The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-11-04
A DISGRACE TO THE STATE

some interest the sparring over rail.
road matters INDUCED in on one side
by Editor Howard Of the Vermont AID.
vance and on the other by the st
Adams Messenger and Rutland Her
aid, two conspicuous representatives
of the railway interests in Vermont.
The latter papers have expressed
violent Indignation over statements in
the Advance regarding the president
Of the Central Vermont Railway and
other criticisms Of this road, but this
Indignation would carry more weight
were there not grounds for the sus-
picion that il represents anger over
railway criticism of whatever nature
and from whatever source.
The obsorvant Barton Monitor
shows the bias OF the railroad organs
in the following editorial comment:
1--WE have failed to notice the Rut-
land Herald featuring the stories COM
ing from Concord, ~ H., telling Of the
rather loose expenditure of money by
the railroads Of New England during
the time the Grand Trunk railroad
was trying to get charter to go into
Providence, although that paper finds
room for every kind of literature fav-
orable to the roads"
Now there is much that can be said
favorable to the railways operating in
Vermont. Particularly is this true re-
garding the train service, which has
been improved to a point where there
is little ground for criticism. The
modern equipment, with up-to-date
steel cars, in operation on the Rutland
road, provides a service that will COM
pare favorably with any in the coun-
try.
On the other hand the railroads of
Vermont are open TO severe criticism
regarding the condition of the railway
stations along their lines. Such condi-
tons as exist at many of the import
ant cities and towns along the line of
the several roads are disgrace to the
state.
AT White River Junction, an import
ant terminal point; at Manchester, a
famous summer resort; at Middlebury,
the seat Of Middlebury College; at
Vergennes, Vermont's oldest city; at
Winooski, an industrial center of
5000 people; at Essex Junction, an
other terminal point, are stations that
are relics Of by-gone days.
In the growing industrial city Of
Barre compare the many new public
structures hospital, library, hotel,
etc.-with two dry-goods boxes that
answer for depots.
II seems to be the cardinal sin Of
Vermont railroads that they do not
and will not build suitable depots.
New and modern depots in places hav-
ing all other evidences of civic pride
and progress, are secured only after
long and devious process, appeals to
the Legislature and contests in the
courts, or when fire completes the de-
struction Of antique structures weak
ened by age and decay
1t is through this latter visitation
Of Providence largely that relics along
the line of the Mississquoi Valley road
have given place to modern and de-
cent depots during recent years, so
that practically all Of the stations on
this line are creditable and up-to-date.
The failure of the roads TO build
new depots is not because they are
poor A railroad system like the Bos-
ton and Maine that paid around
81 100000 to prevent the Grand Trunk
from securing charter rights in New
Hampshire, that paid Attorney George
Weston of Bellows Falls 100000 for
unexplained services, that presented
Mr.. MeIlen with 100000, which he has
publicly stated he did not earn, and
company like the Central Vermont,
which has paid extravagant salaries
10 former presidents, these roads can