New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-01-18
FBOMNORTH-WESTERN PENNSYLVANIf


interesting 70 mary readers OF HE IRBuNE-s
paper which has attained larger circulation in
North. western PENNEY kaaa thsn any other Journal
either local or metropolitan. Erie WAS famous
(uotoriou,, if YOU pesse) in tunes past for its eel'
cose-not TO say swless-stttude TO ward the Lhe
shore Railroads. For the past two years, how
ever. il has msintaired a eommenisble quietude,
and committed no overt segressious upon the rights
of corpoTations. " No war nor battle sound has
disturbed the peace OF podding law abiding citizens,
ar anuoysd and disconnected the weary traveller
hound eastward or westward on the great thorough
fare which stretches slopg the southern shore OF
lake Erie. After the storm came the CALM
neacefulness. pepiterce, repentance, have come 10
many who were formerly fierce for fight, and IN
stead of open advocates of ourages upon the trav-
cling publ, and corporations. We now ind either
timid apologsts for past ofeSses, OF outspoAen
deprccation of the deeds of violence which rem
dered the city by.word aud reproach throughout
the land.
Tradition SAWS that, centuries ago, this region
was inhabited by fierce and warlike tribe Of In
dams. the Irrironons, or Fries (hence the naRe
Etie) and that these aboIigines were terror 10
surrounding nations, on account OF their gigantic
stature and great power. Perhaps the feroclty
which distinguished them is Indigenous 10 the To-
cality. and NAV have been inherited by the white
And perhaps this may account for the fe'ocious
and nexcusabe conduct of that portion OF the pop
ulition which was So rampant IN the noted " Kali
/ road war" Let US accept this AS the only rational
theory for series of disgraeetul riots, winch
proved most disastrous to the commerclal interests
and good name of the city.
The greatest drawback To the growth and pros
perty of the place has been the blind policy of real
| estate owners. Owing 10 the mutual advantages
of the location and the prospect OF the COM
petion of important railroad projects, property:
/ holders have clung To their lands with wonderful
! tenacty hoping to be enriched by the enterprise
of Others. They have withheld aid from public
| improvements, and nursed the delusve idea that
/ capitalists from abroad must complete these works
for the benefit of the commerce ot the country, and
have not needed the truthful maxim that Heaven
helps those who help themselves" I'VE have
the best harbor on the akes-we have magnih-
cent site for city" say they; and some day or
other commerce will be forced to this point
And SO they have sat still, and mutually adj
mired the harbor and the fine lands, and have
been perfectly innocent of the enterprise and ener-
ey which builds great cities and establishes manu-
factories and parakes OF the go-ahesd spirit OF tho
age. Everybody has been waiting for the SuDbury
and Erie Railroad to bring wealth upon its cars and
Law il at their doors. The natural consequence Of
all this has been to prevent enterprisiDg men from
locating in the place, and capitalists have passed
by and invested their means in places where the
people are wide-awake to their real interests.
But despite the lethargy which prevails among
us, there are symptoms of an era of speculation
aud improvement. The prospect of the speedy
completion of the Sunbury and Erie and the Erie
and Pittsburgh Railroads has attracted the attention
of capitalists to this place desirable point at
which to make investments. Within the past week
a large amount of real estate has changed hands
lands which have hitherto remained unmproyed
ard comparatively unProG,aO have been bought
b. n.rn OF wealth and enterprise, who design maxi
/ ing improvements. One lot of thirty acres in tho
outskirts of the city was purchased by Philadel-
phin capitsst on very fair terms. The same party
is negotiating for the purchase OF two or three Other
eyse tracts IN and adoin;1g the city. The r.'"es
asked for land range from $500 to 81 900 per acre.
Most land owners hold their lots high that those
who wish to purchase are prevented, because they
cannot afford to make the necessary improvements
at such prices.
A gentleman from PhadephI is here trying to
purchase large tract of lard on which to erect
cheap tenemeDts for mechanics and working men;
neat and eommodious houses which can be pur-
chased at low prices the payments not TO be hca-
yier than ordinary rents on the same kind OF dwell
ngs. Hewill in all probability conclude Pur.
/ chase in few days.
/ The Sunbury aud Erie Railroad, which is to
/ connect Erie with Philadelphia, is progressing
with all possible expedition. 1t is confidently an
]
great road will be in running order in less than two
years The appropriation last winter ofs7, 600 900,
| the proceeds Of the sales Of the then remaining
portion Of the Public Works, renders the compile
lion of the work certain, and relieves il Of oil de-
| lays and endorsements incident to hard times.
| The iron will be put down next spring some
thirty miles of the road al the Erie end, soon A.
! the state of the ground viii admit. This portion
| will IL placed III running order in the course Of tho
! season.
The Erie and Pittsburgh Railroad, which is 10
form the shortest connection between Lake Erlo
| and the Ohio River, is progressing finely. Over
40 miles graded ready for the track, and the
iron has been put down ten miles Of the northern
end of the road. This road is being built mainly
BY the Buffalo and Erie Railroad Company. During
the coming Summer 1t il contemplated to put tho
road in running order as far as the coal fields oi
Mercer County, near West GreenyiLe IL will
form the shortest and best route between the vast
coal fields OF Pennsylvania and Buffalo, and at the
same time open up railroad communication with
the Conneaut and Chensngo Valleys, the most
beautiful section of country in the State. The
trade 10 coal, lumber, slaves the products Of the
farm and dairy, In this region is very heavy and
must be profitable to the only railroad thorough
fare which passes in sOuhery direction IN West
/ ern Pennsylvania.
A bill is now before the Legislature to extend
the time for the completion OF the Erie City Rail
road 10 1868. This contemplated road il should
be borne in mind, is to connect the New-York and
Erie Railroad with Lake Erie and the West by a
shorter route, dyergiDg from the present main line
nj Little Valley y. T., and striking the lake at
this point. The advantages Of such a road TO tho
New York and Erie cannot be too highly estimated,
and ought 10 have secured its completion years
....fa \ Al