New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-02
THE RAILROAD QUESTION At ERIE.
Correspondence Of The N Y. Tribune.
HARRISBURG, Tuesday, NJ ~ /, 1855.

Couesponeeuce Of The N. Y. Tribune.
HARRISBURG, Tuesday, May /, 1853.
Ina letter written some time ago, and which was
pubsbed in The TRIBUNE, stated thst many good
citizens deplored the course which had been pursued
BY the Legislature Of this State in regard 10 certain
queston. OF course, l alluded to the troubles az
Erie and sincerely hoped thst they were al an end
in this, however, i was mistaken Your readers are
familiar with the general policy o! our legislation in
relation to railroads ruonin from the Ohio S.a'e line
to Erie; tina. break in the gauge was established ia
.ba, place by law, IN the year 1851, and subsequently
repesled that the Franklin Csnal Companys char
ter was repealed in 1854, and restored 10 an Ohio
Company the same year, upon certain conditions; aud,
smoDg other things, they required TO subscribe
$500 600 to the stock of the Sunbuy AID Erie Rail
road Company, snd build branch road from their
depot to the harbor For these and other considera
tons the Ohio Company wa, chartered, and author
lied to run their 70 sd through the City Of Erie, and
connect the same with the Northeast Conpsny's
Road. A. little later period, when the latter Com
psny were changing the gauge, "a authorized by law
the citizens OF Erie resisted il by force, and obsructed
the road by tearing up the rails. About this time
suit was commenced ia the Supreme Court TO test the
validity OF the location Of the road aud bridges IN
E,ie. and $50 q. Herbor Creek. have not tbs de-
c.son Of the Court before ne, bu. il is remarkable
production, and will belong remembered by those in
teresied and by The public generally Tbs North
East Company wss chartered in 1912, ard ten years
were allowed for completing The road. la 1872 when
ths survey was made the location became sgtjec,
of consde ration and few items o. Ere favored
the HARDER route; bat fierce opposition was waged
acsu,t H. and it wss defeated By the very men Who
bsve beep hare al winter clsnoiing for The res.or.'
ton Of the policy whica they opposed Two oi re
rntIsrsp refsrlfd 10 were Directors when the ROAD
ss lo,sttd s1o wore responsible for shat they DID,
hpt low attsrnp, 70 SHIFT the responsibility upon some
one slae In 1851 the rails laid ia the City oil
Erie AID the event was celebrated win suVaoe osrs
monies Judge Tb ompsoa, a. tue pressn' ulhe us
tineui,hed member in the Bouse OF Representatives
from that County inside the coperaiustory Speech
aud all thipgs promised happy future 49,
THE main points decided by the Court we're t1,ee'
ss follows: ibe road was Improperly iocslea a. ha
Dor Creek, by occupying too much oil the common
road Secondly, the bridges over ms streets "eIe
TOO low; and thirdly, the western terminus was nor
in the territory Of toe old Borough OF Enc, az "a
| isted ia 1912 when the charter was granted. an
| these II viii be confessed, are grave sllegsuons
nc.init the Company; end did space alos, II woIa
| he an essy ts.k to point out the absuIduss o, -
decision Suffice it to cay that The cesTes OF .ue
Cont pointed out remedy for the omissions OF rae
Connapy al arbor Creek and also With the bridges
| which were dsclsred to be "Avls1nee, maiaiy on
the Ground that thu track was four feet ten inches
wSe irs,esd OF four feet eight end hall inches, or s
f,et, Sscb il the logic Of Us Cout. Tie C0mpsn!