Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1857-09-11
roR rHI LEwIsBrEG CHRONICLE
NRAll.ROAD," AGAIN.


PoR rHr LEvI.BuEG CHRONICLE.
" RAILROAD" AGAIN.
| observe that "CHILLIsauAauE," like Sc
! cond RIP VAN WISKLE, has suddenly waked
up TO the importance of building the Spruce
Creek Road, and with the zeal of new con
, vert, he would put on the back seat or unseal
altogether, the original friends of the project
Had he read the Chronicle and other papers
from this and Centre counties, he would have
learned that the new light he has just discov.
ed. is not so new 10 others. From the drift OF
his articles, he is evidently, not aware, that
for three or four years past, the building OF
that road has been the absorbing question with
hosts of the people of Union and Centre coun-
ties. Newspapers have discussed il, gentle
of the Scbuylkil. and from points west of the
terminus Of the road, have united with those
residing along the line in addressing meetings,
in laying before the people the advantages
that would accrue to them and 10 their child
ren BY the building of this road and scarcely
a school house along the line has been with
out its Railroad meeting. The masses have
been fully walked up. The result is, better
local subscription to the road than any other
road now can think of passing through a
country so entirely agricultural as the one
through which this is proposed TO be located.
The failure thus far to build the road. has no,
been because the people do not "rEEL" on the
subject, but because too many imagine that
"to feel an interest in the construction of the
road is worth more than the money subscr.b-
ed" Such counsel has been given very free
ly; some have with characteristic lberality
charged nothing for showing where those who
have given their time aud money have been
at fault; they have been willing TO bespa,ter
with unmeanlng praise. or deal in wholesale
"fings." as either ambition or feeling may
have dictated. Talk 10 them about "substan-
tial aid" and they will tell you promptly il
requires more than money" and they prefer
to furnish the "more" while they leave others
to furnish The money. If our rich men (and |
am glad to believe "Chillisquaque' TO be one
Of our weallhesD would all do something, and
find less fault, they might greatly strengthen
the hands Of those who have immediate charge
of the work and thus hasten its early COM
meDcement
Chillisq laque can not have known what
efforts have been made in the last four years
to enIighlen public sentiment on this question.
If he did, he is not very complimentary 10 the
many gentlemen who for years have written
and talked on the subject. for he says, "the
enterprise is one with which the people are
not well acquainted" and that "it can not be
expected that the people will go Jhndiy into
the matter" 1t might be well for our aged
friend 10 revisit Centre county. He will find
i, net qnite "the same as it wa' forty years ogo."
The extensive forests, the lumber Of which he
disappeared, and the grandchildren OF the
men of "for,y years ago" now wan, road. no,
because Of the abundance but because of the
scarcity Of timber. One of their chief argu-
mcnts in favor Of the road is that their wood
is failing, and they want coal for manufaciur-
ing, for feul and for lime burning Lumber
suitable for building purposes is now higher
on the line Of This road than it is al the head
Of the market. Its importation would be 4
source Of revenue 10 the road.
If Chillisqnaque will go among the farmers
Of Centre county. he will find them pretty well
booked up on railroad questions. To give
them new idea on the subject, may not be
as Easily done as he imagines. He will find
them mt so far "outsfripped BY tie enterprise
and public spirit ofofher sections" as TO be igno-
rant of the advantages of railroad improve.
ments. At a late meeting in that county. a
gentleman made an admirable statistical
speech in favor Of the road, showing The re-
sources Of the country in agriculture, in min
eral. and in manufacturing; the cost Of the
road and the certany ofits remunerating those
, who invested in it. The same thing had been
done so often. that, after the speech (Which
really covered the whole ground) an old far.
mer got up and said that he had heard thai
speech SO often that it was no longer new to
him, or to their people. It was what every.
| body said, and they all believed il. Pat he
understood mai II cost money 10 nuli4 Tal'
roads, and he wanted to know where it was ia
come from. The money appeared TO bother
the old man he had already subscribed about
one tenth of what he was worth, and still he
thought it was more money that was needed
Ii Chillsquaque could have stood at the old
fogy's elbow, and whispered into his ear thai
"to make the people FrIL an interest in the
! construction Of the road, was worth more Than
! the money subscribed" the old mans fears
would have subsided, because he had the evi'
| dence of deep feeling all around him, and II
| feeling could build Railroads, then was the
Spruce Creek road sure Of an early compile
tion. for there has been a vast deal OF feeling
! on the subject. II Chillisquaque. with dash
or two his reu can do what others by years
| OF patient toll have failed tn accomplish.
trust he NAV have free swing in the column;
I Of the Chronirie. notwithstanding his "finss a
the good people of Lewisburg.'
A LEwIsPuRGER.
/ yoR rHs Lkvrssrrc cHnoyTcLH.
! The Spruce Creek RAILROAD.
I Mr. DxAn CHRoxIcLE.-I will now proceed