St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1914-01-07
RAILROAD SITUATION
Superintendent Folsom Explains Why
1t is Necessary To Take OF
Trains

1t is Necessary To Take OF
Trains
The announcement that two trains
were to be suspended on the Pas
sumpsic Division of the Boston and
Maine Railroad called forth large
amount of criticism. President Josepn
Fairbanks of the Commercial Club
at the request of several business
men asked Supt. H. E. Folsom to
meet with ST.. Johnsbury men and
explain the situation. Mr.. Folsom
consented and came to town yester-
day afternoon and met several re-
presentatives business men at the
Office of F. G. Mayo.
Mr.. Folsom said he should speak
only in a personal way and should
not undertake to comit the railroad
management in any way. He first
explained that the Boston and Maine
very narrowly escaped going into
bankruptcy on the first day of Janu-
ary. The sale OF $1,300,000 of the
Vermont Valley notes lone OF the
best pieces of property owned by the
road) at a seven per cent. basis of
interest was all that prevented it. 1t
has much larger amount of notes
due on Feb. 1, but expects to be able
to provide for that.
Faced with this financial string
ency, inability to increase rates or
decrease wages except by reducing
the number of employees, that road
found itself under an absOluate nec-
essity OF reducing expenses. The
only wsy was by reducing the amount
of train service. He had consented
to the discontinuance of the two
trains "a and S5, but not until he
found that a total of 400 miles
daily was to be discontinued on the
whole system.
The two trains to be taken off are
the least essential and the least pro-
fitable Of any on this division. In
answer to questions he stated that
these trains did not pay the cost of
operation and the Passumpsic Divi-
sion lacked from $4,000 to $4,000
year from paying the lease and
maintaining it's roadway. The two
Air Line trains pay three or four
times as much and the mail trains
from so to IS per cent more than
the two trains that are to be dis
continued.
He explained in detail the difficulty
of reducing wages and said the e.
duction in train service would mean
He hoped that an increase in COM
modify rates would soon be granted.
If it was it would increase the
revenue of the road about 81, 100000
a year.
It was expIaintd to him how incon-
venient it would be for person who
wished TO leave Boston at 1890, not
to be able to get beyond Woods
Vile and a person returning from
Montpelier on the afternoon train
to get beyond Wells River and sug-
gested that a mixed train be run on
practically the time of the 1925 train
from Wells River to Lyndonville to
take care of this traffic. After con-
discussion Mr. Folsom said
if the business men of st. Johnsbury
would be satisfied with such an ar
rangement he was inclined to favor
it and would take it up with the
Those present seemed
to think this was all it was reason
able to ask while the road is in ffnan-
cial difficulty and that the operation
of such a train would be better than
to attempt to prepare a petition be-
fore the Public Service Commission !
Mr.. Folsom said he should be
heartily in favor of restoring the two
trains as soon as business would war
rant it and it seemed to be the senti- /
ment of those present that a mixed I
train as proposed for the winter /
months would be satisfactory.
pound of 40 cent chocolates for
20 cents at Searles' Drug store /
every Saturday and Sunday.
Get a box of Almon's Cold Tab /
lets at Searles' Drug Store and cure
your cold Only % cents.
Fur work of every description done /
at the Belknap Millinery Store.
More houses, more lots and more /
farms for sale. G. E. KIRK.
Diamonds and Wedding Rings. |
p1ookSbawss HoIa in fha Wall