The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-09-16
RAILROAD PLANS
AROUSE PUBLIC
Much Indignation Over Ex-
tent OF Proposed Cur
tailment
MASS MEETING OF
PROTEST PLANNED
Awaits Action OF BrattIeboro & White
hall Directors Here Tomorrow Text
of Court Decree of 1905 When Narrow
Gauge Was QuitcIaimed.

Growing Indignation over the proposed
curtailment of service on the West River
railroad was the outstanding feature to-
day of the controversy which bids fair to
develop between Central Vermont officials
and the business interests of this locality
Not until the plans of the railroad Off
Icials were published in last nights Re
former did the peope of Brattleboro and
the West River valley towns have definite
knowledge of what was actually likely to
happen to the service on the BrattIeboro-
South Londonderry branch. and the news
caused widespread feeling.
Up to noon President c. S. Hopkins of
the local Chamber of Commerce had re
ceived no reply from the kilograms Of
protest which he sent yesterday to Pres-
dent h. Z. Smith and Passenger Agent ]
W. Hanley of the Central Vermont fol-
lowing action taken by the Chamber of
Commerce directors. 1t is expected. how
ever, that word of some kind will be re
celved during the day.
Meanwhile plans for a mass meeting
to protest against the various train sched-
uleS changes are awaiting the meeting
here tomorrow of the directors of the
Brattleboro & Whitehall directors.
That BFattlebor0 and the West River
valley are not alone in their dissatisfac-
ton over the proposed changes is inli-
Gated by the sentiment in Northfieid
Mass, where feeling is particularly
strong against the proposed annuIment
of the Connecticut River Special. which
leaves here at 5.55 tsummer time) on
the Boston 4 Maine and returns at S12
p. IN. Mortified people look upon this
as their best New York connection and
are strongly opposed to losing it.
ut the meeting of the Brattleboro &
Whitehall directors tomorrow report
will be made by Judge r. T.. Water
man and Judge 4. f. Cudworth of n
conference with Pres. Il. G. Smith of the
Central Vermont Railway Co, relative
to the new schedule. and it is expected
that 4 decision will be reached as to
what steps will be taken, if any, in the
United States court relative to the de
cree of Feb. ). 1905, at the time the
Brattleboro x Whitehall company quit
claimed its railroad to the New London
& Northern Railroad, which was the
plaintiff in an action in the United
States court.
The text of the decree. - far as it is
of general interest is as follows: This
decree is made upon condition that the
plaintiff herein. or its assigns or les
sees, shall build and construct a stand
dard gauge railroad from Brattleboro to
South Londonderry. on the present line
and equip the same properly with suffi-
cIent rolling stock before Dec. 1St. 1906.
and shall always thereafter continue to
maintain and operate the same so as to
properly accommodate the freight and
passenger business naturally coming 10
the sand railroad and shall. at the time
of the signing of said decree, pay and
deliver to said Brattleboro and White
hall Railroad company $4,000 par value
in first mortgage bonds of the Central
Vermont Railroad company. This decree
shall not be construed as preventing said
Brattleboro ard Whitehall Railroad
company from continuing its organiza-
tion as a corporation nor as preventing
the reorganization of the bond holders
after the rendering of this decree. The
defendant may apply to the court to have
this cause brought forward upon the
breach of or non compliance with the con
ditions herein. In case, however, the de,
fendant shall apply to the court for re-
lief in pursuance of the foregoing condi-
tion. upon the ground that the plaintiff,
or its assigns or lessees, has failed to
maintain and operate said railroad so
as to properly accommodate the freight
and passenger business naturally coming
thereto, the court shall make such orders
concerning the operation and malnten-
ance of said railroad as it may deem ex-
pcdient; and such failure to properly
maintain and operate said railroad as
stated in said condition shall in no way
operate to yacate this decree nor to for
felt or affect the title to the property
forecl0sed by this decree"