Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1883-08-22
THE S. & A. RAILROAD.

e y
The Greenville Adance argus OF the
18th inst, gives the following concern
;no the extension of the Shenango q
Allegheny railroad to this place. one
of the editors, Mr.. Davenney, accom-
panied the first excursion party here
and in the Advance argus gives de-
tailed account of his trip. We make
the following extracts
GREENvILLE TO BUTLER.
Distance is probably the greatest
barrier to social and commercial inter
course, and nothing so nearly annlhil-
ates it, breaks down the barrier it con-
stitutes and opens up friendly and
proftable relations between remote
points as does the railroad. And what
is true of one road in this particular Is
true of all, and vice versa. Since the
extension of S. & A. r. K. to Butler
was projected, little more than a year
ago. and the work of building 1t COM
menced, its progress has been watched
with increasing interest, not only by
those the value of whose lands are In
creased by their proximity to it, but
more especially by the citizens OF the
termini, who may now, since its COM
pletion, more easily meet and engage
in hithe ITO impossible business pro-
jects. ~.
The S. & A., when it was built
about fourteen years ago, sought only
to afford transportation, by which the
coal fields of the southeastern corner OF
this county and a portion OF Butler
might be developed. In 1877 the road
was extended from Harrisville to Hill
lard by which it secured, and for sew
eral years, retained trade in the
transportation of oil from that point to
Shenango, which, while it lasted, was
a bonanza. The construction OF a
pipe line to Cleveland ended this trade,
but the extended development OF coal
mines along the line still afforded the
road profitable business. Two years
since a demand for more convenient
accommodation af the passenger travel
and growing freight business between
this point and the numerous stations
along the line prompted the company
to extend the road from Shenango to
Greenville, and the further increase OF
business here has shown the wisdom
of the company in making this place
the terminus. No sooner had the pro-
priety of extending the road to Butler
been considered, and its advisability
decided upon, than survey was made
and work commenced. A point one
mile below the junction, on the Coal
town branch, had been selected at
which to begin operations. The work
of grading was pushed vigorously for
ward, and, aside from slight detention
on account of the wet weather of the
present season, reasonable headway
was accomplished The track layers
followed, and as they neared the new
terminus, some dexterous work was
done, and on Thursday of last week
the final rail was laid, and the ringing
of bells and blowing of whistles an
nounced the completion Of the s. q A.
extension to Butler.
The Butler extension is no longer
prospective, but fact, and a shorter
route has been opened to the east. The
distance from Greenville to Pbiladel-
phia, by the way of Pittsburgh and the
Pennsylvania r. r., is 437 miles, and
by the wav of the S. Il A. and West
Penn to Blairsville intersection, and
thence by the Pennsylvania, the dis
tance is but 416la miles, or saving OF
2O1 miles. The same saving is also
made between this point and New
York by this new route, and as COM
pared with the N. Y, P. & O., the dis
tance is "a miles less than by that
route. This is an advantage which
business men in this section OF the
country will not fail to appreciate, and
a largely increased passenger traffic can
not but be the result. And further
than this the S. & A. will undoubtedly
draw largely upon the coke traffic, and
in the event of blockade in Pitts
burgh, will prove valuable outlet to
that important trade. With the pros
poets cited, and the business bound to
accrue from the development of the
coal fields which lie along the line, the
future of the Shenango q Allegheny
is certainly bright.
Butler is built upon an eminence,
and the slopes leading up from the
valley on three sides. On every side
it is begirt by hills 1t claims popu.
lation of 5000. and doubtless has that
many. Its dispensatory of law and
justice, the Court House, fit model OF
ancient architecture, stands upon the
highest ground within the borough,
and is surrounded by Offices of a score
or more of Buffers legal lights. The
Union School building is creditably
large three story brick, centrally locat-
ed, and surrounded by an atmosphere
which should be moral, for all around
it church spires point heavenward
Five hotels divide the patronage Of
Buffers visitors, and two banks have
long been deemed sufficient to care fol
her monetary matters The size, mum.
Der and appearance of her business
houses would indicate a reasonable
amount of business and fair degree
of business enterprise, and yet young
cyclone possessed of sufficient vigor to
remove dozen antiquated buildings
from the vicinity of the Court House,
would be a stroke of enterprise for
which the people should petition Prov
idence. Butler is lighted by natural
gas, and should we fail to mention the
fact that she has water works we
would do injustice to the public spirit
that prompted their construction AS
for the people of what is now our sis
ter town, we found them much the
same as those we have been accustom
ed to meet i. e., disposed to be socia
if we will let them.
THE Harrist urg Independent calls il