Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-07-08
NEW STATION ASSURED
Order Issued by Public Service
Commission
Grade Crossing Abolition and Other I'm
proVements TO be Completed Before
Nov. 1. 1911.


proVements TO be Completed Before
Nov. I. 1911.
Brattleboro's grade crossing is doomed.
The public service commission gave It a
Knockout blow Wednesday morning when
they issued an order directing that the
grade crossing be abolished before Nov.
/, 1911. The time for the completion Of
the work was accepted as satisfactory by
the Central Vermont railroad officials, and
the plans which have been worked out by
the special committee elected in the an
nual town meeting in March, 1908, will be
carried out with some small changes. The
Boston & Maine railroad entered the field
a the last moment, but their representa-
tIves failed to show how the railroad was
interested essentially in the abolition Of
the grade crossing and they asked to be
dismissed. This means that the field is
clear now for making definite plans and
beginning work soon. This satisfactory
termination Of the long struggle Of the
special committee with the railroad inter
ests is gratifying to the people Of the
town, especially after the decided ap-
proval Of the plan which was manifested
in the special town meeting Saturday
The order Of the commission means not
only the abolition Of the crossing, but
the building Of a new railroad station the
change Of grade on Vernon street, and the
mittee has been working.
The public service commission, the
special committee and their attorneys and
representatives. Of the Central Vermont
and the Boston & Maine railroads all were
present al 10 o'clock when the hearing
opened in the Brooks House par
lors. Clarke c. Fits, representing the
committee, made a brief statement Of
the situation. He said that at the
last hearing an adjournment was taken
10 see II a definite understanding could
not he reached between the committee
and the Central Vermont company. He
produced copies of the ground plan Of
the proposed changes and indicated the
changes which the railroad suggested. The
committee preferred the ramp next to the
tracks instead Of close to the river bank
and he suggested that. II the commits
sion should draw an order abolishing the
grade crossing, they give both locations
as alternatives. c. W. Writer'S of st.
Adams objected to the alternative.
Chairman ]. W Redmond stated that
the danger Of the grade crossing had been
gone into fully in previous hearings and
that unless there was objection the com
mission would not take any more time to
hear testimony but would state that they
were convinced firmly that the crossing
should be abolished on account Of the
danger alone No objection was raised
and that part Of the question was settled.
E. W. Gibson appeared for the Twin
state Gas and Electric company and made
brief statement, calling the attention
Of the commissioners to the fact that
carrying out the plan would necessitate
doing away with the gas house and that
there was no other good place available
, He also called attention to the fact that
the Brattleboro Street Railway company's
charter gave them a right to cross the
railroad tracks at grade. He asked that
the company be protected in their charter
rights in any order which the commission
might make. He called attention also to
the rights OF eminent domain conferred
| by special act on the Brattleboro Gas
| Light company in 1902. Mr.. Gibson also
made a statement for the Vermont Valley
railroad and the Boston & Maine railroad
| calling attention TO the changes which
were contemplated, including the track TO
South Vernon on the New Hampshire side
Of the river and the erection OF a new
station near the Bradley farm
W. B. c. Stickney, appearing for the Bos-
ton * Maine railroad also made a state
ment concerning the intentions Of the rail-
road. He said that delays might
| arise which would postpone actual work
on the new railroad. but that the plan
would be carried out He stated that the
executive board OF the railroad had voted
to make this improvement and that the
money was ready with which TO do the
work. The abolition OF the grade crossing
did not effect the Boston & Maine rail-
road directly He thought that the situa-
tion might be very different in three
months Mr.. Redmond said that he failed
to see where the proposed change at the
Central Vermont station affected the
Boston & Maine excepting as they might
/ have to pay more rent IL it were a union
| station. Mr.. Stickney acknowledged that
| this was true, his chief objection being
| to the railroad commissioners insisting on
| a union station.
Mr.. Fits said that the committee was
| not opposed in any way to the plans OF
/ the Boston & Maine railroad Brattle-
boro would welcome their new railroad de-
/ velopment. The vote taken in the town
meeting was not in opposition to the
| railroad but was an expression Of the
/ desire OF Brattleboro voters TO push the
/ new Central Vermont station project
/ along. Mr.. Stickney said that the new
| Boston & Maine station would be built
on the site selected unless the people OF
! Brattleboro preferred TO have II on the
! other side OF the river, In order to make
the new railroad development clearer he
| called on George H. Tompson, the engi-
| neer who has been in charge OF the pre-
| liminary work, and Mr.. Tompson pro-
| duced his maps and answered many ques-
! tions. One interesting fact was brought
! out by reference to the map. The repre-
sentatives Of the Boston & Maine railroad
had stated that their proposed station
would be 2500 feet north Of the present
station BY measurement 1t was found
that the site was fully $500 feet away.
After a little further discussion, in
which the details OF the plan were talked
over, the commissioners announced their
decision, which was satisfactory to the
| Central Vermont representatives. The only
point on which the Boston & Maine men
were insistent was that a union station
should not be required. Mr.. Fits stated
that the committee would not insist on a
| union station.
In addition 10 the general counsel. Mr.
| Writers, the Central Vermont was repre-.
sented in the hearing by G. c. Jones, gen.
eral manager, and Mr.. Morrison, chief en-.
gineer.
IC