The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-05-23
CAN DOUBLE The
OUTPUT OF GRANITE
Continued from first page.

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stated that he wished to speak, first,
on the side OF sentiment and then of
business.
In referreing to the former. Mr..
Byrnes stated that to the Byrnes family
back home" meant back ia Vermont.
Here it was that his father and mother
had spent the greater part of their lives,
and his father had helped to build the
railroads of the state and had given
many of the. best years OF his life to
running them. so the speaker assert
ed, II am glad to come back and take
up my fathers work"
Then the speaker went on to tell of
the changes which Vermont had felt.
In the first part of the last century,
Vermont supported itself; it raised
everything it needed, Then the rail-
/ roads came and carried the boys west
ward to the prairies, where it was found
I that the East could be fed easier than
the East could feed itself Realizing
this, the East turned to manufacturing,
finding its market in the West. Now
the West has turned from agriculture
to manufacturing, and we no longer have
THIS exclusive market.
What Vermont needs to do With its
agricultural side to-day is to drive out
the present sluggish spirit among Yer
mont farmers. Bring in new spirit of
progressiveness, he said; and he pointed
out the work which r, N. Vail is doing
at Lyndon Center. He thought Vermont
ought to encourage the coming of such
men as Vail, the New York and Boston
men with millions
Turning then to what Vermont speei
flcally needs, Mr.. Byrnes said he had
asked a dozen people that question dur
ing the day and hadn't got an answer.
He volunteered the information that
Vermont needs transportation, and by
that he did not mean merely railroad
transportation, but wagon transporta-
ton. Vermont needs better wagon
roads he said II costs more to trans
port products from the farms to the
stations than the railroads charge.
In the matter of railroad Transports
ton, Vermont needs good management
OF railroads. He said that not rail-
road in Vermont had welded any par
ticular power in the railroad world and,
outside of the Passumpsic division and
the Barre railroad, they do not pay divi-
dends He characterized Vermont rail-
roads as dead ones" Why, ii is some
times said, that Montpelier & Wells
River car going west has to have let
ter of introduction.
Mr. Byrnes said that the trouble was
not so much with themselves as with
the men in charge; the latter have not
been enterprisng The Boston & Maine
itself was quiescent, he declared, let
ting things run along as they pleased.
Now. however. the Boston & Maine is
going ahead and is developing it's bus
mess. The speaker then told of the
work of President Charles $, Mellen,
who took charge Of the New Haven
system eight years ago, and during the
remarks Mr. Byrnes paid most glow
ing tribute to his chief, saying that II
was a pleasure. and an inspiration to
work with a man of the Mellen stamp. |
Returning, then, to Vermont rail-
roads, the speaker said that both the |
Central Vermont and the Rutland rail
roads had had checkered careers; they /
started off with plenty of ambition, but |
they never have done anything of which |
any of them are proud. At this point |
he made specific mention OF the Mellen |
plan. recently unfolded, which was to
get traffic arrangements with the Gen. /,
trail Vermont from Montpelier Junction |
TO Burlington. He said that some peo-
pie objected because the Central had
only single track and couldn't carry |
the traffic. "Then, why not give them
a double traekr Intercepted the speak
er. Continuing, he said; ut is not good
business policy to build parallel lines
when one line can do the business"
On the subject of rates, Mr.. Byrnes
declared the day of competition in rates
is gone: the rates are all subject to the
interstate commerce commission. The
railroads and the business interests
should not be antagonistic; they are
dependent on each other. No properly
railroad intends to take from
the shipper more than fair rate on
the investment To take more hurts
the railroad, it cripples the business in
terests.
Switching to local railroads, Vice
President Byrnes president of the M. 4
w. r. linel said he thought it good
thing for the Montpelier & Wells River
railroad to be taken over by the Bos-
ton & Maine, because the latter has
money and is able to do things. But
right there the speaker drew the veil OF
secrecy. declaring that he did not know
Just what would be done with the Mont
pelier & Wells River railroad. Nor was
he prepared to make any statement re-
yarding proposed railroad down
through the "Gulf." It's too early, he
souchsafed; we've got TO plan and think
L over
Il have been asked" the speaker said.
what We propose 70 do about develop
ng transportation here. Let me say
hat We can't spend money unless you
10 business which viii make a fair in
.sreef IN fhe Investment With the /