The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-10-13

I the late Artemus Ward, the band, IN con
4 junction with the Central Vermont system,
maintains a neutral position,
Soon after Governor Mead used his good
offices To such excellent advantage to 50,
lcuIr a conference between representa-
tycs oi the Central Vermont and the New
Haven railroads II was announced .that
mutual concessions had been made al
! BmttpborO and Bellows Falls SO that the
way was clear Tor Improvements in the
Connecticut valley We suspect that what.
ever delay in that direction is not due to
measures OF economy j. Ia hc attributed To
matters wholly outside of Vermont, since
the game ui railroad chess NOW IN progress
involves New England a. whole and not
Vermont alone,
- far rs the Improvements IN liutlng-
ton are concerned, our people ate trying
tn keep the situation clear from entangle,
mcnt elsewhere, As Ne understand the
situation, both usiop station propositions
~ originally submitted io the public serN-
Ice commission had Objectionable sieatures,
and when the Adjourned hearing OF the
public service commission Is held the latter
part OF the month the notifications are To
be- considered We do not understand that
We are waiting Tor any other community or
that improvements elsewhere are involved
IN the outcome IN Burlington,
As far as lhlttcuden countys attitude h
concerned. the esteemed Windsor journal
stands corrected. The people Of this sec
ton are proud OF the fact that President
Mellen learned rallroadng IN Vermont
under that prnte among the genlu.es OF
earlier railroading not only ia Vermont but
on the Northern Pacific, Ex-Governor j,
Gregory Smith. Our people are proud OF
the fact that Mr. Mcllen has shown his
IA D.. al HrFafY ll
great captains of transportation IN tins
country at the present time; and We have
acclaimed the advent Of his regime to Yer.
mont as the promise Of better things for
the Green Mountain State in variety OF
directions. We are particularly glad 10
enjoy his cooperation in the improvement
Of union passenger station facilities IN
Burlington. We are proud OF the fact that
Vice President Byrnes OF the New Haven
is a son OF Vermont, and that he is recog'
nized as worthy Of filling first position IN
case Mr.. Melen retres.
We are also rejoicing over the fact that
T. III Htzhugh has been made president OF
the Central Vermont as well as OF other
affiliated lines in southern New England.
President Fitzhugh, who has won his spurs
on the Grand Trunk, Is recognized as one
OF the best cduipped railroad men IN tins
whole region; and he was unquesu0nabIy
selected for hp present position because
the great interests he represents desire to
have the extension OF their lines IN New
England IN able and efficient hands We
welcome him to Vermont and rejoice in his
more thorough identification with the m
tercsts Of Vermont
We hailed the sale of the Central Yer
mont TO the Grand Trunk because of the
fact that owing To the lattcr's peculiar re
inf II
never be consolidated with any American
line. while Vermont would thus be assured
competition, and never be m
danger of becoming "one-raIlroad state.
Holding competition TO be "the life OF
trade still, We are not anxious for those
two great railroad interests to harmonic
their differences to a. degree where they
will reach a 'gcntlemens agreement re.
gardug both rates and the provision Of
public convenienees IN connection with Their
respective lines. On the contrary, we would /
welcome the extension Of both systems to /
different parts of the State, with parallel
lines wherever such are needed.
The promotion Of this policy has already 1
had pronounced effect, as indicated by /
the changed attitude of the railroads IN |
Vermont toward the public. They now
realize that the Green Mountain State Is
worth considering and they are setting /
splendid men at the task of helping to solve
The situation in Vermont. These men will |
have conflicting interests, and they will /
seek to gain strange hold" on each
other or gam other advantage wherever
possible Neither should be allowed to
strike the other below the belt, however,
or we need the cooperation of both in the
development of Vermont's resources; and
t is to be hoped that no Nermonter will
become SO much a partisan of either road
- to be blind to the interests Of the people
II the whole State.