The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-07-21
RUMOR THAT b. < M.
WILL BUILD IN N. IL.
Fact That Options Are Being
Taken Up
GIVES GROUND FOR THAT BELIEF
Maybe That Move Is Part of Plan
TO Hurry Decision of the Grand Trunk
in Regard TO Brattleboro Situation
Nothing Definite to Be Learned,

Though no one in authority will either
affirm or deny that developments may
he expected in the railroad situation
there is reason TO believe that within a
few days the Boston 4 Maine railroad
will begin operations on the New
Hampshire side of the Connecticut river
lin anticipation of carrying out the
original project of building line from
south Vernon to Brattleboro through
/ Hinsdale, N. II. 1t is understood that
the Boston & Maine road is taking up
/ the options it secured on the proposed
/ ri pht of way in New Hampshire over
which line has been surveyed. The
local engineer s Office staff offer no opin
ion as to this move and will not ack-
knowledge that such a move has been
made, but the taking of deeds to the
property upon which the options Will
expire August / and the payment of the
property owners prices, as named in
the options, indicates that the road IN
tends to buy the right of way and can
| hardy mean anything else than that
building operations are due to begin
soon.
While there have apparently been no
developments in the matter for many
weeks it is known that the road s attor-
neys have been busy examining the
titles TO the property upon which op-
tions are held and the renewal of several
options a few weeks ago renewed the
belief in this town that the proposed
road in New Hampshire had not been
given up. II is known that President
AIellen has been unable to secure any
q decision from the Central Vermont Off
cials relative to the extension Of the
Vermont Valley road through the Cen
tral Vermont yard in Brattleboro and
I his knowledge coupled with the state
ment made by President Mellen of the
Boston & Maine, several months ago,
that he must have a link to connect his
road at South Vernon with the southern
terminus of the Vermont Valley road at
Brattleboro and have it built this year
gives color to the well.grounded rumor
I hat at last the dirt.hying operations
incident TO building such link are
bout to begin
With the securing of the right of way
in New Hampshire, which is simply
matter of taking up the options, and
paving the prices agreed upon, II would
be only a matter of hours TO award the
contract for building the 10 miles of
I he first section of the chartered road
from Hinsdale to Walpole, \. H. The
bids for building the road were submit
red number of weeks ago and Engineer
George NJ. Tompson stated at that time
that he could award the contract in'a
few hours. If orders should come from
Mr.. Mellen to start work on the New
Hampshire side they will be final. This
much is known by those closely asso-
lated with the president for he decided
to hold his former order in abeyance
only upon the assurance that Vice-Presl-
dent E. H. Fitzhugh of the Central Yer
mont would discuss the proposition of
allowing the Vermont Valley right OF
way through the local yard. With APP
parently no result from the conference
arranged bv Governor Mead between
the two railroad heads it is rumored
that President Mellen has decided to
carry out his original project. Though
! this is only a rumor and not affirmed IN
any way the taking up of the options in
New Hampshire will lead Brattleboro
| people to believe that some sort OF
| move is to be made in the matter.