The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-05-12
AGREEMENT
NOT YET MADE
Conference Yesterday Not
Productive of Final
Settlement.
DETAILS WILL BE
DISCUSSED FARTHER
Vermont Route Likely to be
Selected.
PRESIDENT MELLEN OFFERS
VALUABLE CONCESSIONS

Agreed TO Give Grand Trunk Sufficient
Land TO Enable Them to Enter Brat
tleboro from the North, Also Right
of Way Through Bellows Falls Tunnel
The local railroad situation Is still unset
tied but there i, a general feeling that the
New Haven and Grand Trunk officials VIII
reach an agreement which will solve the
Connecticut Valley problem in a way that
will be perfectly satisfactory to Brattle'
boro and the remainder of the state. since
the conference OF last Friday, brief re-
port of which appeared in The Retormer
of that date, those most closely in touch
with the situation have felt confident that
tbc Boston x Names South Nernon-Brat-
tleboro link will he built on the Vermont
side of the river As will be seen from the
following account Of that meeting, PreSi'
dent Mellen Of the New Haven offered the
Grand Trunk concessions which that com
panv cannot afford to refuse if IT really in
tends to build a line from Windsor to Brat
,leboro. In return for these Mr.. Mellen, OF
course. expects right of way through the
Bratteboro yard, and engineers of the two
systems are now at work on a plan looking
toward such an arrangement,
Yesterday Messrs. Mellen and Fitzhugh
held a second conference relative TO the
Connecticut Valley situation but adyiees
from Boston state that no final agreement
was reachd. However, the fact that still
another meeting is TO be held in the near
future is believed by Brattleboro people to
indicate that there is no great obstacle in
the way of settlement of the two roads
differences in this town and at Bellows
Falls.
Following the conference of one week
ago Chief Engineer George NJ. Tompson
came to Brattleboro with full authority
from President Mellen to agree on a plan
that will enable the Boston X Maine to
build its extension in Vermont, Mr., Tomp'
son and Engineer Morrison of the Central
Vermont went over the local situation
thoroughly on Monday, and when the for
mer left for Boston Wednesday afternoon
he took with him a plan embodying his
ideas of mutually satisfactory solution,
Just what this plan is has not been made
public but it is known that the local rail
road committee has hopes of bringing about
the adoption of something similar to the
original Boston & Maine plan which pro-
vided for elevated tracks through this
town.
Inasmueh as the Rutland railroad must
he consulted with reference to the changes
at Bellows Falls, George I. Jarvis, general
manager of that railroad, and f. A. Law
renee, attorney, were invited to participate
in Yesterdays discussion. Nice-Presldent Il.
II. Fitzhugh and Engineer H. G, Kelley rep
resented the Grand Trunk, and George Z.
Jones, general manager and G. w. WIT
ters. counsel were present for the Central
Vermont. while President Charles 5. Mel
len. Vice President Timothy f. Byrnes, u.
NJ. Tompson, consulting engineer, and W..
B. C. Sticlney, attorney, acted in behalf OF
the Boston 4 Maine.
One plan submitted yesterday was for
the widening of the tunnel just south OF
Bellows Falls, making it wide enough to
accommodate double track and admitting
the Central Vermont to its use. The yard
room at Bellows Falls, which is owned by
the Rutland and the Boston K Maine, Is
much restricted, and because of the river
and hills there is little room left for the
contemplated Central Vermont line. The
Central Vermont wishes the privilege Of
occupying the Rutland yards at Bellows
Falls for the movement of its trains. The
plans submitted, therefore, call for con-
cessions by the Central Vermont to the
Boston & Maine at Brattleboro and for
reciprocal favors by the latter company
and the Rutland at Bellows Falls.
Four interests were represented at the
conference of last Friday, which took place
in the New Haven offices in the North
station. Boston: The state of Vermont by
Gov. John A. Mead, Lieut. Gov. l.. L,
Slack, Frank E. Howe, of Bennington
speaker of the house of representatives;
Harvey R. Kingsley secretary OF ciyil ana
military affairs, and Attorney John Il,
Lewis Of North Troy; the New Haven road
bv President Charles S. Mellen, wee fresic
dent Timothy E. Byrnes and members Oh