The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-08-15
RArLRo,pNrws

RAILROAD NEWS
During the past ten days number OF
prominent contractors from Philadelphia,
New York, Pittsburgh, and other places
have been in Somerset, and along the line
of the Harrisburg & Western road. The
common understanding seems TO be that
the contracts viii be let the latter part of
this month or early in September. A re-
porter of the Philadelphia Press attempted
to interview Mr. Vanderbilt at Saratoga.
He stated that he was out of business, and
that his railroad interests were in the hands
of trusty managers and referred the reporter
to Mr.. Depew, who was present, for the in
formation wanted. Among other things Mr..
Depew was asked:
What do YOU think of the outlook for
the railroads and, particularly, Vanderbilt
properties ?"
And TO this question he made the follow
ing reply:
+" 1t is first-class. We are constantly at
work upon our different railroads, making
improvements to track and rolling stock,
and pushing extensions that cannot but add
largely TO our revenue. In the Western
part of Pennsylvania Mr.. Vanderbilt's en-
terprises are pushing vigorously into the
Connellsville and Clearfield coal regions
and when his system of coal roads there,
embracing nearly 400 miles, is completed,
we viii be able to feed both the Lake Shore
and New York Central from the richest
coal and coke region in the United States.
These branch roads will add largely to our
business and will put us in possession of
tie most valuable kind of traffic. One of
these roads, the Youghiogheny, runs direct
from Pittsburgh to the Connellsville coal
district. 1t connects with the Pittsburgh
& Lake Erie, one of our roads, and then
continues North TO Ashtabula, where it
connects with the Lake Shore. While the
Pine Creek road which we are building, and
which connects the Reading system and the
New York Central roads, will bring to the
latter an enormous amount of business.
The South Pennsylvania, another new line
which Mr.. Vanderbilt projected is in process
Of construction south from Harrisburg 10
Pittsburgh II connects with the Pittsburgh
road and this gives the iron interests direct
outlet over the Lake Shore. What is known
as the Vanderbilt system, when completed,
will be the greatest system in the world,
and will reach the most productive agricul-
tural, manufacturing and commercial terri
tory in this country. 1t now consists of the
New York Central and Hudson River Rail-
road, 459 miles, Lake Shore $50 miles,
double track, Canada Southern d Michigan
Central $50 miles, double track, Northwest
ern 450, Nickelplate 300 miles, or a full
{, 900 miles of double and quadruple track,
not to speak Of thousands of miles of side
tracks, etc. In addition TO his large inter-
est in each one of these roads, Mr.. Wander
bilt has blocks of Rock Island and Burling
ton stocks" said Mr. Depew.
Always on the boom. We mean the five
and ten-cent counters at Cook q Beerits' are
constantly getting something new, and al
WAYS have a full stock of these highly popu
lar. extremely useful, and remarkably cheap
goods Look over the counters and take
your choice for five or ten cents. Four
years trade has indelibly stamped success on
this enterprise. If you come to town and
don't drop in and look over these counters
You have lost money, and your trip is fail
ure. Always extraordinary bargains. The
biggest thing We are running now is our
hye-cent glassware. An extra large stock
just received for Camp-meeting and Court
week trade.