Norwich bulletin., 1921-11-24
TRAFFIC AGREEMENT STOPPED
BUILDING PROVIDENCE BKA

BUILDING PROFlDENCE bhaNCh
 Why the Grand Trunk railroad stopped work on its proposed Southern New England branch which was to have it's terminus in Providence and why it defi' nitely abandoned the project on Nov. 10, 1912, is slowly coming to light as the suit of Earl H. Fitzhugh, one-time presi- dent of the Central Vermont railroad and former New London resident against the Grand Trunk and Central Vermont proceeds in the Merrimack county. superb or court at Concord, N. H., before Judge William H. Sawyer.
 A traffic agreement between the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad. on one side, and the Grand Trunk and Central Vermont on the other. side, by which the first railroad retained a mo- nopoly of traffic in central and southern New England. was admitted as evidence for the plaintiff Tuesday after strong op position by the defence. Its admissicn is regarded as a strong point in FitZhushs favor He Is suing for S20o,o damages for the damage done to his railroad ca reer by the treatment he charges he re- celved from the defendant roads. The facts that are being brought to light are in direct contra diction of'a tel eEram received by the Providence Journal J. Trunk, on Nov 10, 1912. in reply to its inquiry regarding the reason for stopping construction in Providence. says the l Journal.
 The Journals telegram of Inquiry at | that time follows: Order for stoppage | of work on Southern New England Is sued today creating greatest consterna- | ton among entire community. Can you | wire Ns for plE5licatiorl message pt- l claring that stoppage of work Is only | temporary and in line with the general | letting up of construction on all parts of the Grand Trunk system and that there | is no intention whatever to abandon the road?"
 Mir. Chamberlain wired in reply: "Tem- porary stoppage of work on Southern ] New England is precautionary measure
 brought about by the unsettled money
 market which is produced by the strain
 ed conditions in Europe at the present
 time. -4-..- '.e.- t+-
 A special committee of the Rhode Is land legislature was later appointed t
 investigate the causes for the Grand l Trunks failure to complete it's plans hert
 and today Judge Sawyer dismissed thu
 jury for an hour and a quarter wnil
 counsel for both sides wrangled over tn
 admission into the records of the case th
 stenograp phic report of the proceedings o
 that committee At tae hearing Gran,
 Trunk officials appeared and testified ths
 President Fitzhugh had ordered the en
 gineers to scale down the estimates 0
 constructing the Providence line so loy
 as to make the project sn impossibility
 The admission of the records was take under advisernent by Judge Sawyer.
 John E. Dalyrmple, vice president o . both roads, testified regarding the agree ment in addition to which a letter. fror Edson J. Chamberlain, then president c the Grand Trunk to Sir Alfred W. Smith
 CTS, chairman of the board of director . ! in London recommending the adoptio of the traffic agreement between the Ne, York New Haven & Hartford railrca
 and the Grand Trunk as suggested by "( s. NJ" Charles S. Nellen) was read int , | the record.
 Major RobertsC. Murchie offered as a . exhibit in the case, exceptions being tai . 1 en by all defendants, a copy of the ir : dictments found against Charles s, Me v len, Edson J. Chamberlain and Afre : W. Smithers by the federal grand. jury , F New York fer violations of the Sherma t antitrust act.
 s Various other documents furnished u . court at the request of the plaintiff by tl = defendants were marked as plaintiffs e. |, hfoits in. the case at the request of M . Murchie for the plaintiff, there to be r = ferred to later in the trial.