The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-06-02
DEPENDING THE G. ".

In recent speech before the business
men of Montpelier and Barre Nice-Presi'
dent Timothy f. Byrnes OF the New Haven
system took occasion to find fault with the
railroads that have been operating IN Yer
mont in the past, accusing them OF pos
sessing no influence and no enterprise
There was nothing very far from the truth
in what Mr.. Byrnes said, as far as expert
ence in this corner of the state has shown
but the remarks have called forth a num-
Der Of spirited defences OF the Central Yer
mont. In commenting on the Byrnes speech
the Mortified News says:
But the question is, what Is the New
Haven going to do to help vermont! ~
has accomplished nothing so far. Its de-
mands for entrance to Brattleboro have
not succeeded because they have not been
reasonable. There has been no material
change in the Rutland system since II came
under the new control. There Is no mark
ed improvement in sight on the Montpelier
& Wells River under the new management,
not even a reduction in the eXorbltant pas
senger tariff, warranted perhaps IN the
early days of the road, but not in the 10Th
century. 1t is reported however, that me
removed from Montpelier, which Will OF
course extend the scenic conditions IN that
city.
In the meantime the Central Vermont
Railway company, which has mo enter
prise" according to Mr. Byrnes s sweeping
statement has among other things put on
a granite train to the west which Is beat
ing all freight time records; 1t has also an
nounced two additional passenger trans
L. .l..l. - In
time that the New Haven management de
clared a curtailment of passenger service
on the Boston & Maine, Mr. Bvrnes was
also reported as saying, while in Mont
pelier, that his folks took no interest IN the
building of the proposed railroad from
Montpeier through Mad River Valley to
Rutland, which is the greatest need Just
now as it would develop one of the best
section of Vermont. The proposed parallel
ling of the lines of other roads, by the way.
is not development but an expense which
the public must pay in the final analysis
The News has no prejudice in the matter
and it will welcome with delight any actual
movement for improved railroad facilities
in Vermont from the new comer-lf 1t be
Conner" Up to the present time, how
ever, whatever recent railroad improve
ments have come to the public have been
through the Central Vermont, under the
control of the Grand Trunk system.
1t seems to us a trihe early to take the
New Haven railroad to task for having
done nothing to help Vermont. Nobody
believes that Mr.. Mellen and Mr.. Brynes
are in the railroad business solely for the
purpose of promoting the New Vermont
idea. but at the same time there is abso-
lutely no doubt that their administration
of the Rutland and the Montpelier & Wells
River roads will eventually prove distinctly
advantageous to the territory that they
serve. As for the statement that the New
Ravens demands for an entrance into
Brattleboro failed because they were nrea-
sonable, that is something over which
there will always be opportunity for argu-
ment. in view of the prospective settle
ment of the Brattleboro situation, how
ever there is no need of reopening the dis
cussion.
As to Mr.. Byrnes's comments on the
Rutland and Central Vermont, it must in
fairness be admitted that in the past these
roads have shown woeful lack of enter
prise. In the case of the latter, however,
is found refutation of the News state
ment that the New Haven has accom-
plished nothing for this state Hasn't it
stirred the Central Vermont to furnish
better service than ever before?