Washington sentinel., 1853-12-14
From the New York Herald.

The Railroad war at Erie.-On the night OF
the 9th instant, when the western train arrived AT
Harbor Creek, few miles west of Erie, it was
compelled TO stop, in consequence of the railroad
bridge being on fire and fast tending TO destruction.
Upon investigation the passengers found that for
the distance OF seven miles the track had been
torn completely up and the rails and sleepers
dragged for some distance from the line of the
road, and at each crossing of the turnpike the
ground had been ploughed up and scraped of, so
to materially alter the grade. Immense trains
of cars had collected on each side of the town,
unable TO proceed, in consequence Of the depreda-
tions above mentioned, and the mails and other
articles which had been entrusted to the company,
TO convey between Buffalo and Cleveland, were
detained at this point. The passengers of the
train above mentioned, when they ascertained how
matters stood in the locality where they thus
prevented from pursuing their journey, called an
Indignation meeting, and passed a series of reso-
lutions which severely condemned the authori-
ties and citizens of Erie for their awless proceed
ings, and called upon the government to put a
stop to the depredations, which, il allowed to pro-
ceed, must end in some frightfu catastrophe. We
have room only for the following, which were
among the resolutions passed:
Resoiced, That the citizens of every State in this
Union should feel deep interest in having the
miscreants Of Erie visited with the vengeance OF
the law, in such terrific form as will forever deter
them, any like people, if such like be found,
from similar acts of outrage.
Resolved, That owing 10 the lawlessness of the
population, who seem TO be encouraged by the
mayor, they have deemed il their policy to wan
toniy destroy the railroad bridges and track there
by causing great inconvenience and suffering TO
passengers, exposed to the night air, besides extra
expenses, we deem il our duty TO caution all per.
going east or west, from using any road con-
nected with Erie, until such time as the arrange
ments shall be perfected for safe and quick pas
sage as heretofore advertised. And further
Resolred That the railroad company Justly de-
serves great censure for not forwarning the public
of the damage done to the road, and, at least in not
properly caring for the passengers who entrusted
themselves 10 their care.
The Boston Daily Adrerfiser thus explains the
misunderstanding between the citizens Of Erie and
the railroad company.
Erie is situated in the northwestern extremity
Of Pennsylvania, bordering upon lake Erie, be-
tween the States Of Ohio and New York. The
gauge or distance between the rails Of the track
on the Hudson river railroad, from New York to
Albany and Toy, and on the New York central
railroad, from Albany and Troy TO Buffalo, is the
same as that on most of the railroads in New Eng
land viz, four feet eight and half inches. From
Buffalo the rails are laid through Dunkirk TO the
pennsylvania line near Erie, on guage OF foul
feet ten inches From this point west TO Erie,
distance OF eighteen miles, the guage is now siS
feet and from Erie west all the way to Cincinnati
the guage is four feet ten inches--the same as or
the connecting railroads in Ohio generally. Il thu,
appears that freight might be TRANSPORTED all The
way from Ohio TO tde-water, through with but
single break at Buffalo, where the change is from
four feet Ten inches to four feet eight and hal
lnches--if the eighteen miles in Pennsylvania
east of Erie, were changed from the six feet 0uaQs
to that of four feet inches Unless such chang,
is made, il is necessary to make three brenks--
first at Erie, from four feet ten inches 10 six feet
next, al the Pennsylvania and New York line
from six feet back TO four feet ten inches, ant
third, at Buffalo, from four feet ten inches 10 ouI
feet eight and half inches.
The utility and convenience Of such a changs
are obvious, that il is surprising that any scri
GUS objection is made to il. The directors having
control of the eighteen miles Of railroad in Penn
sylvania, are desirous of making the change; bu
the people Of Erie oppose il on local grounds
thinking il advantageous TO their city TO have th'
cars stopped there.