The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-09-09
dl Vermont Officials
think Barre Is Getting
Good Service
PASSENGER TRAFFIC
HELD VERY LIGHTLY
Public Service Commission
Takes Barre Case I'm
der Amusement

After hearing mass of evidence sub
mitted by counsel for petitioners and
the Central Vermont railroad in the
council chamber at city hall yesterday
afternoon the Vermont public service
commission, consisting of Robert T. Ba-
con OF Brattleboro, W. r. Warner of
Vergennes and Park Pollard of Caven-
dish, left the city last night in full pos
session of the facts relating to the
prayer of certain Barre citizens for bet
ter passenger service between the local
station and the main line. Commenc-
ing at 2 o'clock, the hearing continued
through until evening. During that
time, counsel for the petitioners, S. Hol-
lister jackson introduced ten witnesses
and Attorney W. A. Lord of Montpelier,
who was retained by the railroad, placed
two witnesses on the stand. Attorney
Benjamin Gates of Montpelier, who was
present to represent the Montpelier
Board Of Trade if certain conditions
arose while the hearing was in progress,
did not feel called to act as any inter-
ested party in the petition.
Counsel for the petitioners based his
argument on the time table admitted as
evidence early in the hearing and on
the admitted fact that the railroad Is
running at least two mixed trains into
the city every morning. Witnesses
whose testimony was given IN behalf
8. III aftt
cumulative evidence to support the con-
tentions based on the time table pre-
viously admitted as an exhibit. lndivid-
uals introduced by Attorney Jackson
also testified to Inconvenience occa-
stoned by the custom of connecting
freight cars with passenger trains in the
morning Much Of the evidence relating
to the time table was corroborative in
character.
The railroad, through its counsel,
sought to show that Barre is already
getting good service, that the service
has been materially improved within
late years, and that to comply with GER
tain requests contained in the petition
would deprive a majority of road pat
rons of the great convenience which they
are now enjoying. j. w, Hanley, gen
eral passenger agent. and S. s. Russell,
of transportation, testi.
fed for the railroad.
With the evidence in hand, the COM
mission will doubtless review the petit
ton and the findings Of the hearing at
a meeting to be held in the near future.
Its decision probably win not be an
nounced for some time.
General Passenger Agent Hanley was
called to the stand at the opening OF
the hearing to submit a revised time
table and it was admitted as evidence,
although the petition was based on an
older train schedule, which, however,
Uttered but slightly from the new one.
Frank G. Howland testified to personal
iiscomforts oecasioned by service on
,utinp trains as well as at other times.
-ity Clerk james Mackay when asked
or an estimate declared his belief that
July 81 900 people from Chelsea, Barre
Town, Barre, Topsham, Williamstown'
3rookfield and part OF Berlin are be-
ng served by the Barre branch. Cross
BY Attorney Lord, the clerk
tated that the same population was
erved to certain extent by the electric
'oad and the Nj. & w. line.
President Henry A. Phelps OF the
Board of Trade said he was interested
,ersonally as we'll as officially in bet
or service. He told of taking up the
ervice question with the railroad otli-
ials some time ago in behalf OF the
Board. The request for better conditions
Iad meant little satisfaction to the
,oard of Trade and patrons of the road.
lis criticism Of the service had to do
With long waits at Montpelier and Mont
elier Junction and he referred to GER
ain trains in which a passenger was
to wait an hour and half,
n hour. etc. He thought the main line
onnection from Barre to Montpelier
hould be made in 20 minutes, from
,arre to the junction in % and 2I min
ties. In the opinion of the witness, the
ervice not only concerned local patrons,
ut visitors who come from a distance
d transact business here. Questioned
y counsel for the railroad, Mr.. Phelps
aid that any community's business was
ound to be affected by such condi-
ions.
Evidence given by Homer c. Ladd, OF
he +. d. I.add Co., and a member OF
he Board of Trade, corroboratcd that
f Others who had testified to personal
through the poor train
erviee. He had frequently returned
ome on early morning trains TO find
rom 20 to 50 passengers put to the
,me discomforts whichshe himself eN-
erienced Asked if hdS'would be sur
rised if the statistics revealed an aver
re passenger list OF only three on the
.rly morning train, witness replied in
le affirmative.
James +. Higgins, a Board of Trade
ember, who testified to a connection
ith the D. NJ. Miles Coal Co., spoke
poor service on outgoing forenoon
aims and mentioned the fact that over
4 hour must be consumed if a passen-
II wishes to reach Northfeld by lesv-
q at S:l5 in the morning. a distance
II miles. George \. Tilden of the
ilden Shoe Co. substantiated Mr.. Hig-
ms evidence and expressed his opin-
n that the branch train should con.
,et with the main line train at Mont
,lier within 30 minutes after leaving
e local station John A. Cross of the
orthfield manufacturing firm OF Cross