Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-05-11
GRAND ISLE SEEKS GROWTH
Vermont Summer Resort Held
Back by Railroad Service.
REGION Tint Paul Smith Thought SUI
pcrior TO Thousand Islands Sim
pIy Needs Bettcr Connections
with cities North and south.

Frank A. Briggs, proprietor of tho
Island Villa at Grand Isle. was in the
city Friday and told a Free Press
reporter of the conditions and problems
connected with the development of Grand
Isle county as a summer resort, It
developed in the conversation with Mr..
Briggs that the islands had already made
some progress along that line but this
was done In spite of poor railroad accom-
modations which not only held that
region back but injured Burlington.
Under tho present arrangements Of
trains, it Is not feasible for Buring-
tonians or people south of here to pay n
visit to the islands with the expectation
Of returning the same day. as the only
mort Inbound trains which stop there are
two in the afternoon, one leaving at 1913
and the other at 4:45. There is a mixed
train running north at six o'clock in the
morning but It usually takes two hours
to get anywhere on II. The train going
north at $40 does not stop at any of the
places executing when through passengers
are on Being forced TO leave so early
In tho afternoon prevents residents or
visitors Of the island from attending any
matinee or other amusement in the after
noon In Burlington. This cutting into
the afternoon for return trip prevents
many from coming to Burlington but
sends them to Plattsburgh, especially in
the winter when there IS 4 well-bushed
road across the ice.
The more serious trouble, however. is
with the trains to Now York. Boston
and Montreal The train arriving at Bur
linEton Mt 1910 p. m. stops at no places
in the islands and this prevents brokers
and New York business men from having
their families in tho region as they cam
not come to spend Sunday. returning
Sunday night as In most summer resort
districts. They at present 90 in large
numbers to the Adrondacks and even
to the Thousand Islands, because of the
better railroad facilities. The noon train
stops there three times week but this
Is not often enough to please New York
people. This is at present the only
through train for New York.
What the islands might be is shown
by the fact that at present many
prominent railroad men of other rail
roads than the one running through
it are Drawing the Inconvenience OF
getting there to spend their brief va
cations when they might spend them
at hotels owned by their own roads.
Among these are w. J. Mellen, gen
eral traffic manager Of the Delaware
& Hudson. and General Freight Agent
Bates OF the Pennsylvania railroad.
Their worth is further attested by
the annual vsits of such men as
Rear Admiral Schley who has spent
his summers there for many years.
Jerome II. Coombs of Brooklyn, presi-
dent OF the South Brooklyn Savings
bank and chairman OF the advisory
committee of tho Brooklyn Title &
Guarantee company. and others Of
equal note. Before their death. Julian
Ralph. the author, and Rear Admiral
Dickens made their summer homes
there. Paul Smith, who helped to de-
velop the Adirondacks, was always
enthusiastic over the possibilities Of
the islands and thought they were SUI
perior to the Thousand islands with
their magnificent view of both noun
tain ranges and the broad lake.
All this goes to show that those
who do succeed in getting there think
something OF 1t and at present the
hotels are doing a capacity business.
The hotels are anxious to grow but
Will not put any more money into II
until they can sec moro business COM
ing, and this the hotel men cannot see
under present conditions. The atti-
tude of Mr.. Briggs and the other no.
tel men on the islands is not one Of
rivalry but OF operation in hopes
that tho region can be developed to
their common advantage, This, they
feel, cannot be done. unless there is
a good through railroad service to
New York and the larger cities.