Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-03-13
rnr RAILWAY PROBLEM.

two weeks ago, on call i0r meetiuS oA
the citizens Of this county, to express their
sentiments in regard to a project for a
railway from a point on the Pittsburgh
and Connellsvigle railroad, at or near
Bridgeport in this county, to Bedford, has,
annarently, aroused considerable interest
in the various localities interested IN seeu-
ring the trade Of the Southwestern tier of
counties of Pennsylvania. 1t was supposed
bv those who who have watched the course
of those who appear to be master of the
situation, since the repeal Of the charter Of
the Pittsburgh aud Connellsyille railroad
company, that an effort on our part to Sc
cure an outlet, would cause shaking
amongst the dry bones of the Southern
Penn'a. and Connellsville railroad company.
We expect Philadelphia, through the Cen
trail, to rush to the rescue at Harrisburg to
defeat our application for charter. Phil
adslphia has already treated this section
meanly enough to drive every dollars ;
worth Of trade from her; and while we as
Pennsylvanians feel proud of Philadelphia,
net zee cannot, and WILL not, ajlotg her to
trqnsple on our interests any further. She
has quietly settled herself down over US,
through the Central, with charter known
as the Southern Pennsylvania and Con-
nelisyille, and hedged that charter about
With legislation, until she feels that she is
still master of the situation, as far as
through route is concerned. Against this
we most solemnly protest in the name of
the people Of the Southern tier Of counties
Of Pennsylvania, and we most earnestly
ask the Legislature to appoint committee
to investigate this imposition.
Mr.. William Hartley, at the late rail
road mass meeting in this place. introduced
the following preamble, resolution and
justification thereof In reference to this
matter, and which met the universal appro-
bation of the meeting, but was Withdrawn
because it was not relevant TO the object for
which the meeting was called:
WHEREAS. From the actions Of the Con-
nellsgille and Southern Pennsylvania Rail
road Company we have good reasons to be-
iieye that the charter of said company was
obtained, not for the purpose of building q
y
built Therefore,
Reso7ped, That the members Of our legis-
lature, particularly those directly interested
in the prosperity of the Southern counties of
Pennsylvania, be requested TO demand from
the ConnellsYille and Southern Pennsylvania
Railroad Company, statement as to what
measures have been used by said Company
to obtain subscriptions of money for the
building of the proposed road. And further,
Fr aofI IN nrE
in good faith Immediately, all along the line
of the proposed road, or forfeit their charter
within the time specified in the General Rail-
road Law of Pennsylvania.
In justification of the foregoing resolution,
we the people of Bedford county declare,
that when the subscription books of said
company were opened, the management open
ed them, not in the great centres Of wealth
auu capital, pUt III tlI0 vttiagu or DeaIordi
that a gentleman representing the Pennsyl-
vauia Railroad Company, or certain parties
prominently connected with said company,
(which company did not desire road 10 be
built through the Southern part Of the State,
as the report of the President recently pub
lished ghOws,l subscribed FIVE millions and
one hundred thousand dollars Of the ten mil
lions Of capital stock of the Conuellsville and
Southern Pennsylvania Railroad Company,
thereby securing control of the concern.
And from that date to the present we allege
the people along the line of the proposed
road have not been solicited to subscribe mo-
ney towards building it. The few thousand
dollars expended so far on the line we believe
were only expended to hold the charter.
Believing that the people Of Southern
Pennsylvania should not be deprived of the
advantages Of a railroad to crafty the greed
Of an overgrown monopoly we hereby de-
maud Of the Legislature, by some means, to
relieve rs from the clutches of these men
who have no interest directly in the prOsperl-
ty of the Southern counties (only ia 80 far as
they may become tributary to the Pennsylva
uia Central Railroad) and t, this end we pray
that the charter Of the Connelsyille and
Southern Pennsylvania hailroad Company
may be revoked, unless said company give
good and sufficient assurance, that the road
will be built speedily. And further, that an
honest, fair and free Railroad Bill may be
passed.
We hope that not day will be lost and
that a Committee viii be appointed by the
House of Representatives which viii sift
this project to occupy the only unoccupied
route between the east and the west to the
bottom, and we feel confident that the char
ter will be forfeited. This charter must be
got out Of the way. a Free Railroad Law
would not relieve US. There are many pas
scs in our mountains where it is utterly i'm
possible to get through with more than one
road This is the case at the tunnel be-
tween this place and Mt. Dallas, where the
Southern Pennsylvania and ConnelIsville
Company keep up an occupancy Here
the necessary sixty feet are not to be had,
and it sEFik4a Us % tAat ptTb6ifrdREaF tbifr -aaaan
roads from running less than sixty feet from
each other, is dodge of the Central
We have been frequently asked how we
knew that the Central did not intend to build
this road We answer that we have care
fully read the last annual report of j. Edgar
Thompson, President of the Pennsylvania
Central, who speaks of the route of the
Philadelphia and Erie Railroad thus;
''This line and the Pennsylvania Railroad
occupy the only routes within this Common
wealth, upon which railway for through
business can be built, and yield a reasonable
return upon the capital that may be expen-
ded in its construction. Upon all other
routes, several additional mountain SUBMITS
will be encountered, besides the increased
cost hereafter of constructing such work. I"
Now when it is known that the chief ar
gument of the Central was that they wanted
through freight route, and that therefore
they must build a road on this route, it
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