The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-02-03

them. And that said Vermont valley
railroad should cross the New London
Northern railroad in Vernon, south OF
the meadows. by an overpass OF under.
pass, and connect with the Vermont
Valley Railroad tracks by crossing the
| tracks of the West River railroad on
! land of the Vermont Valley railroad at
grade, or MS the nublic service commits
sion may order, both constructions to
be subject TO the supervision, inspec'
ton, and acceptance Of the public ser,
! vice commission, ms above provided.
And the members Of said committee
on the part Of the house further report
that they are eredibly Informed and be-
lieve that both said propositions are
acceptable and desired by the citizenF
Of Brattleboro.
We believe that these propositions
overcome every objection that has been
raised by the Central Vermont Railway
company, and that no reasonable fault
can. be found with them. They were
not, however, accepted. and your com
mittee can, therefore, only report a
disagreement.
Newman X. Chnffee,
Chas. A. Calderwood,
Frederick II. Babbitt,
Committee on the part Of the House.
Central Vermont Has the Key.
The Grand Trunk has obtained the key
TO the mountain pass at Bellows Falls IN
this state to forestall any move TO block
its path to Providence at that point, ac-
cording to Montpelier dispatch TO the
st. Adams Messenger. The key is a legis..
lative one and is contained in a bill passed
by the Vermont legislature just before adj
journment. The more the outcome OF the
-. tl.. ataf,k sa IN
that ended Saturday is studied the more
complete the victory Of the Grand Trgnk
appears.
The bill Incorporating the Southern
Vermont Railroad company, which passed
both branches and was signed by the gov.
ernor not only provides that the Central
Vermont-Gra Trunk may close the gap
in its line between Brattleboro and Wind
sor, but assures TO il the use OF the Rnt-
land railroad terminals in Bellows Falls.
This shows how thoroughly the Grand
Trunk has provided for contingencies that
might be forced upon il by unfriendliness
on the part OF the New Haven-Boston X
Maine.
To guard against being caught mapping
il the New Haven should carry out its dl-
rect threat to build parallel on the New
Hampshire side of the line and its implied
threat to end existing trackage agreements
between the two systems, the Grand
Trunk. il Is understood, viii at once fol-
low the reconnaissance already made with
a location survey from Brattleboro to
Windsor.
In this first stretch of about 30 miles
Bellows Falls is halfway point, and
here the Grand Trunk and the Boston 4
Maine roads both have made use OF the Rut-
land railroad yards. Bellows Falls is in q
mountain pass, through which additional
trackage would be almost impossible. Ac-
cordingly, to guard against all contingent
cies, the bill to incorporate the Southern
Vermont railroad was introduced by the
Grand Trunk interests. II gives to the
new subsidiary of the Grand Trunk the
right to use the Rutland terminal.
In this manner the Grand Trunk appears
to have guarded against every contin-
gency which could interfere with its. plan
for an unobstructed line from Canada to
Providence.
In contrast with the complete success
of the Central Vermont at the session was
the absolute defeat of the New Haven.
The New Haven drew up the Vermont
Valley charter but was obliged to amend
it before It could even get il through the
friendly house committee or the house it.
self; suggested further concessions before
it passed the senate committee, and then
lost the measure on the senate floor.
The Central Vermont suggestions took
shape in substitute Vermont Valley bill,
which passed the senate, but when this
was non-concurrcd in by the house It com
pleted the defeat Of the New Haven: The
Grand Trunk, besides defeating the house
Vermont Valley bill and insuring the pas
sage in the senate Of substitute, was
again victor through the rejection by the
house of the same measure.
The situation in the Valley now Is as
follows From South Vernon to Brattle-
boro the Grand Trunk controls and the
New Haven desires to build, but il has no
special authorization, unless it can find 1t
in the general law. From Brattleboro to
Windsor, but including neither terminus,
the New Haven controls, but the Grand
Trunk has full specialN authority to build
parallel, with terminals already. secured
in Bratleboro, Bellows Falls and Wind
sor. From Windsor to White River juno
ton the Grand Trunk controls, and the
New Haven has not even asked for au-
thority to build in Vermont. 1t may,
however, build on the New Hampshire
side of the river. :.
The contention Of the Grand Trunk Of
fcials has been that the completion of q
double track covering the entire distance
between White River Junction and Brat
tleboro would amply provide for both
roads, and that to construct more would
be waste Of capital, on which the public
would be called to pay returns: For. that
reason it some time ago offered to do. its
share of track-laying, and, with the New
Haven, jointly use the line through the
valley.
Now. however, recognizing all the pos
sibilities of opposition, the Grand Trunk
is going ahead with preparations for the
parallel construction.