Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-11-29

1t was with much disappointment and
regret that Brattleboro people learned Fri
day that the Legislature had refused to
reconsider the bill asking permission to
build an over-pass on Bridge street with
a clearance of Is feet over the rails af-
ter having killed the bill. This was one
of the vital features of the railroad de-
velopment project now being carried for
ward, which will mean so much to this
community. The bill was overwhelm-
ingly defeated in the House on Thurs
day of last week, but on Friday morn
ing, on motion by Mr.. Wright of West
minister, for reconsideration, the vote
was 103 against reconsideration, and 81
in favor.
The measure is dead doubtless due in
part to some Misunderstanding, and
while the situation at and near Bridge
street is such that the over pass, union
station and Connecticut river bridge ap-
proach never can be satisfactory, the
action of the legislature will have to
govern. The matter is of such Importance,
however not only to people here, but all
over the state, that as matter of
record the misunderstanding that have
entered into the case ought to be cor
rected.
The Phoenix has looked into the mat
ter in detail and has obtained from the
committee statement covering the main
facts. For eight years, since 1904, the
general law of the state has required
that there shall be a clearance of 22
feet from the top of the rails to the low
est part of the structure, in the case of
an overhead bridge.
E. c. Crosby of Brattleboro introduced
the bill which the legislature has de-
feated, and it was referred to the COM
mite on railroads, who reported unan-
imously in favor of its passage as there
was no opposition to it. The absence of
opposition made a hearing before the
committee unnecessary and after the
contest developed there was no oppor-
tunity for the committee having in
charge the interests of Brattleboro and
the railroad development to appear be-
fore the committee or the House to pre-
sent the history of the negotiation and
the reasons for asking for an 1S-foot
over-paSs
No one questions the sincerity of any
member of the House in voting against
the BILL but it is unfortunate that re-
consideration was denied, which shut out
oppor- unity for getting all the details
before the members. We believe that If
every member of the House had heard
full explanation the measure would have
been passed unanimously
The railroad committee make this
| reasons for presenting it:
There is only one place feasible for
| the location of the union station. 1t is
| absolutely necessary that 1t be built just
/ south of Bridge street and east Of the
Brattleboro House. With the new rail-
road coming into town, it cannot pos
| sibly be placed east of the tracks, even
/ If it were desired to continue the grade
crossing. 1t cannot be placed further
south because there is no way to get
proper access to 1t because OF the mar
| row space between the high hill and the
river. 1t is at very large expense that
| the location can be secured where 1t is
proposed to build the depot, but both the
railroad compa MES and the town are
ready to expend the money to get the
location and do everything possible for
| the safety of both the travelling public
and the railroad employees. The rail-
road tracks cannot be depressed, because
they are now as low as it is safe to
have them in view Of Milestone brook
and the high water in Connecticut river
| The legislature OF 1910 refused to pass
the bill providing for the elevation OF
the tracks through the Brattleboro yard
and the only way in which Brattleboro
could secure the new railroad was by
coming in the way it is and on the
present level. So the committee and the
railroad engineers, in making the plans
|
PEELED to make the plan they did make
as to the location of the depot and the
| over-pass.
THE committee had in mind at first
the provision of the law relating to 2.
feet Of clearance, and considered every
phase of the situation to see II things
could be made safe with a 22-foot clear.
| ance. They found these difficulties con-
fronting them:
with the over-pass starting from
where it absolutely must on the lower
Main street level, and going to an ele
walton of % feet clearance over the
rails, makes big hump in the Travelled
way to cross the Connecticut river. i
is not possibl for any one in carriage
or automomile, with such a hump, tC
get a view of teams or automobiles ap
proac ching from the other side until wei
up on the incline. With an 1S-foot over
pass. one sitting in a carriage or auto
mobile can, from the lower Main stree
level, practically see clear across thu
Connecticut river, a distance of severa
hundred feet The width of the trav
eled way of the overpass is necessaril.
limited by the location of the depot ol
the one side and by milestone brook oil
the other. With this limited space an,
the very heavy traffic over this over
pass, which is on the main entrance in
| TO southern vermont from new tamp
shire, it would be perilous to put such
hump in the over-pass as to obstruc
the view
THE main floor of the station must Il
any event be at quite an elevation abov
the railroad track. The Central Vernon
tracks are to be next to the station; tn
Boston & Maine tracks further east
is essential to safety that some mean
be provided for reaching the Boston
Maine tracks without crossing the Cen
trail Vermont tracks at grade This cal
only be done by some passageway iron
the depot across the Central Vernon
tracks and then down stairs to pat
form to take the Boston & Maine trains
with an elevator for baggage etc. Wit
an 1S-foot over-pass passage can be feas
IDLY arranged from the station TO IN
over-pass and across to the stairs O
the Boston & Maine trains, with prac
tically no steps from the depot to tn
over-pass. With 22-foot over-pas
there must be steps up from the depo
to the over pass Of at least four feet
,, and then the long steps down to tn
Boston & Maine platform. These step
of four feet up to the over-pass and tn
additional height OF four feet on tn
stairway to the Boston & Maine plat
form. add greatly to the peril\ Of hand
ling the passenger traffic at the sta
tion. In the hurry and hustle, and whe
10 20. A.,