Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1911-04-28
eRATTLEBoRo's APPEAL.

In order to accommodate Vice Presi-
dent f. H. Ftzhugh of the Grand Trunk
railway. a further delay in the final So
luton of the railroad stua tion at Brat
tleboro has been consented to by Gov
John a. Mead, President Charles S.
Mellen of the New York, New Haven and
Hartford railroad and the Brattleboro
railroad committee. Governor Mead and
the committee very much desired that a
conference between the Governor and the
heads of the two railroad companies be
held today in the hope of reaching an
agreement whereby the proposed South
Vernon Bra tteboro line could be built on
the Vermont side of the river, rather
than in New Hampshire. Mr.. Fitzhugh
wished to give his attention to matters
in Chicago, however, and although all
other interested parties were willing to
arrange for a meeting this week the
president of the New Haven system
courteously promised to again postpone
final action, Mr. Fitzhugh agreeing to
attend conference next Friday, May 3.
Governor Mead has decided upon his
course in the matter. He will insist upon
a conference as now arranged and if no
agreement comes out of it he will con-
vene the legislature in special session.
lie is convinced of the justice of the
position taken by the people of Bratte-
boro and as governor of the whole state
he will do his duty in protecting the in
! terests of its integral parts.
1t is with an entirely new proposition
that the people of this town and of this
county appeal to the rest of the state
| for the consideration that they feel is
| due them. Their plan for securing the
new line of the Boston and Maine road
for Vermont does not interfere in the
slightest degree with the terminal fa-
cilities of the Central Vermont company
and takes only small strip of land, now
largely under water, for which ample
recompense is provided in the way of
new land more favorably located
Mr.. Fitzhugh makes no objection on
| that score, but makes the arbitrary de-
mand that the Central Vermont be al
lowed to control the running of the Bos-
ton and Maine trains over that short
section of Central Vermont land, although
they would not touch Central Vermont
rails The injustice of such a demand
cannot fail to be apparent to every fair
minded man and the inconsistency of the
position is further emphasized by the fact
that the Central Vermont trains north OF
Bridge street run over Boston and Maine
tracks wholly independent of Boston and
Maine control. The Boston and Maine
road cannot be blamed for absolutely re-
fusing TO grant such a demand and unless
Mr.. Fitzhugh is willing to concede that
point the matter will go to he Legislature
That much is foregone conclusion.
The expense of a session of the leg
islature to reconsider the railroad matter
in the light of changed conditions is imma-
terial. 1t probably would be covered by
one years tax income from the new
double track line from South Vernon tC
Bratteboro. Deeper considerations thar
can be represented in money are involved
Brattlebore is on the eve of great indus
trial prosperity The state of Vermont, o.
which Brattleboro is just as much part
and is entitled TO as much consideration
as is any other town or city in the state
cannot afford TO blight those prospects b.
refusing the town reasonable request
The public spirit which exists here would
not allow this town to take such stant
against any other community.
Governor Mead has risen in defense o
Vermont by replying to a gloomy statisti
cal picture of the state, issued by al
official of the department of commerc,
and labor, which represented Vermont a
being in a decadent condition. Would /
not be evidence of decadence to drive
railroad out of the state, with the per
petual loss of taxes and loss of business
which would follow when it could b'
kept in the state without loss injury O
inconvenience to anybody? 1t is Gov
ernor Meads great loyalty to Vernon
that has stirred him to prevent such
manifestation. More power and strength
to his arm!