The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-05-12


the situation in the Connecticut valley, II
was absolutely necessary, he said, that his
road should have an independent line
through the Connecticut valley. and with
that idea ia view the state OF Vermont
had been asked for charter, President
Mellen said he, had no fault TO iind with the
efforts OF the Grand Trunk TO defeat the
bill When the defeat came he simply ac-
cepted the situation and began prepara'
tions at once TO build between Brattleboro
and South Vernon by way OF New llamp'
shine Mr.. Melen stated fatty that only
the most urgent request ON the part OF he
Brattlcbaro committee had induced him
To postpone building operations u, long n
he had Although willing to negotiate he
made il plain that the matter of time was
one of extreme importance to him.
President Fitzhugh said that the Grand
Trunk had never before been asked TO par
ticpatc in negotiations looking toward a
settlement of the Connecticut valley sltud-
ton. but that now that conference had
been brought about by the governor he
was glad 10 discuss the various problcus
freely. lie then went on 10 outline the
obstacles which confronted the Grand
Trunk in its plan to build from Windsor
to BrattlebOIo 1t was absolutely neCe--
sary. he said. that the road find a way TO
get through Bellows Falls and TO connect
at Battlehoro with IT, present Central Yer
mont tracks He pointed out that the New
IIavenS control nf the Bellows Falls tun
mel made il well nigh impossible for another
road 10 get through that town, and sad
also that getting into Brattleboro from
the north was extremely difficult because
OF the New IIaven's ownership OF a .por-
ton OF the electric light station west Of the
tracks short distance north of the
Bridge street crossing
In reply To these statements President
Melen stated that he was willing, in return
for right of way through the Central
Vermont yard at Brattleboro, to relnquish
title to all land west OF the Boston \
Names main track between the Bridge
street crossing and West river, the price
to be left ont ii the two roads could not
agree. He also said hc was willing To en-
large the Bellows Falls tunnel sufficiently
to accommodate three tracks and to turn
one of these over to the Grand Trunk, lie
added however, that at Bellows Falls the
New York Central road, halt-owner OF the
Rutland, was a party IN interest, and tor
that reason he could give no final answer
a> to concessions at that point until the
New York Central official, had been con
suited The conference yesterday was for
the purpose OF giving the latter an oppoI-
tunity to be heard
1t was agreed that Governor Mead of
Vermont. who asked for the conference.
should issue the official statement as
to the results. and this is the statement
that he gave out for publication:
1.-THE conference resulted in opening
negotiations between the officials OF
the two roads looking to an adjustment,
both mt BrattleborO and Bellows Falls.
There is a prospect that the roads will
agree to a solution which will result in
the new railroad being built in Yer
mont. The matter is now in the hands
of Mr.. Mellen and Mr.. Fitzhugh. who
will continue the negotiations at con
ference on next Thursday
As summed up by CIV Warman for the
Grand Trunk the Central Vermont,
which is owned by the Grand Trunk,
controls by 90 wears lease the New
London Northern. The New Haven
wanted the New London Northern and
would make the Grand Trunk tenant,
but the Vermont Legislature decided
that the New Haven company had no
right to do that. The Grand Trunk peo-
pie instead offered everything in the
way of trac kage arrangements. which is
the usual wav, but the New Haven de-
clined Both New Haven and Brattle-
boro were dissatisfied with the situa-
tion as it developed, and the New Haven
people nave maze SURVEYS anu threat
ened to build on the New Hampshire
side.
After the conference Vice President
Fitzhueh was asked about the movement
to induce the Grand Trunk to enter Bos,
ton. but he did not commit himself be-
yond saving that the Grand Trunk is
appreciative of the expression of public
opinion. He said that he understood
that the question had gone TO the board
of directors. "We hope, he said.
''within a few months to begin actual
construction of the Southern New Eng
land Railroad between Palmer and Pro
violence. We will also spend, this sum
mer, some $S,000,000 or $9,00O,000 in
double-trackin around Toronto. No
other New England construction, eX'
cept such as has been announced in the
public prints has been planned by, the
Grand Trunk system this summer.