The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-01-27
JOINT COMMITTEE
GAVE A HEARING
Railroad Fight Aired Again on
Wednesday Afternoon.
BRATTLEBoRo FOLKS UPBRAIDED

BY central vermont Attuihcy baihhb
Let the B. g. M. Go Back to New
Hampshire, and the People Of Brat
tleboro Also Evidence Now All H.
The final hearing on the measure that
is known throughout the state MS 'the
railroad billn took place in the senate
chamber Wednesday afternoon before
special committee composed OF the
judiciary and railroad committees oil
the upper house to which the bill was
referred Saturday. The session began
nj about $50 and continued until near
" $50, most of the time being taken
up by W. b. c. Stickney, counsel for
the Vermont Valley road, and I. H.
Darling, attorney for the Central YER
mont. There were enough Interested
listeners to more than fill the senate
chamber, the audience including nu'
merous Central Vermont officials, heneh'
men of the contending corporations
and n stable delegation from Brattle'
boro onthe-map.
Mr.. Stickney spoke first, explaining
the bill and its amendments III uetalI
and going carefully over the various
stages of the controversy for the Dehe'
m of the judiciary committee members
who were not familiar with the ieShi
aspect of the case He pointed out
that the oyerpass plan approved pS tne
public service commission would erect
ually prevent future railroad develop,
n .I.I. ~
tbe fact that the only opponents OF the
nronosed charter were representatives,
Of the Grand Trunk interests TO meet
tbe claim of the opposition that the
authority asked for by the Vermont
Valley would damage the Central yer
mont terminal facilities at Brattleporo
Mr.. Stickney offered an amendment
nroyidinp that if the construction or
oneration of the proposed double TRACK
aid obstruct the terminal facilities the
location should be changed by agree
ment of the two roads, or IN ease OF uls'
agreement by the public service com
mission. Mr.. Stickney SAID that the
absolute Justice and necessity OF the
measure ought to ensure ltS pronPs'
passage. The Vermont Valley road
Stood ready to begin work just ms soon
ms il received the necessary authority
in Vermont: if this was not granted
the link between South Vernon ana
Brattleboro would be filled by a ROAD
ON the New Hampshire side OF the nv
or. which would mean passenger sta'
ton about mile and half from the
Village of Brattleboro and a freight
ward in New Hampshire. Mr.. Stlekney
made it plain that the Vermont valley
road stood ready to bear every cent OF
the cost of the Improvements al brat,
tleboro, including the cost OF raising
the Central Vermont freight slatloh,
in, all about S24l 900. {. W. Wlttefs
corrected Mr.. Stickney in regard to ms
statement that the oyerpass plan would
prevent future railroad development AT
Brattleboro, saying that there would
be room for five tracks underneath the
pass. Mr.. Stickney replied that II
there was room for five tracks under the
former plan there certainly was room
for four tracks under the proposed
plan.
Charles II. Darling of Burlington
smoke at considerable length in an ef'
fort to present the Central Vermont
side of the argument. but while ms
discourse sounded well it showed ms
lack of familiarity with the situation
at Brattleboro. Mr.. Darling took up
first the question of necessity. and ar
In the legal meaning of the word: lie
maintained that the Vermont Valley
had the right under the general law OF
the state to pass over the Central YER
mont tracks at Brattleboro, and that
fine legislature had no right to grant
sneciaI act to take the land of one pub
lie service corporation for another I'M
less the matter was one for which no
provision was made in the general law.
Mr.. Darling said the whole thing was
simply trade between the Boston u
Maine and the people of Brattleboro TO
get $241, 900 improvement at tne me- eA.
pense of the Central Vermont, nIhey
tell you,', said he, "that unless they
can get the authority they seek the"
will 90 back to their former plan, for
building in New Hampshire. Well, II
that Is the proposition. if there's got
to be a trade whereby Brattleboro sells
out the Central Vermont, let them 60
back to New Hampshire, and let the
people of Brattleboro go with them. "
Mr.. DARLING next took up the, question
If plans, and attempted to ridicule the
improvements proposed by the Boston
e. Maine. He bore down on the fact
that the retaining wall to the east OF
the elevated tracks would cut the local
freight ward in. two, and attempted TO
SNOW UHdJ lut pan "Ou'N
Central Vermont freight house y feet
underground. He even went so far as
to say that the proposed station ar,
engagements were out of-date and would
create more dangerous grade crossing
than the one abolished.
The last regular speaker was Judge
C. A. Palmer of Burlington, who touched
off a set piece about the Grand Trunk s
marvellous transcontinental $, stem, and
then attempted to get Engineer George
Tompson to admit that it wouldn't be
possible to move the proposed new
tracks, even if they did prove damaging
to the Central Vermont IS terminal;
Nearly an hour at the close of TIE
hearing was spent by Mr.. Stickney III
answering questions regarding the pro-
posed charter propounded to. him by
different members of the Judiciary com,
mittee. In addition to the plans OF the
proposed extension the committee mem
hers were shown photographs of the
local yard above and below the sta
ton.