The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1874-04-09
THE WARREN RAILROAD.
It's History and Connections.
[From the BelviIere IN. J.) apollo. !

At meeting OF the stock holders of the
Warren Railroad Company, held at the
| office of the Secretary, j. G. Shipman
Esq in Belvidere, March 4, 1874, the fol
lowing named gentlemen were elected
directors for the ensuing year: Hon
John l. Blair, j. G. Shipman, S. Z.
Scranton, DR.. S. s. Clark, D. G. Blair,
all of New Jersey; and Samuel Sloan,
Moses Tayler, William E Dodge, and
John Brisbn, of New York city.
Subsequently, at meeting of the board
the following officers were elected Pres
ident, John |. Blair Vice President, Sam
nel Sloan Secretary, j. G. Shipman !;
Treasurer, G. E. Vail; Assistant Secreta,
ry, f. z. Chambers; Assistant Treasurer,
A j. Odell.
After the business was finished the di
rectors partook of sumptuous dinner,
provided by Mrs. j. G. Shipman.
To the writer, spectator of the scene,
the occasion was a memorable one, it be
ing the twenty first anniversary of the
organization of the company, and the
road consequently attaining it's majority on
that day. That day also closed the TWEEN.
ty first year of Mr.. Blair's presidency. 1t
1t not strange, therefore, that many Of
the events connected with the
ORGANIZATION OF THE ROAD,
which, for shrewdness of conception, and
rapdity and success in execution, surpass.
ed perhaps those of any other ever organ
lied in this state, should have been recall
ed. Books of subscription were opened by
the commissioners the requisite amount
of stock subscribed for /; directors aud of
ticers chosen ; the survey of the route
adopted, and the President instructed to
file it in the office Of the Secretary Of
State; full power delegated to the Presi
dent to construct the road and to make
contracts or leases for connecting with
other roads, and the right of way through
important gaps secared-all within the
space Of two hours oD that erentful day
The next day but one, Mr.. Blair, arrived
Ia Trenton by the train passing through
Newark at s o'clock A. NJ, and filed his
survey about one hour in advance of the
agents of the Morris & Essex road, who
came by the Q o'clock, A NJ, train from
Newark. The succeeding day saw him
on the Delaware securing the passes.
One day later came to the same place, sev
eral engineers and agents of the Morris &
Essex Company on the same errand
The former had already secured all the
passes below the Water Gap The latter
struck for those in and above the gap on
the New Jersey side, and paid exorbitant
prices for farms, right of way, and two,
supposed to be essential, river crossings
In this they thought they had circum
vented the Warren road but their viei
liant competitor caused the Delaware. Lack,
awanna & Western Railroad to be con
structed through the gap on the Penn
sylvania side, and crossing the river sew
eral miles below cut them off with their
high priced passes aud crossings on THAR
hands. This was followed by an injuuc.
ton against
THE WARREN ROAD
OF account of alleged frauds in organic
ing, filing survey occupying grounds and
other points. The Chancellor having de
cided all 10 favor Of the Warren road, the
case was carried up to the Court of Er
rOrs, where his decision was unanimously
affirmed.
The next contest was in the legislature
Of New Jersey. The Warren road, desir
ing to made slight change of line to re
duce the grade, thereby lengthening the
Van Ness Gap tunnel, the Morris &
Essex as usual opposed, and on the first
attempt defeated the effort Hon VIM
Wright, then president of the latter com
paDy, and a member of the United States
Senate, left his seat in Washington aud
attended the legislature during nearly the
entire session, with all the lobby force
at his command. The next winter.
however, the bill passed the house
against the same opposition, nearly
unanimously. This bill, trifiug as it
was in itsell, was one of the most severely
measures that ever passed the
legislature. 1t was the last of long
series Of contests of various kinds between
these rival organizations, and il was no
doubt source of ehagrin to the Morris
& Essex people, many of whom were in
huentlal politicians, that they should be
beaten all the way through by compare
lively single handed opponent. 1t was
d dBu Dedtu Uy
counsel before the House-Asa Whitehead
and Judge Whelply appearing for the
Morris & Essex, j q. Shipman and L T
for the Warren Company
RETROSPECTIVE.
How suggestive is the review of these
twenty one years. Senator Wright, both
Of his counsel, and nearly all of the direct
ers and active men of his company, of
that day have passed away. On the part
Of the Warren road, the commissioners
and nearly all who took an active part 10
the organization are dead. The excep
tious and Mr.. Blair, his brother James,
now of Scranton, Pa, j. G. Shipnan, Col.
Chas. Scranton, aud John w. Wyckof,
Treasurer. The Warren road and its
associate in interest, the Delaware,
1 nE. Wastarn Ro,lroal ,o~r