Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1883-03-07
Pittsburgh and Western and
Pennsylvania Railroads
Make an Important
Contract.

A contract, says the Pittsburgh
! Commercial Gazeite, that will prove OF
more than usual advantage to the city
and to the business community of the
country at large has been made between
| the PENNSYLVANIA Railroad Company
and the Pittsburgh and Western Rail
road Company. The Pittsburgh and
Western to get into Allegheny City
! was compelled to cross four tracks OF
/ the West Penn at Pine Creek, and to
make the difficulty greater the Penn
svlyania has made extensive purchases
of land at this point. The Western
had an agreement for third ra'l on
the West Penn tracks which enabled
it to brig the narrow gauge cars into
the city, but this did not permit of run
ming standard gauge cars, and there was
danger of the Pittsburgh aid Western
getting to the city's door aud then
standing there knocking vainly for ad-
mittance. 1t was possible to cross at
grade, but Only by fight that meant
long and vexatious delay.
| On the other hand, the Western was
in position to grant favor to tbe
Pennsylvania, and after several consul
tations an amicable agreement was
effected. Under this agreement the
! Pittsburgh and Western gets the use
| of the West Penn tracks from Pine
Creek to a point near Willow Grove,
where it takes it's own tracks. 1t Will
have free use of the tracks and will pay
q simulated sum as an annual rental
and proportionate share of the ex-
pense of keeping the track from Pine
Creek to Willow Grove in repair, this
10 be calculated on the wheelage. If
the Pittsburgh and Western shall at
any time desire to construct Its own
tracks the Pennsylvania will run its
line nearer the hill, and if the Pennsyl-
vania shall desire the Western to build
| its own road it will give thirty months
notice to this effect and move the West
Penn tracks to make room for the new
line. In return for this the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company obtains the
use of the Pittsburgh and Western
tracks from point in the lower part Of
Allegheny, where competitions can be
made, to Pine Greek, for both pa5sen-
gers and freight traffic. The Pennsyl-
vauia will pay certain tonnage, even
the empty cars being taxed.
The advantages to be gained are
manifest at glance The Pittsburgh
and Western avoids long litigation
and will only pay for the use OF the
West Penn tracks an amount that viii
not equal the interest on the money re-
quired TO build similar stretch CT
road. The Pennsylvania does away
with the hauling of freight cars through
the Allegheny parks, avoiding the
heavy grades ard doing away with the
complaints Of the people, as lii the
fu ure only passenger trains will be
taken along the old line. In Pitts
burgh ne dangers of the crossing at
Liberty and Eleventh streets will be
decreased. as there will be no freight
trains to cross al this point. BY means
of the Junction bridge all local traihc
from the Panhandle and Baltimore and
Ohio, including the heavy coke and
coal Hduiiug, VIII NC tahci w hi'0 hShy
end the overcrowded yard between the
Union Depot and Thirty-third street
will be releaved. But the greatest
saving of money will lie in the through
freight. The West Penn Railroad has
been oyerhauled and is now low grade
road All through freight for the East
qrd Yves. will leave the main line of
the Pennsylvania at the West penn
junction, and will be taken through
Allegheny on the Pittsburgh AID West
ern tracks. The cost of running trains
over the low grades of the West Penn
will be much less than over the heavy
hills on the main line, and in addition
to this the tolls on the Ft. Wayne
Railroad bridge over the Allegheny
will be saved. The Ft. Wayne bridge
is owned by a private corporation, and
every car taken over it pays toll. an
item that assumes large proportions in
years. time The contract goes into
effect at once and the result will show
Immediately.