Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-04-19

President Charles S. Mellen of the New
York. New Haven G. Hartford Railroad
company to Gov. John A Mead it is
stated that the agreement has been fully
signed and that the Boston & Maine
road will be extended though Brattle-
boro, which of course is contingent upon
certain conditions being complied with
on the part of the town.
While it has been known for some
time that certain part Of the Boston
& Maine road would be built on the
New Hampshire side of the river, where
contractors already are at work pre-
pairing for the roadbed, some uncertain
ty has existed as to just what changes
and improvements would be made in
the Brattleboro yard. Representatives
of the railroads came here yesterday
morning, met the Brattleboro railroad
committee, their attorney, c. c. Fits,
and two of the selectmen in Mr.. Fittss
Office and submitted plans upon which
the two roads had agreed. Those pres
ent were General Manager G. c. Jones
and General Counsel c. w. Writer'S of
St. Adams, representing the Central
Vermont; ]. C. Sweeney of Providence,
general counsel for the New Haven
road; H. j. Sargent of Boston, engi-
neer for the Boston & Maine; L. E.
Holden, c. o. Robbins and NJ. j. Mo-
ran, constituting the Brattleboro COM
mittee; Attorney Clarke c. Fits, coun-
I sci LOT lne committee, ana y, ". SldI-
ford and A. E. Merrill of the board of
selectmen, Selectman ]. E. Mellen being
detained by illness.
The plans, which will necesstate an
expenditure of $500, 900 south of Whet-
stone brook, not including the building
of the Boston & Maine new tracks
| through the yard or the relocation of
the Central Vermont main line. re-
ceived the unqualified and enthusiastic
endorsement of the committee, attorney
and selectmen, and all agreed to work
| for an appropriation by the town suf-
| ficient to ensure their adoption. The
! selectmen agreed to call a special town
meeting to be held in Festival hall at
s p. m, Friday, May 3, warrants for
which will be posted at once, to see If
| the town will vote the needed amount
| of money
| Two propositions are involved, one for
relocating Vernon street, grading that
street down to a level of the Main street
bridge, re-arranging the freight yard,
erecting a union station and building
vaduct over the Bridge street crossing
to connect with the Connecticut river
bridge. This, generally speaking, covers
the strictly railroad work for which the
town is asked to contribute, and the sum
| asked of the town by the railroads is
$40, 1000. The other proposition is that
| the town buy and remove the Brattle
| boro House, which was bought by Harry
L. Emerson with the railroad improve
ments in view, as stated in an exclusive
story in The Phoenix of Jan. ~, which
would provide a much desired open
space so feet deep by 200 feet long, in
front of the union station. This prop
erty can be had at actual cost and the
! railroads agree to blast out the rock and
make the site level back to Hudson
street in the rear and build a retaining
wall of cement or cement blocks next
| n q
is asked to appropriate $4,000, making
the total cost TO the town s45, 900. 1t
is question OF only a short time in any
event when we would be obliged under
the law to contribute 10 per cent toward
! the abolishment OF the grade crossing
at Bridge street, and this with the cost
Of cutting down the Vernon street NIL
which has been agitated in various town
meetings, would require sum wen
toward what the town is now asked 10
pay as its share of the cost OF Huch
more thorough and satisfactory Joo IL
is the chance of a lifetime, as Will be
seen. There is a standing oner tor the
hotel property at several thousand dol
lars more than what 1t will cost for this
purpose.
One of the most notable changes con-
templated is on Vernon street. The
land necessary for new street farther
west has been bought and many OF the
deeds have been recorded. The new Ver-
non street and the land between it and
the railroad will be graded, by blasting,
down 10 a level OF the Main street
bridge and about 1000 feet south to a
point below the Central Vermont freight
house. From that point south the street
will have a down grade Of Q per cent
until 1t swings back into the present
Vernon street near the Standard oil
building. The new street will run past
the east end of the Brattleboro House
through the site OF the old photograph