The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-05-06
BOSTON &. MAINE
TO GO THROUGH
BRATTLEBORO
Controversy Practically Settled
at Boston Conference
STATEMENT BY GOV. MEAD
Minor Details to Be Decided at An
other Meeting to Be Held
on Thursday
STATEMENT BY GOV. MEAD

Boston, May 6.-There was a con
ference at the North station yester-
day morning which virtually settled
the controversy between the New IIa-
ven and the Grand Trunk railroads
over trackage rights in Vermont. IT
was agreed that Gov. Mead of Yer
mont, who asked for the conference,
should issue the official statement as
to the results and this is the state
ment that he gave out for publication:
THE conference resulted in open
ing negotiations between the officials
of the two roads looking to an adjust
ment both at Brattleboro and Bellows
Falls. There is a prospect that the
roads will agree to solution which
will result in the new railroad being
built in Vermont. The matter is now
in the hands of Mr.. Mellen and Mr..
Fitzhugh who will continue the ne
gotiations at conference on next
Thursday"
Four interests were represented at
the conference. The state of Yer
mont was represented by Gov. Mead,
John L. Lewis of North Troy, Lieut..
Gov. L. p Slack. Frank E. Howe,
speaker of the House of Representa-
tives, Major Harvey r. Kingsley, sec.
rotary Of civil and military affairs.
The New Haven road was represented
by President Mellen, Vice President
Byrnes AMI members of The legal and
engineering departments The Grana
Trunk was represented by Vice Pres
ident Fitzragh Geocsc c Jones, VINO
is general manager Of the Central
Vermont end c. w Writer'S of st.
Adams, cilef Of com.gel. The city
Of Brattle5oro was represented by ex-
Attorney General G. =. Fits, Judge
TYLER, exJ Ice of tie sIpcema cuult,
and Col kittredge Haskls ex-meu-
Der of congress Other part! inter
esis Will ht considered n tn, confer.
ence next THURSDAY
All but one of the details we're
agreed upon in a plan that will en-
able the Boston and Maine. 10 build OF
the Vermont side of the Connecticut
river at Brattleboro, instead Of the
New Hampshire side
Gov Mead is confident that this
I'D be settled next Thursday and
there VIII q no nee OF calling a spe.
cial session of the legislature of Yer
mont. rhe Grand : unk is now 60
ing on with it's railroad improvements
in BIattle olo, abclishihg crossings in
accordance with plans sanctioned by
lie city and ordered by the public ser
vice commission.
AS assun ed by Cy Wymun for the
Grand Trunk, the Central Vermont,
which is owned by the Grand Trunk
controls b. q SO yeas lease, The New
ondon Northern. rhc New Haven
wanted TIE New London Northern and
would make the Grand Trunk a tenant
but the We mont Legislature decided
that the Now Haven company had no
right to do so. The G",iLd Trunk peo-
pie instead offered ~ .Iythins in the
way of trackage arrangements which
is the usual way, but che New Haven
declined 10th the New Haven road
and Brattleboro we're dissatisfied with
the situation as it Developed. hence,
the New Haven people Tads surveys
and threatened to bVld on the New
Hampshire side.
In the conference there was no talk
about the movement 10 induce the
Grand TrupS to como 20 Boston. 0ut.
side of the conference, Vice President
Fitzhugh was asked abort this by sew,
eral persons, but he did not commit
himself beyond saying that the Grand
Trunk is appreciative of the express
sion of public opinion He said that
he understood that the question had
! gone to the board of directors.
I'VE hope" he said within a few
months to begin actual construction
of the Southern New England railroad
between Palmer and Providence. We
will also spend, this summer, somt
$4,000, 900 or 100000 in double track
ing around Toronto. No other New
England construction, except such al
has been announced, in the publ,
prints, has been planned by tn,
Grand Trunk system this summer"