Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-05-31

PHILADELPHIA AND THE LAKES.

Under this attractive caption a writer,
who subscribes himself "Morning" in the
Public Ledger, undertakes to enlghten the
community on the subject of the best and
shortest railway route between Philadel-
phia and the Lakes. He mentions two
routes from Philadelphia TO Williamsport,
viz; one by way of Harrisburg and Sun
bury, and the other by way of the Schuyl-
kill valley and Cattawissa, and proceeds to
compare these routes as regards their length |
and the number of miles OF road vet TO be
completed. Their comparative cost does
not enter into his calculation. The road
from Tamaqua to CattawisSa is partially
graded, not finished, as he represents it to
be. This route passes over section of
country so disagreeably diversified with
high mountains and deep ravines, that to
avoid numerous inclined planes, the com
pany have been obliged to construct bridg-
es from the top of one mountain to the
summit Of the next. Part of this nrial
railway is thus raised to height OF 100
feet above the level of the plain, over
which it passes. The difficulty of building
bridges of tins height may be appreciated
when it is recolected that one of them
fell down before it had been COMPLETED
To construct them OF sufficient strength 10
bear the weight of an engine and train of
cars would be almost impossible, and to in
duce any person to travel over them, un-
der any circumstances would be like ask
ing him to commit suicide. We will ven
ture to say that more impractcable and
dangerous line of rail way has never been
located. Although there is not an inclined
plane on the whole line, these lofty bridges
and grade of 36 feet to the mile, for a
distance of nearly twelve consecutive
miles, present more serious obstacles in the
way OF transportation of freight, and
place the safety of passengers in greater
peril than half dozen planes.
"Morning" has forgotten to mention a
route not only shorter but more feasible
and superior in every respect, the Danville
and Pottsvile Rail Road OF this road 90
miles, from Sunbury to Shamokin, have
been in use for years. On the Eastern end
~ miles of the road are also fnished.-
This leaves but l A miles Of road to be made
to connect the Susquehanna and Schuyl'
kill. By this route the distance iron
Philadelphia 10 Williamsport is $50 miles
10 miles shorter, and infinitely more prac.
ticable and safe, and intersecting countr,
far richer, than the Cattawissa road.
In locating rail road, regard is had t
the grade as well as the distance. 1t
a well established fact that in ascending
grade of 81 feet to the mile, the power O
locomotive is diminished 80 per cent
that is, it can draw up that grade only hal
the weight it can move on the level, o
can make double the speed on the leve
e that it can up that grade. The grade be
: tween Williamsport and Harrisburg in n
S place exceeds 4 feet to the mile, and be
| tween Sunbury and Harrisburg the max
= mum grade is feet The maximum grad
: on the Cattawissa route is 66 feet! Wit
It these facts in view, there can be- but on
n opinion in regard to the superiority of tn
Il route by way Of Harrisburg and the Su
It quehanna Valley, over the mountainor
e range OF the CattawisSa road.
e We should like to see the Cattawss
road made, but we must protest against i
comparison with either of the routes aboy
: referred to. The correspondent OF II
II Ledger has SO miSrepresented the ca
that u become necessary to correct him.
i If he had carefully read Mr.. Walkers r
) port, from which all his data are taken, |
r would have been better prepared 10 wrl
" on the subject.