The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-03-03
A HOLLOW VICTORY.


tlcm over ten years old, were playing to-
gether the other day when one suggested
A visit TO the ledge opposite the depot
where the Central Vermont railroads con
struction force is at work. II guess not,
replied the other. "You don't catch me
watchin' them old C. VS." This outburst
Of Youthful indignation is something more
than mildly amusing; it is indicative OF the
sentiment that exists in Brattleboro today
toward the Central Vermont railroad COM
pany.
II NAV be said without the slightest
exaggeration that the great majority oil the
people of this town look upon the Central
Vermont today as a corporation hostile to
the welfare of Brattleboro. Without at
tempting at this moment to say that this
sentiment is entirely justified let us re-
view briefly the chain of events that has
brought il about. Last July, when it was
understood by everybody in Brattleboro
that the Boston & Maine had made up its
mind to build on the other side OF the
river. the town voted at a special meeting
IN contribute $4,000 toward the con-
strction of new $4,000 Central Yer
mont passenger station here, the abolish
ment of the Bridge street crossing by
means of an overhead pass and the reduc-
ton of the grade of Vernon street. AT
that time few people viewed the arrange
ment as ideal, but nearly everyone consld-
cred il the best obtainable under the cir
cumstances. The order for this work was
made by the public service commission IN
September, the states share being assessed
Mt S12.5OO, Then in November came the
announcement of the Boston X Names
determination to ask for the right to build
its Brattleboro-South Vernon link on tins
side of the river, and President Mellen's
personal assurance that ''if the necessary
legislation is obtained we shall construct
a line fast as men and money can do the
work" Following this announcement Vice
President Byrnes of the Boston Il Maine
visited Bratteboro Nov. and outlined
his roads proposition to a gathering OF
Brattleboro citizens who unanimously
adopted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the people Of Brattle-
boro pledge themselves to, aid to the
extent of their power, the Boston X
Maine Railroad company IN securing an-
thority from the Vermont Legislature to
construct a railroad on the west side OF
the Connecticut river, from South vernon,
to connect with the Vermont Val,ey ran
road in this town; conditioned that the
interests of the Central Vermont Railroad
company be properly safeguarded and the
best interests of Bratteboro be protected
as to depot facilities and railroad crossing
Four days later Vice President Fitzhugh
of the Grand Trunk system addressed a
meeting of Bratteboro citizens, telling
them plainly that the Central Vermont
had no objections to the Boston & Names
new plan provided the rights of the former
road were protected, He furthermore asked
Brattleboros assistance in getting char
ter for the proposed Windsor Brattleboro
Central Vermont extension, and the meet
ing passed resolution pledging the towns
support to that cause under the same con-
ditions as were made to the Boston &
Maine.
After Mr.. Fitzhugh's visit Brattleboro
people naturally felt highly elated over
the railroad prospect. They had been as
sured by President Mellen that the Bos-
ton & Maine would build from South Yer
non to Brattleboro on the west side of the
river as soon as the necessary legislative
authority was forthcoming They had been
assured by Mr.. Fitzhugh that the Central
Vermont would offer no objection to the
Boston & Maine extension provided the
facilities of his road were not impaired At
the first hearing on the railroad bills Dec.
/, counsel for the Boston & Maine stated
unequivocally that that corporation would
not oppose the charter which the Central
Vermont wanted to extend its road from
Windsor to Brattleboro. In short, it
looked to Brattleboro people as if their
dream of adequate railroad facilities, in
GLIDING a new union station, grade cross
ing abolition, etc, were about to come
true without delay by litigation, without
expense to the town, without expense to
the state.
Then came the house and senate rail-
road committees visit to Brattleboro under
the auspices of the Central Vermont off
cials who were successful in keeping the
committees from appearing before several
hundred citizens who had gathered for the
purpose of showing the sentiment of the
town on the railroad question. At that
time it became generally known that the
Central Vermont intended to fight the
Boston & Maine charter despite assuran-
ces to the contrary, and events that trans
pired at Montpelier from then until the
bill was killed showed how well this in
tention was carried out.
1t is unnecessary at this time to discuss
the merits of the fight. That they were
on the side of the Boston & Maine there
is absolutely no question. The majority
of both railroad committees thought so,
the majority of the house of representa-
,tives thought so, the majority of the peo
pie of the state, we believe, think so today.
On one side was the Boston & Maine ask
ing for legislative authority to build in
Vermont railroad link which it had pre-
viously decided to build in another state
a link whose construction meant everything ,
to Brattleboro in the way of improved
railroad and terminal facilities, promised
the state big revenue in the way of
taxes and carried with it no possible dam t
age to any other line except in the way of ]