Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1846-12-26
suNsURY AND ERIE aAiL ncap.

sCNBURY AND ERIE RAIL nc1D.
We learn tha, convention Of the friends OF
he Sudbury and Erie Railroad will Be held in
Philadelphia on the 18th of Jan. neat, for the
p'eposc Of taking measures TO prosecute The en-.
'.rprise ofa Northern Railroad route between
Philadelphia and Pi,tsburs A speeis' meeting
1tthe Erie board Of Trade WIS held short time
snce. the Hon. James Thompson, Gen. C. N.
Reed, W. Miln-r Roberts, Esq. Civil Engineer,
J. 3. Johnson. ESQ State Senator, ond Messrs
Gould, and Ssnborne, Representatives. were ap
poiatea Delegates TO the Philadelphia Conven.
ton.
We have long since expressed our preference
FOR the northern route over both the central and
southern We believe it to be the most eligible
Eor many reasons It was surveyed several year,
sinse, when the State Canal was in coniempia
ton, and was abandoned for the present route
cu,y because it was that from its more northern
latitude. the canal wonld close earlier in the see
.,n Ithas been aseertained that there are 2oto
f-, legs rise and fall on the northern route than
either Of the others, which in the opinion Of
experience ed engineers would make il preferable
- a route which might be . few miles shorter
~ in which there would be heavy grades To
overcome The long aad troublesome passage
q the Allegheny mountains would be avoided.
q, there is gap at the head Of Benefits Branch
'hrough which a railroad could be laid without
tffculty. The facilities offered for the construc.
ton Of the northern road are far greater than
those on either OF the other routes, and there are
fwef obstacles 10 overcome.
The route Of the proposed road would be from
snnbnry to Williarsrort; thence up the West
Branch of tn Su'quehanna and the snncmahon
ing Creek TO Bennett's Branch From this poin,
two branch roads would he constructed, the one
Tin. 20 Erie, the other passing down the C'a.
fion and Allegheny rivers to Pittsburs. The
roal would pass through the rich iron regions of
t2'nnsyivan a, and would, il is evident derirea
/ ,avy trade from this source alone. by means
y the Wliamsport and Elmira Railroad, it
would apthe New York and Erie road at roiH'
n,arer to Philadelphia than New York, and if
rln road communication was secured from that
p1int 10 PhiIadep phia, an immense western trade
would be secured TO that city.
We hone that the friends of the Sunbury and
Erie Rail Road in all the counties which are in
rsrested in lis construction will not fail TO appoint
Delegates TO the Philadelphia Convention We
'hiuk that the friends of the central Railroad
after examining the subject carefully, would be
convinced that instead of const! uctng Railroad
~ the side Of the State canal, II would be the
I.st policy TO alter the route. BY making
abroad from Harrisburg to Sunhury. Phlladel.
mia would be united to Pittsbnrg and Erie by
route Which possesses great and decided advan'
ages over the central route. The canal furnishes
,u,hcient facilities for transportation through the
,sntre Of the State, while The rich mineral re-
sion in the notheTa part has no easy and direct
-nmmnucation with Pittsburg aud Philadelphia
We think every intellgen; man upon careful
Investigation of the ubject, would be satisfied
that the proper course of the business men of
philaielphia would b. to abandon the project Of
Z railroad from, Harrisburg 10 Pittsburg, by the
AIDE Of the canal and all their efforts 10 effect
be speedy construction of the nothern Railroad.
Miners Journal