The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-06-01
is THE c. v. A DEAD oNE7"
Former Official of Central Does Not
Think So.

Former Official of Central Does Not
Think So.
The st. Adams Messenger Of May 20
contained the following:
when T. H. Byrnes, the Boston \
Maine railroad official, who was made
president Of the Montpelier 4 Wells
River and the Barre railroads after
their purchase by the Mellen interests,
spoke in Barre week ago tonight to
the business men of Montpelier and
Barre. he made certain statements in
regard TO railroading in Vermont which
has caused a man. who in the past has
been connected with the Central Yer.
mont railroad to take issue with him in
some points. This man says
while Mr.. Byrnes' remarks at the
banquet at Barre, May % were along
the lines of his address to the Brat
tleboro business men prior to the fight
| in the Vermont legislature over their
request to take land of the Central
Vermont, when he promised them every
thing, regardless OF practicsbility, his
sentiments would remain unchallenged
were it not for the disparaging allusion
| TO the railroads in Vermont, specifically
referring to the Central Vermont, and
Rutland, although emitting the st.
Johnsbury & Lake Champlain, and Bos.
ton & Maine line, and other companies.
"He characterzes Vermont railroads
as dead ones and that many have not
paid a cent of return to the stockholders.
| Probably the Central Vermont never
could pay dividend on its stock if it
F.4l. L..,I ~ AL
business along its line which, as is well
known, passes through a sparsely set
tied territory, in contrast with the thick
~ populated centers along the line of
the New Haven, and the Boston & Maine
railroads. But with the assistance OF
its parent company, the Grand Trunk
railway, In feeding il through business
| IL has been able Ii the last ten years
to improve its road bed and rolling
stock to the extent of S2.500,0O0 out
of earnings practically not any improve
ments having been capitalized. Its cap
ital stock and bond issue have remained
as they were when reorganization oc.
CURED and not increased with the
changes OF the moon. With the Grand
| Trunks new outlet to tidewater, vast
quantities of the enormous traffic from
the Canadian Northwest, now being belt
| ed by the transcontinental Grand Trunk
| Pacific. will move over the Central Yer.
mont and who can dispute that the
policy followed by the Central Vermont
management in preparing the founda-
| ton OF this traffic will ultimately result
in returns to the stockholders, and also
benefit the state Of Vermont through
which il passes
"Mr Byrnes emphasizes the recon
struction of the Boston & Maine which
is now going on under New Haven con
troll. A short time ago the Boston &
Maine was paying per cent. dividend
on its stock; prior to acquisition by the
New Haven it paid 6 per cent, now it is
declaring a dividend OF per cent, and
TT is understood that the New Haven
is seriously considering the question OF
passing the b. & NJ dividend entirely
and the stockholders are on the war
| path Perhaps they feel there is a
dead one" in the business If, as Mr.,
Byrnes says, operating expenses have
been reduced from 10 to 90 cents out
of each dollar, where, with increased
gross earnings, have the net earnings
| disappeared The cities and towns
along the line OF the Boston & Maine
are now protesting against the with
drawal from the winter schedules of
score of passenger trains, and in adj
dition a number of trains usually add
| ed during the summer season. The Cen
| trail Vermont is not only arranging for
! a continuance of the trains it ran
/ through the winter and the resumption
! Of summer trains heretofore run, but
will have with its change of time in
June two extra trains between Burling-
ton and White River Junction. running
via Montpelier, additional trains to
Barre and additional straight passenger
trains to Riehford.
"Mr Byrnes unintentionally struck
the New Haven and Boston & Maine
an upper cut when he said the rail-
road that gets excessive rates from a
shipper is a bad road, and it is poor
thing for railroad TO rob the pub
| lic
"The latest statistics published by the
| interstate commerce commission avail
able are for the fiscal year ending June
80 1902 and show the following rate
per ton per mile received by the New
Haven, Boston g. Maine, and the Cen
trail Vermont, Grand Trunk figures hav-
ing been obtained from their annual
reports covering the same periodl New
Haven, 1920 cents; Boston a Maine,
1888 cents; Central Vermont, 0.s6S
cents; Grand Trunk, 0.676 cents
"The New Haven figures are nearly