Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-12-07

The old adage that show which the wind is blow
ing is of railroads and railroad extension as OF more
light and aerial things This the philosophy OF our rejoicing
the that the New York New Haven and
Hartford railroad purchased the Stowe Electric railway
Such is important indication or as symp
TOM If one desires to so regard it, han as mere oa aaon 70
would probably look but for purposes OF railroad STRAIT
trying to checkmae its rivals One never tell whether
tie Stowe electric or the swanon Alnrg link or hu at
great caste like the Boston and Maine system or jump
like half interest the Rutland way the board
dagonaly with bishop like the Ontario and Western thus
Great Lakes through transportation which rail
road friends use at times though they would have the rest OF us
believe shipping by water is relic of an ehete past
Such apparently trivial as the purchase of the
Stowe railroad by the splendid New Haven system illustrates
opposed to each other shows how consolidation of two roads
the absorption of small line by great system of railroad
makes possible improvements in roadway and equipment and
service that the smaller line weak financially under
take.
benefit to the people of community well of whole
State of genuine and energetic connection between two strong
systems of railway that can by possibility be consolidated
Dealing with the first principle. we find that the Stowe
road has been struggling and aarved project practically
from the very first Every student of rlroadng would
recognize the manifest destiny of the line be extension
mont and the St ohnsbuy Lake Champan of the
New Haven system and aordng shortened route between
Montpelier and the amo region for those having business
politics, at the State capital.
The Stowe line has incaraciatcd financially to
even provide Itself with Independent power plant
nothing of reaching for business that had
certain degree of vevet and so has struggled along
ing merely local line Waterbury to stowe with one
terminal up in the air, speak but up Mount
Mansfield to- give it the dignity and patronage of mountain
Absorption by the New Haven
is to be extended from Stowe connection with the former
road point Lamolc presumably Morisvie which
has had the wisdom and foresight energy provide itself
with Formidable waerpower that commands attention. Alb
sorption that the will improvements
and equipment it needs to put warooting and natur
al result will unquestionaby enjoy paving business
Let us now turn to the other principle mentioned that of
souty defended and maintained by the people of
defence we'll eaven of life in the provision of facilities
and service
Does any one dream for moment that the great New
little thing like this Stowe electric road but for the fact that
it is engaged in life struggle with the Grand Trunk and
particularly the lattcr Central Vermont dvison
the question is to indicate the answer.
The announcement of the purchase accompanied by the
statements that the Stowe line is be extended orrisve
and that the extended line will be operation
trail Vermont build its proposed Waterbury
country to North Troy There have the whole
nutshell We hope the entire story true but be this
may the principles we have laid down hold fast just the
history itself
Assuming that the is true it is safe to con-
cd applying the principle of railway rivalry locally that this
move would not have been made the Central Vermont
Grand Trunk had not projected extension that would
feet invade New Haven territory through partially parallel
line The Central Vermont system the other hand
onaby felt more ready to undertake the building OF this much
needed crosscountry line between Washington
counties than might have been had it. for instance owned
controlled the Montpelier and Wells River and the Johns
bury and Lake Champan or in short had dominated all the
railways in Vermont.
whether this principle OF competition be thus
empie later certain bear frtago in different
parts of Vermont through the improvement of existing facilities
and quickened service well the gradual
the better opening the public of resorts pro
vision of railroad accommodations for regions untouched
by steel rails and the consequent development entire
State.
This little Stowe railroad thus illustrate
uaton in the whole country What Congress has sought
vide through federal regulation of railroad systems of the
United States is the perpeuaon of competition par
ae systems that will not only good reasonable
for the public existing lines but extension of
branches communities without railroad facilities.
That understand it is the gs of the question
Of supervision and control Of railroads. Such
policy supeavey needed railroads are
absolutely dominated by group Of nances and the
the people of Vermont jealousy guard themselves from
coming wholly dependent railroad system,
ter where it halls from.