The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1870-04-02
Our Rail Road Prospects.

await the action of the Governor. So far
as we are informed the bill has not yet been
signed, but is still in the hands of the Ex-
ecutive. But we cannot believe the Gov
ernor will attempt to thwart the wishes of
the people of the Commonwealth by an un.
warranted use Of the veto power; es-
pecially as that will has been so decidedly
expressed by both branches of the Legisa-
ture. Therefore we will take it for grated
that the bill will become law, and speak
of it as fixed fact.
Let us see what the nature Of the bill is.
1t simply provides the exchange of 50, ,500,-
600 now in the sinking fund of the Com
monwealth for like amount of bonds draw.
ing the same interest, executed by the
Roads proposed to be built, secured by
mortgage upon said Roads, and the interest
guaranteed by the Pennsylvania Central or
some other responsible Rail Road Company
until the said roads shall be entirely COM
PiStCu duu OpGuSu lOI bt Ca
chage Of bonds is to be as follows, to wit
With the Jersey shore, Pine Cheek and
Buffalo railway S6,000,000; with the
Pittsburg, Virginia and Charleston railway,
and the branch to Waynesburg in Greene
county 81 100000 with the Clearfcld and
Buffalo Railroad Company 81 100000 aud
with the Erie and Allegheny Railway Com
pany 100000. These various amounts
constitute the 9,500,000 which is composed
of S6,0O0,000 OF Pennsylvania Central Rail
Road 5pr. ct. Bonds, aud So 100000 Of AL
legheny Valley Rail Rod pr. ct Bonds
SO it is simply an exchange of bonds OF
railroads already in operation for bonds of
railroads to be constructed with absolute
guarantees for the completion of said roads
within three years and for the payment Of
the interest on said bonds until the said
roads shall be fully completed and opened
for traffic. The transaction eau be no det-
riment to the Commonwealth, but is an ac-
commodation like endorsing a good mans
note to benefit him at no cost to yourself.
Not only will it be no loss to the State,
but the operation will develope those por.
tions Of the State traversed by the several
railways, and in the language Of the act
itself "adding greatly to the taxable values
for the State, county and municipal purpo-
scs as we'll as to &" ly increarse the value
Of productions from those sectioLs OF the
Commonwealth for manufacturing, agri
cultural, and all other purposes" There
fore, as a matter Of public policy it is clear
ly wise aud just law, and to those local-
ties fortunate enough to be directly inter
estcd it is doubly So In this connexion it
may no. be out Of place to say that the cit
liens Of the entire district will rejoice to
know that our able Senator and Represcn-
tative Messrs. Wallace and Hall were both
found upon the right side. They not onlJ
voted for the bill, but were both active and
prominent in getting it through. Although
politically opposed to them, We can cheer
fully, as will their constituents generally,
regardless of party, award them great credit
far this act.
Now word as to our own interest
The Buffalo and Clearfeld Railway have
one million four hundred thousand
dollars. What is the Buffalo and Clearield
Railway? We quote from the act: "The
Clearfeld and Buffalo railway between
such point on the line of the Allegheny
Valley railroad extension in Clearfeld
county, or other pom in said county, and
at point of connection with the Buffalo
and Washington railway in the counties Of
Mexican by such rooute as may after care,
tu survey be finally adopted by the Clear
field and Buffalo Railway Company" 1t
Is moral certainty that in going from Clear
field county to Mexican county, the road
must pass through some portion of Elk
county. Therefore we say God speed the
work. 1t must benefit the county by devel
oping her untold natural wealth, whatever
route it may take. As citizens of Ridgway
We Of course prefer that our route, "dowr
Toby, up the Clarion past Ridgway, over to
and down Potatoe Creek" may be adopted
and we think il vii! be as it is clearly tn,
best route, as appears from actual survey
and nearly every inch of ground has beer
surveyed between Clearfeld and Smeth
port. Unless We can show our route to b
tae best, we may not expect the road here
But if we cannot have it "past Ridgway,
let it go past ST. Mary's, or any other piac
fortunate enough to be located on the lin
of the best route.
Knowing the liberality of our frien,