Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1852-02-04
STNBURYSE ERIE RAILROAD

SUNBURY& ERIE RAILROAD
rI-Tho following letter to the officers
of the SunbUry < Erie Railroad, Philad.,
is from gentleman distinguished as an
Engineer, and who has been an efficient
agent in the creation Of many of the public
works of this State. His opinion vii.
have much weight with practical men and
capitalists.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. -, lSo2.
Dear Sir: have before me Jour favor
Of the 18th instant. You 40 not over
estimate the interest | feel as citizen OF
philadeiphia, IA the construction Oh the
Sudbury and Eric Railroad.
That enterprise has not been regarded
by me as a rival TO the Pennsylvania Rail
r5aa | have considered the construction
of both as essential to the proper develop
ment of the resources Of the STATE, and the
prosperity OF our city. When completed,
each work Will send out It's branches to the
more inaccessible counties, and gathering
the trade Of nearly the entire Common
wealth, pour it into one common centre,
destroying that diversity of feeling among
her citizens a; presen. tostered ~ their
divided markets.
The amount yet TO be raised to complete
the Pennsylvania Railroad is 50 compara-
lively small, that we may, without ehdan-
gering the progress Of that great WORK,
spare some Of our means 70 insure the
carly commencement Of yours, which Is
not considered 4 rival but kindred enter
prise, each calculated Largely to Increase
the wealth and population o. both our city
and State, thus one exerting favorable
influence upon the business Of the other
[ hazard nothing IN saying, that the
increased value of property IN Phiiadei-
phii aud the counties contiguous to the
liue Of these roads, directly resulting from
their construction, viii equal the whole
cost Of both whilc the commercial, man
ufactaring, and mining interests can not
fnl 20 reap advantages to an equal extent
The region to bc travelled by this road,
is at pIesent without q diiect out.et 10
market, and lie inhabitants seek that cf a
r.yal city, through the eircuitous channels
afforded by a neighboring Statc. This
condition Of things should not be suffered
to continue.
The superiority of the harbor Of Erie
j. shown bY the extension ot the New ORR
and Erie Railroad to 1t, the completion .
which, instead Of proving injurious TO your
cuarprise, will in connection With the
anticipated construction Of this road, COLI
centrate there large portion Of the vast
region tributary TO Il.
The wise provision Of the act Of the last
session of our Legislature, breaking The
gage Of the track at Erie, v Ill also discharge
at that point from the UAio Road Il con
eii.rahla amount f t,ry-l aud freight
during the close Of ravis'tion which VIII
tend to increIse the Importance of the
place, and give to your route the advantage
rs soon rs completed Of terminal pom;
Of large trade.
The broad gage Of the Erie Road, 50
often referred to as mark Of its superiority
instead of aft Ring any practical advan
,age will be found by experience to add to
the cost Of transportation.
The superiority of the gradient upon
your line, uni ed with its shorter distance,
and its comparative low cost, must enable
you. as soon as your Road is completed, to
engross nearly the whole OF the trade and
travel between Erie and the seatoard,
which with the undivided local business Of
the country Travelled will be ample to secure
sny reasonable dividends upon your stock.
In 10 other section of the State, viii
the effects Of an improvement Of the Kind
be SO manifest in the advance in the re-
sources OF the country, as upon the line of
this road (Which, with the aceumulations
Of the through business, must so0n demand
a double track.
Seeing no other road projected which
promises equal benefits to the State and It's
Metropolis, or stronger inducements for
the safe and profitable investment. Of eapl-
tai, [ have little difficulty in bringing my
mind to meet your views, and accordingly
subscribe one hundred shares to the stock
of your company, upon the conditions
printed ia your subscription book. Aitho
the amount may not be equal to your
expectations, it is all my means will justify
Trusting tina: your efforts will meet he
success they merit, look forward to the
completion Of the two great Railroads of
Pennsylvania, as the instrument of regain
ing to Philadelphia her former proud
position as the first city in the Union.
Very truly yours,
j. EDGA AR THOMSON, C.E.