Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-10-03
REMOVING GRADE
CROSSINGS HARD
Increasing Difficulties Require APP.
preparation Of $4,000, Says
Public Service Commission.

In its 18th biennial report to the Gem
cral Assembly the Vermont public scrv-
ice commission says in part:
Circumstances over which we have had
absolutely no control have delayed the
muchnecded improvements at White
River Junction. in which so many of the
travelling public are especially interested.
In our last biennial report we stated that
We had issued an order directing extern
siVe improvements in the passenger sta
ton, adequate enlargement of the station
platforms. the construction of a subway
for pedestrians. and other designated i'm
provomcnts; and that an appeal had been
taken from that order to the supreme
court, where It was then pending. Since
then the supreme court has rendered its
decision whereby our order was affirm
ed: and ii seemed then that the litigation
must he at an end, and that the order
would be fulfilled. Indeed the directed
repairs and reconstruction of the passen-
ger station were made. which rendered
that station we'll fitted to serve the trav-
cling public. But, Notwithstanding the
decision of our supreme court. the CEN
In the United States district court for
against this commission seeking to re-
strain us from enforcing our order in re-
spect of the subway, and, failing to pre-
vail in that court, which refused to grant
such injunction. the Central Vermont
Railway company appealed the case tn
the United States Supreme Court, where
that appeal is still pending.
| But in November. 1911, just when we
trying to. Notwithstanding the proceed
ings in the federal courts. for no njunc-
ton nor restraining order had been
granted, the newly repaired pa ssenger
station was wholly consumed by fire
| This presented new situation and sug-
gested the thought that a new station
should be constructed on the west sdc
of all of the tracks; and a petition was
brought to us by the Boston 4 Maine
railroad, asking to have our order modi
fled, in view of the fire. and another pc
ltition was preferred by citizens and other.
|asking to have an order issued direc,ina
the construction of new station on the
west side of all the tracks. Upon hear
ing Of those petitions it developed that
lowing to the plans of the two railroads
as to securing rights of way and char
ter rights for new lines that they had de
lcided to build in Massachusetts and i,
New Hampshire. and the uncertainty o
the outcome of their respective demand
before various tribunals, it was no
thought advisable by any of the partie
concerned to undertake to solve the prob
lem of the location of the station at Whit
River junction and the size and qualit.
thereof till those other questions ha,
been determined; for on the determination
of them depended where and how tn
two railroads would enter White Rive
Junction, and whether the interchang
of freight between them and most of tn
shifting. would he done on the Ney
Hampshire side of the Connecticut river
rather than as now in the yard at Whit
River Junction, and SO determine the 10
cation and quality of a passenger sta
ltion that would best serve the travelin
; public and both the railroads.
Therefore, pending the statement ,
those questions. it was the Judgment c
all the parties concerned that the case
should be held open, as they have beef
A final hearing is now set for August .
1912. when there is every reason to b,
ilieve the matter may be determined. |
the meantime we have caused as goo
"A temporary arrangement as possible
be made for the travelling public. an
hope that public will be patient with tn
q delay, which has been unavoidable, an
not less irksome to us than to any 9th,
! set of men.
} STATION AT BURLINGTON.
, No. 2SS. acts of 1910, authorizes tn
commission. on petition for that purpos
;, ito order the railroad corporations who.
> railroads connect in the city of Burlin,
y ton, to construct and maintain there
> union passenger station. II we should d.
> ltermine that to be necessary for II
=, reasonable accommodation of the publi
II petition for a new passenger static
- has been brought under that act. But Il
= rivalry and conflicting interests of II
- two railroads concerned have been
- great the desire to do as little dana,
as possible to the various Industrial co
- Germs involved in the suggested plan
. has been so embarrassing. so uncerta
a were the petitioners as to what shou
be adopted for the location and co
l. struction Of the station, and 50 dlffic,
were the problems presented by ca,
of the plans suggested, that, at the r
l. Iquest OF all parties, the hearings ha-
ID been continued from time to time oy
l. u long period in order to give opportuni
]. for study and for an endeavor to reco
X Gle conflicting interests. Finally we ha
y ANNOUNCED that we would order the &c
II trial Vermont Railway company and I
Rutland Railroad company, the two ra
Iroads coacerne4 " construct uni