The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-01-13
SURPRISE SPRUNG
AT END OF HEARING
Speech by Charles R. Crosby
Against B. & M. Plan
SAID SHIPPERS WILL SUFFER
If Boston & Maine Is Allowed TO Garry
Out It's Proposed Extension-C. v.
Attorneys Had Previously Summed
Up Committee Considering Bill.


Attorneys Had Previously Summed
Committee Considering Bill.
The fifth and final hearing before the
railroad committee held in the senate
chamber last evening was confined mainly
to arguments Of counsel following the in
PRODUCTION of evidence on Tuesday and
Wednesday evenings, there having been
two hearings prior to the holiday recess.
Just before adjournment in the early
hours OF this morning Charles r. Crosby
of this town threw scare into the
Boston & Maine representatives by max
/ ing the statement that the proposed plan
of that road was not wanted by the big
shippers of Brattleboro for the reason
| that il would cripple their shipping facili-
ties over the Central Vermont Mr.. Crosby
asked the committee not to consider the
fact that he had $4,000 invested in a
business that would be crippled by the
proposed Boston & Maine plan or that
he was part owner in a warehouse that
would lose II feet on one side. He want
ed them to think of him simply as a citi-
zen OF Brattleboro. In his opinion the
people there would much rather be
terminal point on the Central Vermont
system than a way station on the Boston
4 Maine. He said he thought that Mr..
Holden was the only shipper of any i'm
portance who favored the Boston & Maine
plan. Personally, Mr.. Crosby said, he be-
lieyed the best scheme would be an ar
rangement whereby the Boston & Maine
would have trackage rights over double
track line through the local yards.
At this session the Central Vermont
met the Boston < Maine amendment with
a new proposition to give to the Boston 4
Maine trackage rights over the company's
line in the Brattleboro yards on terms,
and if the companies cannot agree upon
the amount of compensation on the points
and manner of such connection and use,
the same shall be determined by the pub
lie service commission, on petition, serv-
ice and hearing Judge C. II. Darling of
Burlington, counsel for the Grand Trunk,
declared the proposed amendment, which
he read. had been the railroad policy Of
the Vermont legislature for years, and
mentioned the connections given the Rut-
land at Burlington, where similar condi-
tions existed. He urged the committee
to regulate for the benefit OF Dlattleboro,
and let the companies fight out the rest
between themselves.
Judge C. S. Palmer of Burlington, for
the Central Vermont, said it was no se-
eret that the Central Vermont intended
to double-traek its entire line to handle
the great trans-contlnental business brought
from the great northwest to the gateways
OF New England. He said that President
Mellen avs trying to get strangle hold
on this transportation scheme through
the Brattleboro plan.
Judge Z. w. Kennefck OF Palmer, Mass,
argued that the bill appeared to him to
be desgnedly left after the Boston <
Maine amendment offered last night, SO
that company could take all the Central
Vermont land between South Vernon and
Brattleboro, except the company's single
track. The plan called for only IL feet
clearance between tracks at Brattleboro,
while the standard was 13 feet. He en-
phasized the utter helplessness Of the
Crosby plant under the amendment. Judge
kennefick said that the interest OF Brat
tlemboro in the present case was that OF
a booster" and that that town had
really very little at stake, simply the
abolishing OF a grade crossing in Brattle-
fick started to eulogize Brattleboro to
when counsel began to
smile, and when he said he would cor
rect his pronunciation to save the smiles,
Mr. stiekney remarked that II, they SorvOne were
ton whose stockholders live in Great
Britain, interesting themselves in the
Of grade crossing in Brattle-
boro.
The Central Vermont proposal of amend
ment is: Amend section ! by inserting
after the word Corporations" in line 8
of the printed bill, the following:
Excepting the land, track and terminals
of the New London Northern railroad,
now operated by the Central Vermont
Railway company situated in the towns
of Vernon and Brattleboro.
BY striking out all of section ! after the
word ''subj.ct" in line II Of said printed
bill, and inserting in lieu thereof the fol-
lowing
But the Vermont Valley railroad NAV
enter with its road upon and connect with
the New London Northern railroad, and
may run its passenger and freight trains
over the same through the town of Brat
tleboro, and may use jointly the freight
and passenger depots and tracks in con-
nection Herewith at said Brattleboro; the
pO1utS VI COHuSCtlOll dHu thC oCihio W.
agreed upon by said corporations, and if
the corporations cannot agree upon the
amount of compensation made therefor in
the points and manner of such connec-
tions and use, the, same shall be deter
mined by the public service commission
in petition, service and hearing.
John Murdoch of Providence, R. l.,
urged protection of Grand Trunk rights
in the interests of the people of Rhode
Island, who feared that President Mellen
would yet block the building Of the Provi::
dence & Palmer line. He characterized
the bill as scheme to defeat Grand
Trunk extensions in New England. The
object was to make the project so burden
some and Improbable that it would be
abandoned. Mr.. Murdock's remarks were
applauded.
John H. Senter, w. B. G. Stickney and
others closed for the Boston & Maine, the
hearing lasting until past midnight. The
bill will be considered by the committee
IN executive session.
Reports of the hearings of Tuesday and
Wednesday evenings will be found on
page 3.
Ia