Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1867-01-23
The gsidGie Creek Railroad.

The EGidGle Greek Railroad.
The excitement attending the recent
election Of officers Of this company hay
ing passed away, it now becomes the du-
ty Of all to further its construction. We
do not purpose to inquire whether the old
board was right or Wrong-whether, &
some alleged, individual interests were
held paramount TO public beneft--or
whether Tom, Dick or Harry thus far
made anything out of it. The more inn
pOrtant questions are, Can the road be
made, and, if made, will it pay? To the
first we unhcsitatingly answer that itcan
provided our citizens generally and those
along the line viii combine in mutual ef-
forts to effect it. Its course is such that
no rival interest is at stake, nor is it in
pursuit Of phantom or of trade to be
acquired. On the contrary, it will open
Il wide extent of country 10 the convent
ences of coal rs fuel. both for household
and field purposes, and all experience has
thus far proved that where such facilities
were brought into existence, its consump-
ton has gradually increased until in ma
ny cases the supply has scarcely clualed
the demand. If to this be added the
wants of furnaces already in existence, OF
in process Of erection, considerable
amount of trade is ready at any moment
the road is capable OF transporting it.
Trade begets travel, and if those who
come over the road to sell coal will find
articles they stand in need Of, the Ike i
hood is they will purchase grain and a
hundred other matters and take them
home by the same mode Of conveyance.
One half of the country to be traversed
by this road has no market at hand by
which advantage can be taken Of enhan-
ced prices, except by wagon transporta-
ton over bad roads whenever the wealth
er is unfavorable, and vast quantities of
bark, timber lumber, shingles, firewood.
&c, will be brought within reach of sta
tions, which otherwise might remain USE
less and almost valueless for many wears.
Lands too would greatly increase in val
lie, not only on the line but for miles on
each side, and ut moderate estimate ey-
cry bushel Of grain, whether wheat, rye.
oats, corn, or buckwheat, would be worth
from five to ten cents Il bllshcl more than
now in consequence of the creation of
nearmarkets, ,Oreasily transported whereit
could he disposed Of to better advantage
than at present. No better illustration of
the changes effected in small matters hv
the construction OF railroads can he given
Ihan III the case of the PENNSYLVANIA
which has gradually drawn new articles
into the vortex of commerce until even
raspGerriea, blackberries and whortIeber
res, years ago mere drug In out Of the
way places gathered along its line of hun
dreds of miles can be disposed of at good
prices ut every leading station in any
quantity offered. There is then apparcnt-
Iy Indueement enough TO make il. because
its eastern and western terminus and
more than half, perhaps two-thirds Of
the intermediate country, is so much in
terested that he must be blind indeed who
cannot sec an ultimate benefit in its com
struction.
Will it pay? We will notundertazet to
say that the road will pay /, 6, S or 10 Der
cent. dividend from the start. because 60
much depends upon the amount that NAV
be subscribed, on unforeseen obstacles that
sometimes arise, upon divided counseIs
DC, that it is mere guessworl to venture
such an assertion; but there is nothing
unreasonable III saying that if the road
can be put under contract and constructed
at the engineers estimate, and stockhold-
erS furnish the means to pay for its con-
struction so as not 10 cucumber it with
the incubus Of a heavy debt, there is
every probability that it will pay some
thing from the day business is commenced
and once an established fact there.can he
little doubt Of its ultimate success, unless
gross and culpable emismanacementsb sbouId
characterize its controlling. power.