The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-05-05
BOSTON CONFERENCE
NOW TAKING PLACE
Governor Mead Met the Railroad
Officials Today
NO AGREEMENT: EXTRA SESSION
Strong Probability That Governor Will
Take Immediate Action if Grand
Trunk oficials Remain obdurate-
Windsor -Brattleboro Extension.


The Brattleboro situation Is being dis
russcd by men high up in railroad circles
| today. Gov. John A. Mead OF Vermont
| President Charles - Mellen OF the New
| Haven system aud Nice-Presldent T.. Ii
| Fitzhugh of the Grand Trunk met IN the
offices of President Mcllen in the North
station, Boston, at 10 O'Clock this morning
to confer on a plan that will enable the
Boston 4 Maine to build its South Yer
non. liiattleboro link on the Vermont side
Of the river Up to late hour this morn.
ing no news regarding the conference had
been received in Brattleboro, but It is ex'
pected that the result will be known here
within a few hours.
In attendance upon tile conference in ad.
dition to the men mentioned are John /.
Lewis, Governor Mead's legal advisor,
Judge James NJ, Tyler, representing the
Brattleboro railroad committee, Vice
President T. Il. ByTnes OF the New Haven
system. General Manager G.. G. Jones OF
the Central Vermont, and Attorneys W,
b. c. Stickney, G. W. Writers and {. c,
Fits
The conference is the result OF a sugges.
tion by Governor Mead who Is extremely
desirous OF seeing the local controversy
settled in such way that the Boston X
Maine will not be obliged to build in New
Hampshire and yet wishes to bring about
the settlement without calling the legisla-
ture in extra session. Ii the Grand Trunk
officials cannot be induced to meet the New
Haven folks half way on the proposition
embodied in the new plan, however, there
is little doubt that the governor will order
an extra session Immediately.
The prospect of immediate construction
Of the Central Vermont link from Wind
sor to Bratteboro seems TO be strength
ened by the way matters are shaping them
selves with regard to the tidewater ter
minal which the Grand Trunk is seeking
in Providence. Late last week the Grand
Trunk and New Haven officials agreed
upon plan regarding trackage rights
through the city OF Providence and this
agreement is embodied in a bill in amend
ment to the Southern New England char
ter This amendment passed the Rhode
Island house of representatives yesterday
by unanimous vote. The compromise
agreement provides that the Grand Trunk
shall cross the New Haven tracks by means
of a tunnel instead of at grade, the latter
road agreeing to bear the difference In eX.
pense between running the tracks under
meath and crossing on the surface. This
bill practically removes the last obstacle
in the way Of the Grand Trunks entry
into Providence Vice President FltZhugh
said few days ago that Just as soon as
the amendments were passed by the legis
lature the Southern New England Rail
road company would be organized
A despatch from Montreal states that in
Grand Trunk circles there word is expected
any day for the contractors to begin work
on the % miles between Windsor and Bel
lows Falls. II is not likely that more than
this one stretch could be built this season
although the road intends to continue
south 10 Brattleboro just as rapidly as is
possible Stakes set recently by Central
Vermont engineers show that the propOs-
ed line will connect with the track of the
West River division at the upper end of
the West river bridge coming from the |
north by route few hundred yards west |
of the Putney road until point below the |
Fred Thomas place is reached From there |
to the bridge the survey is practically in I
the highway which would no doubt have
to be altered.
The local force of Boston & Maine engi
neers, under the direction Of George NJ
Tompson, jr., has been devoting the week +
to relocating 9. portion OF the, survey Tor
the Windsor-West Lebanon link and a re-
survey has been made Of the B. & nj.
tracks from the Bridge street crossing to
a point about $500 feet north. This lat
ter work was done in order to provide a /
plan for connecting the tracks OF the Bos-
ton & Maine with the Central Vermont |
should any arrangement be made whereby
the original Boston & Maine elevated plan
should be adopted.
When Chief Engineer George NJ. Tomp-
son left Brattleboro week ago this after
noon he carried with him eight bids for
the construction of the first section OF the
Boston & Maine extension from
Hinsdale to Walpole The hopes of Brat
tleboro people that the road will be built
ON the Vermont side of the Connecticut
river have been strengthened during the
week by the knowledge that no award has
been made for the building of the first link
from Hinsdale to Brattleboro. Mr.. Tomp-
SON ir.. was ordered to White River juno
ton this morning to superintend the work
Of relocating a short section of the line
south of West Lebanon. He will join his
father in Boston tonight. The local sur
veyors are resting on their oars as regards
further operations on the first section of
the Hinsdale-W Walpole link until Mr.. Mel
len issues further orders.
There seems well-defned belief among
the engineering crew that they will soon
be ordered to abandon their survey from
Hinsdale to Brattleboro and make COM
plete the survey from South Vernon to
Brattleboro on the Vermont side of the
river. Engineer George M. Tompson will
return to Brattleboro Monday.