Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1847-03-06
Correspondence of the Miners Journal.
sunsury and Erie Railroad.

H Mr." BANNAN- Dear Sir: In the last number
OF the Rail Road Journal, q lecture "by John A.
R1b''ng, c. E."is given to its readers; but a. II
10 'the Central Route" from the nose to the chin,
propose to notice the points that bear upcn the
Sunbury aiId Erie, and show how admirably he
sticks to his text. From beginning to end il is
beautifully written, ard from the quantity or ci.
vii engineering to he done on the work il is but
right that its excellent qualities be "set in dia
n,nnds" In the preliminary remarks. however,
he repudiates the idea of terminating at Pittsburg
--of 'goine to Cincinnati or "of going to C,eve.
land, ,"--''the latter would be a great mistake
but to be foremost in magnitude IL not in design,
he triumphantly and emphatieaiiy proclaims its
termination in st. Louis. This TO the councils
of our city who are "in for the money" must be
very consoling, and il it strikes them" az Prem.
tics did the ardor Of the STUDENT, that there was
no pinnicle to the temple of Fame" they must
think not only Of the dollars but Of the labor and
great undertaking all the spare resofrces Of Phla
dclpha and Pittsburg are to be carefully appro.
priated." - "3.-. rs..t.s
Then in reference to the trade of the Lakes, he
thinks direct road TO Erie would be the most
sdvantngeous--at least it would be preferable to
4 connection at Cleveland from Phtsbnrg. At
the town Of Erie, however, we ''would encounter
the opposition of the New York and Erie Rail
road" and after many arguments TO prove that
New York would 'run away with the trade, " he
takes "few miles from the one side and adds
them 10 the distance on the other, TO enable him
TO establish the position. But the surveys as
published in the several reports show the distance
as follows: ...-..... . .-... ....,. .....-..
From New York to Piermont % miles
, thence to Dunkirk l5l--thenre to Erie
45-making the entire distance TO Erie Sis
| From Philadelphia TO Erie via Pottsville
and sunburv, the entire distance, aga
In favor of Philadelphis, 8;
Then from the profile OF the road it appears there
| are from IS to 20 SUBMITS, and that the maxi
mum grade going cas-: is es feet TO the miie-go
ing west e7-and from table published in tht
same report. it appears that an engine Of 20 toni
weight will carry upon grade 20 feet rise te
the mile, 1856 tons. As this 10 the grade Of tn,
Sunbury and Erie, with the exception Of tha
portion near the town Of Erie. called Lsbeau
summit, we may fix this as the maximum Of ou1
route-on grade IS feet to the mile io7 ton,
would be the maxium Of the engine--cn q grad,
es n to the mile the maximum would be rs tons
Thus TO show the comparative value Of th'
grades, a twenty ton engine would carry on tn
sunbury and Erie is5 tons.
Central to Piitsburg i07 "
New York and Erie ~
Leaving difference in favor of the Sunbury an
Erie over the central route Of rs tons-and owe
the New York and Erie OF II tons. Then il W
follow the data for the wear, the tear and tn
other expenses of the motive power. we find 2
cents per mile 10 the estimste-which on 81
miles would be eqnal to sloo,oo for the distanc
on the New York and Erie, and ss4,6o on th
sunbury and Erie--quite enough We should thin
TO overcome "the superior commercial advar
tsges of the city ofNew York"
But why 10 it that the rule has but one way
working If our advantages at Erie are to b
cut of by those superior attractions" will nc
the action extend to the Central and St. Louis
Will the trade which is shipped at either Of th
J ports on the Ohio or the Mississippi for either
the ports on the Lake, will it stop at the "CsI
trail" for the pleasure Of being dragged over ii
mountains by two locomotives, instead Of one
Will: leave the grand" and the most dire,
route from Philadelphia to Iowa city for smii,
advantages, Or will the New York and Fri
with the advantage OF distance and tonnsge in o.
favor, "be able 10 transport at so low 4 rate
to command the trade of the Lakes.
But Mr.. Reblins says I'VE are apt to mistsh
effects for causes" and in carrying out the prii
eiple he is miitsken in the appropriation Of u
will discover that the direct route for the trst
Of the west will be from Erie to Cleveisnd-fro
Cleveland TO Ssndusky-thence 10 Toledo
Michigan city--to Chicseo and TO Iowa city
u These roads are chartered aud most Of them cor
menred, and will be completed by the time v
% reach Erie with our sunbury route. II he tax
;. the map published by the Central concern,
e will see that the connection with "the Ohi'
d through Ohio are not "at right angles" but .
. exsctiy diverging TO the cities on the Lake
% We will also be able 10 discover that 1.-THE ~
n uues which strike at the main roots of,he trad
e iAreuxh indiana and Illinois are in the same
> rection and will evensually pour In their trs
4. sutes 10 the suabusY AND Esir.
n A VISITS RAT was caoghts tew days ain
! IN the store Of l.. P. Rupsit, ii this place. che
!" it 10 nov kept alive in acags.' lt'is entire
white spd sppesrs shout two thirds grown.