The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-02-01
FIGURING IT OUT.
What the Boston & Maine and Central
Vermont Are Trying To Do.

a
the lawmaking body at Montpelier
What the Boston and Maine or New
Haven interests asked for was Che right
to run a double track Of their own from
South Vernon, VT, to and through the
station at Brattleboro, connecting theil
Connecticut river railroad on the South
and this right was granted in the bill
which passed the Vermont House the
Central Vermont, however, being pro-
tected in its possession Of the station
and terminal facilities at Brattleboro
But as now amended in the Senate
the New Haven interests are given track.
age rights only into Brattleboro. which
would evidently have the effect of main
tanning a break at that point in the
through line of its own desired by the
New Haven interests, and leaving the
situation much as it is now, with the
Central Vermont in possession of toll
gate through which the New Haven
could not pass without paying any re-
quired tribute.
That the Central Vermont should seek
such an advantage is OF course not sur.
prising; but under the circumstances ii
becomes amazing that legislative body
representing the interests of the state
OF Vermont should freely grant the adj
vantage These circumstances are that
the New Haven is not obliged to build
on the Vermont side of the Connecticut
river to connect its roads at South Yer
non with the Vermont Valley at Brat
tleboro. The Vermont side offers a way
OF less resistance, no doubt. But the
New Haven already has 4 bridge over
the Connecticut at South Vernon, and
it becomes a simple matter to build
up on the New Hampshire side to a
point opposite Brattleboro, and then two
choices would present themselves: The
New Haven or Boston and Maine in
terests could bridge the Connecticut river
and run on to their Vermont
Valley tracks, with a station OF their
own just north of the Central Vermont
station in Brattleboro, or they could
conclude to drive bargain with the
Central Vermont whereby the one road
should have the Vermont side of the
river from White River Junction down,
and the Boston and Maine the New
side. In that case the Yer
mont Valley from Brattleboro to Bel
lows Falls would be sold TO the Cen
trail Vermont which would extend it on
the Vermont side to Windsor, thus Civ
ing that company line of its own all
the way down the valley.
1t would then remain for the Boston
and Maine to build from Hinsdale, n.
H., across the river from South Vernon,
to a point opposite Brattlebore, hardly
eight miles; then, continuing on the New
Hampshire side, build to Westmoreland,
only about 10 miles further north, where
the company's Cheshire tracks would be
met with and followed to Bellows Falls.
Then the Boston and Maine trains would
use the company's Sullivan county road
still on the New Hampshire side TO a
point nearly opposite Windsor, whence
new construction on the New Hampshire
side would carry the trains to West
Lebanon, N, H., opposite White River
where the company now has
q bridge which would take the trains
over to the Vermont side and continue
them. on up the Passumpsic road beyond
Central Vermont territory The sale Of
the Vermont Valley road 30 the Cen
trail Vermont ought to yield enough to
pay the cost Of all the new eonstruc-
ton required TO give the Boston and
Maine a through line Of its own on the
New Hampshire side of the river.
There has hitherto been no more than
enough railroad traffic up and down the
Connecticut river north Of the MassR-
shusetts boundary to keep one single
track line reasonably busy. Enough
business Is likely soon TO develop to
with profit double track road
Given such radical measure Of reel.
1rocity or freer trade with Canada as
Is now pending in Congress traffic up
md down the Vermont-New Hampshire
valley might quickly become large
enough to require the service Of three
racks, and ultimately four
But the first road required to double
rack its line would be the Boston and
Maine which then as now, would carry
he larger business the larger freight
business since it touches more impor-
ant points in southern New England,
md connects with the more important
dominion road, the Canadian Pacific;
ind the larger passenger business, since
t would have all of the White Noun
ain traffic and most Of the local traffic
lot originating and ending at local points
between White River Junction and South
Vernon And in respect TO that limited
ocal traffic it would not suffer much,
since its stations on the New Hamp-
hire side opposite Brattlehoro aud
Windsor would be removed from the
present stations only by about the
ength of the Connecticut river bridges.
Thus the Vermont Senate, if this is to
'e the effect of its present action would
rave the satisfaction OF knowing that
{ had driven out of Vermont a good
Zeal more taxable railroad property than
{ would have brought in.
Unless the Grand Trunk or Central
Is maneuvering to hand over
Is Connecticut valley and Southern New
England lines to the New Haven at a
handsome price, which is not likely
his plan of each having q line of its
,wn on either side of the river north
II the Massachusetts, boundary would
eem to be the best disposition that
ould be made of the matter Under
free trade with Canada two
oads ON either side of the river would
ind ample support; but as things have
,een, while the Boston and Maine would
re sure Of fairly profitable support,
he Central Vermont might find a line
If It's own rather expensive. This is
consideration which should impress
Vermont and New Hampshire people