The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-02-10
bennington Banner.)

bennington Banner.)
The Banner is not surprised to note that
the senator's who absolutely refused to let
the Boston & Maine railroad into Brattle.
boro over its own tracks are being asked
for explanations by the home folks, and
some of the explanations they give will
hardly stand investigation.
The facts of the case, as we understand
them, are fairly plain. The railroad en-
trance into Brattleboro from the south is
through narrow defle between the hills
and the river. The narrowest part OF this
defile is in the village of Brattleboro where
the railroad yards are located. From the
Brattleboro station north the tracks and
yard are the property of the Boston 4
Maine. From the Brattleboro station
south the tracks and yard are owned by
the Central Vermont. The Boston & Maine
wanted the right to build double track
road from South Vernon, north 10 miles
to and connecting with its tracks running
north from the Brattleboro station.
Over 60 years ago the Central Vermont,
through its predecessor, got charter own,
ership and control OF the, entire width OF
the valley for mile south of the Brattle'
boro station, thus gaining control OF outlet
or inlet in that direction and giving it a
monopoly. OF course nothing was thought
about it at that time. Brattleboro doubt
less thought it was lucky to get one rail
road and never dreamed that 1t might
ever need another.
During the past few years, however,
traffic up and down the Connecticut valley
has been increasing rapidly and the Boston
x Maine became anxious to build double
track road into Brattleboro from the south
and Brattleboro was very anxious to have
it done as the town was getting only in
different service over the one single track
owned by the Central Vermont between
Brattleboro and South Vernon.
The Boston & Maine applied to the legis-
lature for a charter to build this 10 miles
Of double track road into Brattleboro. The
bill was introduced into the Vermont
house of representatives several weeks ago.
The bill as originally drawn was decidedly
unfair to the Central Vermont, inasmuch
as it would have taken the best part OF
the Central Vermonts terminal property
at Brattleboro. Therefore the bill was
amended in the house of representatives
so as to not injure or cripple the Central
Vermont in any way except that it took
away from that road its monopoly at Brat.
tleboro In its amended form the bill
was passed by the house by vote Of
more than two to one. .
The amended bill allowed the Boston x
Maine to build into Brattleboro and to
take land now owned by the Central Yer,
mont, but not land used by the Central
Vermont for, railroad purposes, except ior
one short sidetrack and for that the Bos-
ton & Maine was to pay enough so that
with the money the Central Vermont could
have built three times as much siding Just
as well located and on its own property.
More than that the bill left the Central
Vermont enough land so that 1t could
have a double track road itself into Brat
tleboro and all necessary sidings. The only
thing the Central Vermont would really
have lost was its monopoly.
The amended bill went to the senate,
which by a vote of 10 to IL, absolutely
refused to give the Boston 4 Name the
right to build its own tracks into Brattle-
boro, but offered it only trackage, rights
over the Central Vermont With the pro-
visions amended SO as to give the Boston
& Maine only, these trackage rights, the
bill was sent back to the house, which
promptly refused to concur, and the tight
in that form went to conference commit,
tee composed of Representatives Chaftee OF
Rutland, Calderwood of St. Johnsburry,
and Rabbit of Bellows Falls, from the
house, and Senators Powell of Chittenden,
Dale of Essex, and Taplin of Orleans, from
the senate.
The conference committee was in session
all day and was in constant communlca-
ton with the officials of both roads, The
Central Vermont absolutely declined to
agree to anything that would take away
from it the monopoly it has at BrattIe-
boro, and the three senate members OF the
conference committee supported the Gen.
trail Vermont from start to finish.
Finally as last resort the Boston 4
Maine officials and attorneys offered TO
build around the Central Vermont. prop
erty from South Vernon to Brattleboro,
though it would make it necessary to go
into rough land and tremendously increase
the cost. Even to do this though IT
would be necessary to take small corner
of Central Vermont land in order to get
into the Brattleboro yard. This corner OF
land is not and is never likely to be used
for railroad purposes, but that made no
difference. The senate conferees declined
to let the Boston & Maine into Brattle-
boro over their own iron and, the senate
sustained them in this refusal when the
case went back to the senate. The house
conferees reported back to the house what
had been offered and the house accepted
their report.