Year: 1867




the contract between the Troy and Bos.
ton and the Rensselaer, and Saratoga
Companies, and by new combinations
force all the traffic on TO his road-or,
he could sell out his road to the Rensse-
laer and Saratoga Company at fabu-
lous price Either way it was perfect
Green Mountain gold mine Costing
him Sl50,000, it was worth millioh !
But in order TO make sure thing he
offered 1t that very day to the Rensse-
laer and Saratoga Company for $780,
600 But, alas the Rensselaer, and
Saratoga Company, Instead of "gobbling
up" his road at that small figure, step
ped in, in neighborly way, and loaned
the Troy and Boston Company rolling
stock TO operate the road in their neces-
sites, and hence the present bitterness
of the owner of the Western Vermont
Road toward that Company.


On learning the attachment of their
property, the President and Treasurer
of the Troy and Boston Road immedi-
ately telegraphed their Superintendent
to run no trains beyond Hoesic juno
tion,-that point of their line where the
Troy and Bennington Road commences
until their rolling stock was returned
and the suit withdrawn. To that de-
cision they still adhere, and will adhere.
And that is how the Troy and Benning-
ton Road came to be closed.


Prior to this time, there had been
sundry negotiations, extending through
many months, between the owner of the
Western Vermont Road and the Rensse.
laer and Saratoga Company, by which
he had endeavored to sell out his road
or consolidate it with that Company,
but without effect. The Saratoga Com
pany was very desirous that the through
traffic should be concentrated on the
middle, or Salem, route, and thus relieve
the other two lines of heavy expense
and they, with others, desired to control
the through business to that end. The
local business of Western Vermont does
not come over their line, and they nei-
ther desired or expected to control it or
have any thing to do with it. To ac.
complish this, they would have leased
or purchased the Western Vermont Road
at g reasonable price. But on learning
of the shutting up of the Troy and Ben
nington Railroad, it occurred to them
that they might accomplish all they
wanted by controlling the North and
South through business on that road as
well as by much larger investment in
the Western Vermont and so brief
negotiation resulted in the assignment
to them by the Troy and Boston Rail
road Company of one-half of their lease
Of ha Da5l
They took this assignment with the
sole object of controlling this through
business aud concentrating it on one of
the three routes. The road cannot be
opened without the consent of both par
ties. The Rensselaer, aud Saratoga Rail
road Company will be most happy tO
have it opened for the local business of
Western Nermont-they are not at all
likely to consent to have it opened for
any competing through business-and
they and the Troy and Boston Company
are now Offering to bring freight from
any points on the line of the Western
Vermoot Road to Troy, via Rutland and
Eagle Bridge, for their pro rata share
of whatever price the present lessees of
the Western Vermont Road may agree
to take it for. With this agreement, Of
course terminated all negotiations for
the possession or control of the Western
Vermont Road. They had accomplished
all they wanted at Il much cheaper
rate. They do not now want it at any
price.


The owner OF the Western Vermont
Road is meanwhile struggling for au
Itch, 20
! by building and boring q railway
through the sterile regions from Ben.
nington to Chatham, and he kindlypro
poses to permit the farmers of Western
| Vermont to mortgage their lands &c
build this road in another State. He
has got the Legislature OF Vermont as
sembled, that they may dispose of theil
farms legally. This Chatham road is d
! turkey that has been B long time in
Matching hut if she sets easy, let hel
set. And if the people Of Western Yer
mont choose to put their property into
! this kind of permanent investment-thC
whole capital of which must surely b(
sunk-and try to do their business with
| New York by an all rail route, at twice
the cost OF transportation, instead O
seeking their natural and cheap outle
by the waters of the Hudson, iu ordel
that the owner of the Western Vernon
Road may vent his disappointment anC
chagrin at not having pocketed another
half million, they have a perfect righ
to do so. 1t would seem the manlie
way, however, if they are not alread,
sold body and soul past the day of ju
bilee, to bring some power t. bear BY
which the property of the Troy and Bos
ton Road shall be relieved from this un
just attachment, and the merits Of tn
claim be decided by the Courts In
manly aud honorable way and in accord
ance with the provisions of the lease,


FAIR PLAY.


March %, 1867.


TROY AND BOSTON CoAPANY's STATEMENT