Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1853-05-06
Lewisburg, Center & Sprucecreek Road

Falls, IS cts. =; Pittsburg, 80 cts.
Lewisburg, Center g. Sprucecresk Road.
Col. Joseph Paxton, with the Chief En-
gineer of the Catawissa Railroad and some
capitalists from New York city, were here
this week, to look after the prospects Of
the contemplated Railway from Lewisbure
through Center county to Srrucccrcek on
the Juniata. On Wednesday afternoon
they took drive through considerable
portion Of Buffalo Valley, and expressed
themselves highly pleased with its beauty
and fertility. 1t, extent also proved to be
much greater than they had supposed
Aside from its local trade, the principal
value of this road lies in the fact that when
completed, it will form highly important,
and indeed indispensable link, in direct
communication, by railroad, between New
York city and Pit.slurg via Ca.tawissa
and Easten. The hold which the former
city will thus have upon the trade Of the
North West as well as Of tie South Yves,
Is demonstrated by the single remarkable
fact, that the distance from Cleveland,
Ohio, to New York city, by way Of Pitts
burg, Spruce Greek, Lewisburg, Cattawis-
sa and Egston is sirty-f,ro miles less than
by way of the New York and Erie Rail
road-and some calculations make the dif-
ference in our favor, over ninety miles.
The route from New York by this road to
Pittsburg, is also more direct and feasible
than any other practicable line that can be
found. The following extract from the
money article of the Philadelphia Register
of the 9th ult. shows that the hopes Of
Pittsburg, and the fears of Philadelphia
are aroused on the subject:
~The Pirsbmg Gazette is chuckline in
spirit OF revenge and hostility 10 Philadelphia I
over New York project, which il is alleged |
VIII connect Cincinnati, thro' Pitisburg, direct
with New York, by Railroad having Easton !
ior It's eastern terminus in PeInSy lyania. TINS !
line, ii is further stated, is backed by capital |
- to an unlimited amount" aud " Philadelphia |
is not considered or thought Of III The move /,
mcnt." Well. we suppose Philadelphia can !
survive both the present contempt and the :
future rivalry of these gtea. pariies..-.1rade. ,
like wafer. will find is level. dam 1t as we
nav. If nature has made an aveure from
Piirsburg TO New York by way of Easton, put
the rails on it by all means. Make the most
of il. Philadelphia exists, grows, flouri.bes.
nourishes. nurtures and enriches halfa-milion
Of people, in spite Of the Erie Canal and the
Hudson River and the New York BAY ana all
that Art as well as Nature has done for the
great capital into which those waters bear the
wealth Of the wcIld.'
To show the character and capabilities
Of the route in other respects, we may here
add that the grade from Lewisburg to
Spruce Creek, 10 miles, is understood to
be highly favorable and from Lewisburg
to the Summit, on the Cattawissa road,
there is no grade higher than SO feet to |
the mile. From the Summit there is ITO !
miles Of level or descending grade, via
Tamaqua and the Reading railroad, to
Philadelphia. From the same Summit,
there is 60 miles of level or descending
grade to Easton; and thence to New York
there is no grade higher than SO feet to
the mile. At or near the Sunni. any
amount of coal tonnage is at all times at
hand, and freight trains from the west
could add from so to 100 per cent to their
loading without any increase Of motive ,
power
The Instance by this route from Lewis
burg to New York is about 30 miles fur
ther than to Philadelphia but to Eliza
bethtown Point-which is at all times
open to New York, and from the cramped
and confined business limits of that city is
likely to become one of its principal ship
ping points for western proiuce-the dis
tance would be reduced by some ten or
twelve miles. Trade rW seek its level,
through this AMI other avenues of
communication, wider choice Of mar
kets be afforded to western produce, and
reciprocal advantages secured to eastern
merchants and manufaeturers-in both re-
spccts greatly enhancing the prosperity of
the people of the interior and of the far
West.
na-A corps of Engineers will be put on
I ,al Fr,.'-