Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1911-01-20
BrattIeboro
Vermont

tleboro and South Vernon two routes
are practical. One is to cross the Con-
necticut river about a mile north of
Bridge street in the town of Brattleboro
and to connect the Ashuelot branch of
the Boston q Maine system, which prac-
tically takes the whole railroad out of
the state, deprives the state of the taxes
it might otherwise collect and leaves the
Boston IL Maine station for Brattleboro
on the opposite side of the river. The
other route lies entirely in Vermont and
If the road is built will undoubtedly
bring the state an annual revenue of at
least $4,000 which will probably increase
year by year.
In order to build on this route, how
ever, it is necessary to run the line
through land of the New London North
ern Railroad company, which requires a
special act of the legislature Had it
been necessary to take only individual
or municipal property or that of any
corporation other than a railroad the
general law would have allowed it to be
taken at any time on the payment of
damages.
Law Very Clear.
1t has been contended that lands of
railroad company being already held
for public use are not liable to be taken
from one company and given to another
for the same use. Your committe have,
this has been done. The laws seems to
be very clearly set forth by Chief JUS
tice Shaw when he says:
1T is for the Legislature to determine
which shall yield and to what extent
and whether wholly or in part to the
other; and such question will ordinarily
be determined by the legislature accord
ing to their convictions of the preponder-
ance of the public necessity and con-
venience. iii Mass. 125
At the request of the Central Vermont
Railway company and as their guests
your committee visited the site of the
proposed road in Brattleboro to see if it
was advisable to build it without injury
to the Central Vermont. 1t was found
that the plans would necessitate the de-
struction and rebuilding of a turntab BILE
and round house, would destroy two
small side tracks and would separate the
tracks at present used for handling car
load freight from the main portion of
the yard by the proposed tracks OF the
Boston & Maine.
More Space Available.
On the other hand, the plan would
make more space available for tracks on
the side of the railroad yard next the
town, would provide an admirable place
for handling freight on that side and
would greatly facilitate the handling OF
freight and passenger business. In short
the new layout for Central Vermont
business alone, without reference to that
of the Boston & Maine, your committee
believes would be much better that 1t is
at present; and 1t must be remembered
that all these changes are to be made
by the Vermont Valley railroad, guar
anteed by the Boston & Maine.
The proposed changes also affect the
elimination of a very dangerous grade
crossing which, under an order of the
public service commission, was to be
eliminated at an expense of $4,000 to the
town of Brattleboro, s125OO to the state
of Vermont and of a large amount to
the Central Vermont, all of which is
saved by this proposed plan.
Therefore to recapitulate, the under
signed believe that by granting this char
ter amended as proposed below, the leg
isature will best provide for the needs
OF the public and will do no harm nor
| injustice to anyone.
The Amendment offered.
The amendment mentioned in the clos
| ing part of the report is substantially
that offered by the Boston & Maine at
the last public hearing, with further
provision which will care for the inter-
ests OF the Crosby mill at Brattleboro