Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1870-03-18
Beotao gnqunin.
THE RAILROAD AND IRON INTER
EsTs OF BEDFORD COUNTY.

THE NMAAGMhNAD fA4ND AhAD+N - y t-~~N
EsTs OF BEDFORD COUNTY.
The building Of railroads, al this day,
pecessar;ig precedes the establishment Of
furnaces, rolling mills, &c. No irou pro-
duciug district, however great its other ad-
vantages, eau be developed without rail
roads. While possessing ali other advan
tagos, beyond almost any other portion Of
the State, Bedford County has been Jude
ysloped for years, because she has not had
railroads. For want Of railroads, even her
rast deposits Of the most valuable ores have
been almost unknown. The building Of the
Broadtop railroad, and the erection of the
Kemblo furnace at Riddlesburg, within
the past two years, have not only demon
strated the yalne Of her ores and coal, bat
have also demonstrated the fact that iron
can be manufactured in Bedford County
far more eheaply than in any ether portion
ofthe state. In fact it has shown that while
10 some portions of the state, (which hereto
fore it was supposed possessed great advap-
tages for the manufacture of iron, it is i'm
possible at present to make any profit in
the manufacture Of iron, the Kemble fur
asce has been paying handsome profits
We are ereditly informed by an intelligent
iron manufacturer that iron is now produced
by this furnace. at about ten dollars per ton
cheaper than almost anywhere else in the
state. The vast advantages possessed by US
being thus demonstrated, It becomes at once
evident that railroad facilities alone are
wanting to make our county one Of the most
profitable iron manufacturing districts of The
State The inquiry then arises, what rail
roads are needed? We have now railroad
from Huntingdon, on the Pennsylvania Cen
traI railroad, to Mt. Dallas, point on the
Chambsrsbnrg aud Bedford Turnpike, six
and half miles east Of Bedford This road
Is "A mile. in length, and leaves break of
tweaty-six miles between Mt Dallas, its
terminus, and Bridgeport, a point on the
Pittsburgh and Connellsville railroad, four
teen miles north west of Cumberland Tm
mediately around Bedford are vast deposits
of the most valuable iron ores and limestone,
and facilities are afforded for manufacturing
iron even cheaper than at RiddIesburg. Six
and half miles Of road from Mt Dallas
viii reach this point and develop these ores.
This can be built for sum ranging from
$4,000 to $50, 900 But further link is
needed to Bridgeport Of 20miles. which viii
cost perhaps from $500, 900 to $3.50, 900.
The advantages Of this location viii be great.
ly increased by this road 1t viii bring US
within ! 55 miles Of Pittsburgh, where our
iron 6nis market, al advantage Of 46l
miles over the route by the Huntingdon and
Broadtop and PENNSYLVANIA Central, making
saving Of from s to 50 per ton in freights.
In addition to this it brings US as near to
The Cumberland and Somerset coal fields as
to those of Broadtop, and gives a choice Of
coal. The completion of this portion of the
road would also develop additional valuable
- gF v,e aiUug q. considerable puttIun OF
its line. It would also afford nearer and
more direct route to Pittsburgh for the iron
from the Biddleshurg aud other furnaces in
that vicinity, besides givips them a choice
of routes. It being therefore settled that
these % miles Of road are Necessary to the
proper Development Of our iron interest,
let US inquire who are the interested parties
from whom We may expect aid in the work.
In the first place our own citizens are vital
ly interested and must contribute their share
toward the wc.k next comes the Kemble
Coal and Iron Company, who have leased
a large quantity Of ore lands in this neigh
oorhood aud who have already siguifed
their willingness to give the most liberal aid,
and after them the other parties owning ore
lands or leases. The railroads interested
are the Pennsylvania Central, the Hunting
don and Bfoadtop the Piusburg and Con
nellsville and the Baltimore and Ohio. The
first three named would all be largely bene
fitted By the development of the ircn manu-
iaciure here and the Increased traffic on
their roads, aud have all signifed their vii
Hngness to assist in the construction of our
road. Such is the status Of our railroad
and iron interests at the present time Ar
rangements have been made by the Hunting
don and Broadtop Railroad Company for
the survey, location and estimates Of the SIX
and half miles from Mt. Dallas to Bedford
as soon as the weather will permit In the
meantime an organization should be effect.
ed upon the extended charter Of the Bed
ford and Bridgeport railroad, all interested
parties should be promptly seen, their sub
s1Tlptions secured, and every preparation
made for beginning work upon the road at
the earliest possible moment.
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GREAT CRY AND LITTLE wool.