The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-06-05
All Subscriptions Payable in Advanc
FRANK e. HOWE, Editor and Pub'r.
THE RAILROAD SITUATION

The settlement of the railroad stu
alton at Brattleboro still drags but
all parties who are in touch with the
situation talk confidently of ultimate
success in reaching an agreement.
The news columns of the Brattleboro
Reformer last week contained the
following:
Announcement Of the settlement OF
the local railroad controversy can
not be made officially this week. Var
ious rumors OF settlement have been
current since last Friday but none OF
them has the official confirmation OF
either party to the dispute. One story
which is believed to have emanated
| from an authoritative Central Yer
mont source is to the effect that the
problem will be solved by the Boston
and Maine building second track
! from here to Windsor, the Central
Vermont double tracking the stretch
es between here and South Vernon,
Windsor and White River Junction,
and the two roads using the iron
Jointly with full rights of competi'
ton. OF course, there may be abso-
lutely no truth to this report, al
though from a railroad standpoint II
would seem to be an economical way
out of the trouble, even If not an
! ideal arrangement for Brattleboro. If
such plan were adopted 1t would
mean no doubt a station on the west
side of the tracks with an over-pass.
In an interview Wednesday evening
Governor John A Mead expressed sat
lisfaction over the progress OF the ne
gotiations going on between Presi-
ldent Charles s. Mellen of the Boston
| and Maine railroad and Vice Presl-
dent T.. II. Fitzhugh of the Grand
Trunk with regard to the solution of
the problems confronting both roads
| in the Connecticut River valley.
Though Governor Mead is not in poss-
ession of detailed information con
cerning the plans OF both roads Tor
bringing the Boston and Maine into
Brattleboro he said that he was posi-
tive that Brattleboro was assured OF
two competing lines. He said 1t was
doubtful whether Brattleboro would
| get the original plan as proposed by
the Boston and Maine when the ex-
tension was first mapped out and
which included raising the grade OF
both roads.
The governor said that while the
negotiations had apparently been re-
tarded during the past month he was
lkeeping in close touch with the stu
alton and knew that both roads are
working out the problem as promised
him at the conference in Boston at
which he was present Though the
governor is sanguine that an an
Inouncement will be forthcoming
soon from both railroads he holds
to his position taken several weeks
ago with regard to calling a special
session OF the legislature If neses'
lsary. He does not intend to force
1.-THE hand of either road at this point
in the negotiations, but he does not
hesitate to say that he knows the
feeling of the senate and OF many
prominent members OF the house OF
Representatives and that should the
negotiations now in progress result
lin accomplishing nothing he would
lbe willing to have the matter submit
ted to the legislature. He laid stress
Iupon the fact that he had no interest
lin the solution of the problem other
than that of citizen and chief exec
Iutive of the state of Vermont. AT
1.-The same time he expressed himself
lunqualifedly in favor of railroad
competition and during his CONVERSE
ltion reiterated his position, which is
that of one with authority to bring
the matter before higher tribunal
than railroad managers il it becomes
absolutely necessary.