Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1866-11-17
The Middle Creek Rail Road.

| Esq, Solicitor Joseph Alexander, Esq.
The Directors are Joseph Alexander,
Thomas B.. Reese, Henry Zerbe, VIM. II.
Weber, L. L. Benedict, John A. Mckee, John
| Hayes, Jr., Moses Specht, Aaron X. Gift,
John s. Smith, George Schnure and John ID.
Romig.
The Chief Engineer, F. G. Arms, Esq, q
gentleman of great experiences and high re-
putation for ability and integrity, is now
surveying an experimental line, having COM
menced at Lewistown on Tuesday, the 10th
inst. ,~r ,.. g1rg .~fy.
The main object to be attained by build
ing this Railroad, is cheap and direct route
of traffic and travel between the Valleys OF
the Susquehanna and the Junata ana tneir
tributaries. At present no direct communi-
cation exists between these rich ana poPu-
lous valleys east of Tyrone, except by country
roads well nigh impossible in the carry
spring and late autumn, and thus the imports
and exports of the intermediate region are
burdened by wretched system of transpor-
tation abandoned almost everywhere else In
Pennsylvania. These two great valleys are
necessary to each other; the Susquehanna
abounds in lumber of the finest quality, and
in anthracite ard anthracitous Goals, but is
deficient in iron ores, except the fossiiferous
variety, and the unreliable carbonates of the
coal measures. The Juniata is sparsely tim
bered, but is exceedingly rich in fossliierous
iron ore in the peroxide ofiron or hematite,
and heavy seams of the proto-carbonate OF
iron, ranging from three to fifteen feet in
width Rogers' Geo. Rep't for 1S40)
The recent perfect success of the Glamor-
gan Furnace at Lewistown, in yielding, from
combination of these three ores, fused with
Anthracite and hot blast, metal fully equal
10 Scotch pig metal, demonstrates to every
thoughtful mind that cheap coal is neccs-
sity for the Junata, and cheap hematite iron
ore for the Susquehanna, and that each of
these noble valleys will be the seat of vast
iron manufactures.
1t being clear that an interchange Of COM
modities will benefit the people of both
valleys and .he region lying between them,
we next inquire, can q direct practicable
Railroad Line be located from valley to val
ley2 answer, that one Of the re,y best lines in
Pennsylvania can thus be located: From Lew
istown on the Juniata, to Selinsgrove on the
Susquehanna, AZ miles, there is not one
/, serious natural obstacle; for drectness, light
grade, easy curvature, cheap cross-ties and
8 ballast, it is remarkably fine line. The
maximum grade will not exceed so feet to
the mile, and this for but short distance;
r the general grade will be from 20 to 25 feet
to the mile. The middle route passes N.
: east from Lewistown, crossing Jacks Creek
at Lilley's Mill by single span bridge about
two miles thence with q gentle curve it
i passes through a break in the ridges into
e the valley of Middle Creek, and descends
y this, with very light grade to the Susque-
hanna. The North and South Lines along
the hanks of Jacks and Shade Mountains
are very fine, but they are longer than the
Middle route, and they leave the main body
e of cultivated land on one side of the line
!. while the Middle route has rich agricultural
:, and grazing lands on either side for the
greater part of its length. Reaching the
c Susquehanna we find a serious OBSTACLES
e wide river-but l learn from very good
q authority that the people around the East
ern terminus of the road will subscribe
. heavily to bridge on the Susquehanra if il
d is both Railroad and Toll bridge for ordi
l. nary travel. Two hundred thousand dollar!
It will build such bridge; we must remembe
that II we grade the roadbed the Construc
=, tion Bonds of the Company will then com
II mand ready market, so that with heav,
d local subscription, and an issue of reason
n able amount OF such Bonds we can build thi.
bridge without difficulty. The bed of tn,
river is very firm, building stone are cheaI
!. and good, and AL the lumber required car
b be foated to the site of the bridge. One,
!. across the river we are in immediate connec
J, tion with the system Of Railroads that radiat,
u from the anthracite coal fields, and on the
'' highway to Philadelphia and New York
Is But it may be urged that the people of Sun
a bury and Selinsgrove and their vicinity will
;. not subscribe largely TO the stock of thi
Company. Such suggestion is very poo
compliment to the intelligence, energy ant
wealth of the people of that district. The
Il certainly understand their best interests ant
1t feel them to be identified with the buidin,
E. of this Railroad; but if most unfortunately
\. they should not aid US, we must enlist friend
elsewhere by building our Road up the Sus
~ quehanna to the Northumberland bridge
Il the abutments end piers of which are admi
g rable and designed for double track bridge
)f A new superstructure is oil we will requir
=, to carry us into Northumberland and con
meet us direct with the Lackawana an,
ie Bloomsbury railroad.
Is But will this railroad be paying invest
Ill ment We have seen that the line is yer
ne fine and its construction must, with prope
management, be very cheap.
- And this introduces the question of tb
&c cost of working the road; although it is
te premature inquiry, yet it is well to NEE
t. every objection which is honestly made.
at railroad with light grade, and easy curvature
y, and with cheap ties and ballast, can alway
o. be cheaply worked. The wear and tear
T. machinery and rails is light, and the repai
a. OF the road bed is cheap. Where grades ar
N heavy, curves sharp, timber and ballast deal
the working of a railroad is very expensive
the strain on the machinery is very great, tn
Is stroke of the wheels is severe both on tn
of wheels themselves and on the rails, and in
cessant repairs to the road bed are necessar,
Is But even such railroads pay aohen eeH mar
n aged; how much more then when SO cheapl
be worked as will be the N. c. r. r.
n. CHEAP COAL is an absolute necessity fc
he this region, both for domestic use and fc
manufactures. We pay now $3.50 per to-
u of 1000 lbs. for coal for domestic use an
'k $500 for furnace use. Reduce these respet
n lively to $500 and $4.00, and how powe
he fully will the consumption be stimulated
~ AH our coal ssiU reach Us by tie Middle Gre.
>, Railroad; si1ty miles Of transportation ui
! thus De saoed; in one year after its completiC
he the price Of coal niU be reduced trenty Rre p.
les cent the traffic in coal alone will yield
good revenue to the Road. The Broad To
railroad transports very little else exceI
m. coal and that of but one rariety, and in on
,;s direction, yet its bonds are above par. w
must remember that the Middle Creek Raj