
about 4 men and they were hustlng like
all possessed to get the trestle work com
pleted and the tracks laid.
ALDERMEN GET BUSY.
Alderman Barnes was the first member
| of the city council to get wind of the
matter He threw on his coat and started
up the street in a hurry. He first visited
tine office of Alderman Cowles. The lat
ter when informed of what was going
forward. rushed into the office OF the
city attorney and later went out to find
the mayor
Mayor Burke, according to the story,
was sitting at the board table in the
| city clerks office. Alderman Cowles
rushed in.
Mayor. do YOU know what the Central
Vermont Railway company is doins?"
almost shouted Mr.. Cowles.
NO, What is it doins?" asked the
mayor.
at is building tracks across the foot
of College street" repned Mr.. Cowes.
Good, l am glad of it, cried the
mayor, bringing his fist down on tho
table. THAT Will teach these fellows.
uneaning the members OF the board Of al
dermen) a lesson
do you mean to say that you want
to be placed on record as being satisfied
to have the street taken away from tho
city and not make a move to stop it,
shouted Alderman Cowles.
Il don't want to burn my fingers with
the matter" replied Mavor Burke grow
ing warmer
AN right III place you on record
then" returned Mr. Cowles, "as being IN
favor of letting the railway company run
away with the city's rights to the street"
The rctorts then developed into some
what of personal character and Alder
man Cowles returned to the office OF
the city attorney,
In the meantime Alderman Barnes
was discussing with the city attor-
ney the best plan OF stopping the
move on the part of the railway COM
pany.
The latter called UP the police de-
partment and asked Acting Chief
Cosgriff to send some policemen down
to the foot Of the street to stop the
work The acting chief said he had
two men and would send down a third
as soon as he could. The city attor-
junction.
MAYOR NOT EXCITED.
Alderman Barnes made trip to
police headquarters to see II the Off
GERS were on the way down to the
wharf While Mr.. Barnes was hust-
ling about the city trying to stir VI
some way Of stopping the proceed
jngs at tho foot of College street he
met Mayor Burke.
The alderman was feeling pretty
warm under the collar by this time.
whats going on down there?'
asked the mayor
The Central Vermont is Erabbins
the right of way at the foot of Col
lcge street" returned Mr. Barnes.
"Weu. I am not going to burn my
engers in the matter" returned tbs
mayor,
Alderman Barnes boiled over at THU
rcjoinder on the part of the mayor.
"If YOU don't get busy and stop th
railway company from laying those tracks
I will use what power | possess as
,,or1her of the board Of aldermen to stol
+, myself. even if have to shoulder tn
responsibility" said Mr. Barnes. as tn
noyor moved off IN the direction of tn
railroad station
Alderman Rarnes followed the chic
executive a short distance, preparins
10 make a few remarks, but though
halter of it and went his way. II
tha n,eontime through tho efforts o