Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-10-31
Boston & Maine and Central Ver-
mont Due to Clash in the
Legislature.
MOVES AND COUNTER MOVES
Line from Montpelier to Burling-
ton May Be Offset by One
from Waterbury to
North Troy.

Montpelier. oct. z5~.-lmportant railroad
legislation will be asked for at some time
during the present session. and Important
interests will he involved. If present
plans are followed the first move will
not be made until late in the session, and
it is hoped to avoid any long controversy
such as occupied the time of the Legisla-
ture of 1910.
II has been known for some time by
those who keep in touch with railroad
matters that the Boston d Maine was
DESTROYS of developing and extending its
interests in Vermont. The first move
was the purchase of the Montpelier &
Wells River road. This is a valuable
property. paying good dividends, and con.
Meeting at it's southern terminus with the
Boston d Maine.
The next move will be to ask the
Legislature for a charter to build a road
from Montpelier to Burlington.
Such an extension would give a con.
nection with the Rutland road, now il
friendly hands, and would give the Bos
ton x Maine interests a sort of belt lin,
about a desirable section of Vermont
and would give it, with the st. Johns
bury e. Lake ~Champlain. "A greater
mileage in Vermont thai any other sys.
TEN.
II has been reported that the Boston Il
Maine has secured control of the Mount
Mansfield electric railway, running from
Waterbury to stowe. intending to con-
vert it into a steam road and extend if
to Morrisville, where 1t would connect
with the ST Tnhpchir,- G. Lake Cha ~,
plain. Then. by building from Montpelier
to Waterbury, the Boston & Maine would
connect it by the Montpelier u Wells
River branch with it's own lines at each
end.
This report, however. appears to bc
unfounded. There Is no knowledge thai
control of the electric road has been thu
acquired, but it is quite possible that
some interests have secured an agree.
ment by which control may be trans.
ferred when desired.
The extension of the electric line from
Stowe to Morrisville would be an easy
and inexpensive matter. The country be.
tween the two places is practically level
and the difference in elevation of Morris
willie and Stowe is only a few feet.
The survey of the route from Montpelie,
+, Burlington has been made and thu
l.lans for the new line completed. Thes,
have not been revealed to any but thos,
directly concerned. but it can safely b,
said that in a general way the propose
line will parallel the tracks If tho Cen
trail Vermont, The physical c, nfguratioi
of the country makes this almost Il nee
essity.
Naturally. such a move would not b,
looked upon pleasantly by the Contra
Vermont interests. 1t il regarded IS i'm
portant and significant, therefore. tina
Mr.. Fitzhugh intends to go over tn,
proposed line between Waterbury ant
North Troy next week. For some yea Is
there has been an agitation among tn
people in that section for Il railroad
reaching into the northern part of the
State. There are tale and asbestos mines
10 be reached which would be developed
TO a larger productivity If Transports
ton were made cheaper and easier. and
valuable stands Of timber that might
profitably be cut and hauled.
VARIOUS SCHEMES PROPOSED.
Various proposals for tapping this
country with "A railroad nave been made
~ ~ - ~ tA'' a
railroad from Montpelier to Newport, a
line from Morrisville to North Troy. a
short line running north from johnson
and Eden, and the line from Waterbury
to North Troy.
The people along the proposed line be
lieve they can furnish enough business
10 make the line profitable. What view
the railroad people will take of it car
" -.
his tout OF inspection.
1t may be that the Central Vernon
has no serious Intention of building suci
"A line. and is ooquetting with the people
in that section to acquire a handy clut
to use against the Boston d Maine. |
is evident that If the Central Vernon
should build a line through Waterbury
Stove, Morrisville and Hyde Park Il
North Troy, the st. Johnsbury d Lake
Champlain, never a very valuable piece
of railroad property. would be worth still
less, would in fact be practically value
less for the present at least.
\ Boston e. Maine line from Mont
pelier to Burlington would be an in
jury to the Central Vermont. a Cen
trail Vermont line from Waterbury Il
North Troy would seriously injur,
some Boston g. Maine properties
Whether or not the Central interest!
are in earnest in encouraging tn
North Troy line. 1t is plain that b!
doing so they are placing themselVe'
A. a position where they may be abl'
to some extent to make terms with
their rivals.
The Boston & Maine plans have beei
made with some care and are beint
quietly worked up, the idea being t
have everything in readiness as ia
as possible when the bill asking 70
\ charter is introduced. 1t has beer
Intended not to Introduce the bill
until late in the session, and attemp
to slide 1t through on creased ways
but as the purposes of the Boston
Maine come to he known it may b,
hat action will be taken earlier thai
Intended.
Make 1t a want ADVERTISING matter. ant