The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-08-15
Pennsylvania & Erie Railway.
lCONTINuED.1

and the Brandy Camp r.. r., and the
agreement of consolidation was filed
July goth, 1876.
The officers of the company, elected
last spring, for the ensuing year, are
as follows:
President-Col. II. w. Stebbins.
Secretary-C. H. Dewing.
Treasurer-A. Mckinney.
Construction Committee-Col. e. S.
Bowen, Hon. G. n. Farley, ,sLeverett
Saltonstall.:.
Directors - L. Saltonstall, e. S.
Bowen, e. M. Clymer, A. r.. Macdon-
ough, G. r. Farley, A. Mckinney,
The Buffalo, Bradford and Pitts
burgh r.. r., chartered in 1859 was
finished in 1866 from Carrolton on
the Erie Railway to Gilesville in
Mexican county, Pennsylvania, dis
tance of 26l miles-gague of road six
feet; weight of rail from Carrollton
to Bradford IS lbs, from Bradford to
Gilesville 81 lbs. The Company also
graded a branch to the west of their
main line some six or eight miles in
length, but never laid the track upon
it. The total cost of the road is re-
ported as being $780, 900 which
some equipment, the cost of certain
lands, interest on bonds and Sl.000,-
900 capital stock. In January 1856 the
road was leased to the Erie Railway
Company for term of 499 years at an
animal rental of $4,000, the lessees
guaranteeing the interest on the
bonded debt of $5s9,OOO bearing seven
per cent. interest and maturing Jan.
l, 1896.
The Elk and Mexican r. r. Co.,
afterwards KNOWN as the Pittsburgh,
Buffalo and Rochester r. r. was char
tered in 1871 when Jno. G. Hall, Esq,
was our Representative, and has ex-
pended large amount of money in
making surveys of the different routes.
The Brandy Camp R. r. Co. was
chartered in 1872 through the instru-
mentality of our present Representa-
tive DIR. G. R. Farley, and is an i'm
portant factor in the consolidated
company.
The Buffalo, Bradford & Pittsburgh
r. R. was built forthe express purpose
of reaching the bituminous coal fields
at the nearest point. Daniel Kings
bury, well known as the owner of a
large body of land in this county, also
owned great deal of land in Mexican
county; he was one of the directors of
the road and assisted largely in its con-
struction. But the hopes of the pro-
moters Of the enterprise were not
realized owing TO the meager and pre-
carious supply of coal found in Nc
Kean county; and, as early as 1869
steps were taken toward extending the
road into the fourth coal basin. With
this object in view line was run and
the ground was thoroughly examined
to the summit, near st. Mary's, but
nothing further was done by this
Company until after this consolidation
above referred to. The route ulti-
matcly decided upon, passing. through
Wilcox and Ridgway, leaving that
part Of Che road already built, and run
ming down Three-niile Run, crosses
the Kinzua, and then follows the ridge
in southeasterly direction around the
heads of Marvin Creek to the head
waters of the West Clarion. After en-
tering Elk county the line passes
through tile following warrants: In
Jones township, Nos. 2673, 9l43, $40,
BIZ, (Wilcox), Bill, 3O44, 3257. In
Ridgway Township, $3.50, 9285, (Wil-
marth), 1850, 1851, 1852, 1860, 1859, 1868,
1868, Ridgway), 1867, 1869, W. d. Ken
nedy, VIM. Kennedy, 1875, 1885, 1884.
In Spring Creek Township, 5795, 5794,
297l, 1868. In Snyder Township, JEFF
ferson county, 1868, 291S, 58O4, 5793,
1885, 1896, $50, Brockwayville), 81, 35,
329, 1897, 1898, 4399, ISL, 20, 10, 1884
In Horton Township, Elk county,
1912, 1912, 400, 9e4, 555, 2O6, 1896. In
Fox Township, 4244, 1915, 1902, 4O91,
40S3, 1904, 1880. Also, two warrants
in Clearfield county, besides some
small unnumbered warrants in JEFF
ferson and Elk counties. But the ex-
tent of country tributary to this road
is not limited to the warrants through
which it runs, and would be more
nearly arrived at by taking the entire
townships through or near which it
passes. Elk county was organized
April IS, 1S43, from parts of Jefferson,
Clearfield and Mexican counties. The
in 1850 was 1851, in 1860 it
was 5,9l5, in 1870 it was SASS. At the
same rate of increase we should now
10673; and in 1880 the popula-
ton should be about ,237. The total
of taxables in the county as
ascertained from an examination of
tax lists is 2,7O0. The total area of the
county is as follows:
Assessed as unseated, 4O5, ,8O4 acres.
" seated, 1853 Z"
Total unseated & seated 51S, 1867 /"
The total number of taxables in the
six townships which are most inter-
ested in the Construction of the road, |
and which would contribute directly
and most largely in its support, is
1882, or more than Sc per cent. of the |
whole county, and the area of these |