Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1917-04-06
DIRECTORS HAD
LITTLE BUSINESS
Necessity for Action as to Train
Schedule 0biyiated
President Smith to Appear Before Pub
lie Service Commission-Pip Elect
ed Clerk.


ed Clerk.
The meeting OF the directors of the
Brattleboro & Whitehall railroad Co.,
called for Saturday afternoon at .
o'clock in the parlors of the Brooks
House to take some action on the adj
vcrtsed plan of the Central Vermont
railroad TO discontinue two passenger
trains on the West River branch of the
railroad, had no special business before
it with respect to that matter, due to
the notice received that morning by
Chairman Robert c. Bacon of the pub
lie service commission that the officials
had decided not to discontinue the
trains until further notice.
\ majority of the members of the di-
rectorate being present, they signed
waivers of n notice of formal meeting,
which requires 10 days notice, and
elected A. V. d. Piper clerk to succeed
the late Hcrmon f. Eddy.
A general and desultory conversation
concerning the service of the branch
road covered about 20 minutes, and
then the meeting adjourned, after
favorable action on motion made by
Albert y. sherman of Newfanc that no
action of record should be taken by
the meeting pending the conference it
was understood was TO be held Monday
between Central Vermont officials and
the public service cOmmi ssion.
In the course of the conversation Mr.
Piper said that the cost of operating
the branch road was largely a matter
of bookkeeping. He said that in years
gone by he had known that the cost
of the maintenance of the station in
Brattlcboro had been divided equally
between the main line and the branch
road, which was manifestly unfair.
Emery Melcndy of South LondOnder-
nv said that it would be better to have
any other trains on the road taken
off than the two it was proposed to re-
move Their removal would hurt seri-
ously the summer business and mail
would be "a hours late. He pointed
out that the contracts for all of the
stage routes in the valley were based
on the handling of mail to and from
the trains in question.
Attorney T.. w. Gibson said that
while the Central Vermont railroad
claimed that the branch lost n lot of
money the railroad was unwilling to
dispose Oh inc DIdhCH NE lOlu inc
directors that n few years ago he had
a client in Boston who was willing to
pay very fair price for the branch
but that he had been unable to get
the Central Vermont to put n price on
it or even to give an option for
month.
President Horton d. Walker of the
. board of trade was asked for confirma-
ton of the report which had reached
the directors that the trains would not
be taken off Monday and reported to,
the leeting the information given him
by Mr.. Bacon.
Those present were President f. r.
Batchelder of Townshend, William II.
Newton, Senator Frank A DeWitt, Al
bert n. Sherman and d. A. Benson of
Newfane, James A. Muzzy of Jamaica
and Emery Melcndy of South London.
derry, Of the directors. Others present
were A. V. D. Piper, President Horton
d. Walker of the Brattleboro board of
trade, Attorney i. w. Gibson and
Judge +. b. Pier, all of Brattleboro.
j. w. Hanlcy, general passenger
agent of the Central Vermont railroad,
was in town Monday morning for n
conference with Chairman Bacon of
the public service commission regard
ing the proposed change in the West
River schedule.
Mr.. Hanley and Chairman Bacon
had long conference without am
definite result being reached except
that the trains would continue to run
until such time Is President c. +.
Smith of the Central Vermont returned
from Washington and could arrange to
appear before the full public service
commission.