Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-08
A NEW ROAD OPENED.
The Confluence and Oakland, Nd,
Railroad Now Doing Business.
SPEECHES, MUSIC AND FEASTING.
Another Entrance Into the Rich Maryland
Iron Mountains.
THE LINE TO BE EXTENDED THROUGH

The Confluence and Oakland Railroad
was opened yesterday with appropriate
ceremonies. A special car left the Balti-
more and Ohio station, Pittsburg. at 8
o'clock. Those on board were j. Dawson
Gallery, OF the Pittsburg and Western road;
Major James B. Warrington, Secretary and
Treasurer of the Pittsburg and ConH5ilsville;
T. N. Galleher, Division Freight Agent of
the Baltimore and :Ohio; DR.. Robson. and
William Armstrong.
The car reached Confluence at 1890
o'clock. There it was met by W. T. Man
ming, Engineer of Maintenance of Way of
the Pittsburg division, who had charge of
the arrangements; J. Bayard Henry, Presi-
dent of the Confluence and Oakland Rail-
road Company; Colonel Joseph o. Craw-
ford, Chief Engineer and President of the
Yough Manor Land Company; Richard 81.
Clay, President of the Solicitors Trust Com
pany; Charles W. Henry, Henry G. Boyer,
Frank S. Lewis and Richard H. Morris, ali
of Philadelphia.
The houses in the town Of Confluence
were gaily decorated. Bunting and national
flags were profusely strung across the streets.
A handsomely decorated engine and private
car of the b. & o. stood waiting to take the
guests up the new road. After brass band
serenade, Prof. Sanner, principal of the
Confluence schools,
BID THE VISITORS WELCOME
and thanked the Philadelphians for giving
the town a new road. Colonel Crawford re-
sponded briefly, dwelling on the advantages
the town would derive from the new line.
Mr.. Henry also spoke in the same strain.
At this moment General W. II. Koontz, of
Somerset, arrived, and the special train
started for Friendship, the present terminus
of the new road.
The first stop was made at Summerfeld,
where the old National pike crosses the
Youghiogheny. river. There barbecue,
greeted the visitors. and speeches from Col
onel Crawford, Mr.. Henry and General
Koontz compensated the natives for their
pains. At Selbyport, in Maryland, the
whole town was out, including Colonel
Jonas FraZie, its principal citizen, to well
come the first train. The display of bunt-
ing was even more liberal than at either
Confluence or Summerfeld.
The train arrived at Friendsville at 1
o'clock and found nearly 5000 people and
two or three brass bands around it. The
most elaborate preparations of welcome had
been made. A huge OK was being roasted,
creased pig race, tie-hewing contest and
an anti-Mahone meeting, were some of the
attractions of the day. Captain Friend
acted as master of ceremonies and president
of the meeting. DR.. E. W. Bartlitt, of
Oakland, made the address of welcome and
Colonel Crawford and Mr.. Henry responded.
Mr.. Henry's speech was masterly effort
and was received with great applause. Gen
eral Koontz also made a graceful little
address. After the meeting the guests of
the railroad went to the Chip House, three
miles further up the Yough, to lunch.
The return to Confluence was without special
interest.
HISTORY OF THE ROAD.
The Confluence and Oakland Railroad
was projected less than a year ago by the
Yough Manor Land Company, Philadel.
phia syndicate of capitalists which owns
10000 acres of land lying along both sides
of the Youghiogheny river above Friends
vile. This land abounds with magnificent
white oak, hemlock and poplar lumber, and
under it is ten-foot vein of the same nature
as the Georges Creek and Salisbury veins
Iron ore that has assayed 80 per cent of pure
iron, with scarcely a trace OF phosphorus, is
there in abundance. Colonel Crawford was
the chief engineer of the road. 1t runs
along the west side of the Yough to point
beyond the town of Selbyport.
- 1t is intended that the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company shall take hold of, equip
and operate this new road within the next
30 days. Mr.. Henry, the President, said
last night:
"It is not intended to let the road stop at
Manor Lands, but to have it pushed through
to Oakland as soon as possible. 1t is not
expensive as regards building, as only
about II miles remain to be built. 1t will
give Pittsburg near route to Oakland and
Deer Park, both of which will be preferable
to Cresson, and the more especially so as
coke ovens are springing up around that
resort so numerously as to make 1t not as
pleasant as formerly. The lumber will be
shipped to all parts of the United States
and also exported. The ores will also form
one of our greatest shipping features"
A pleasant feature of the trip was atouch-
ing address made by Mrs. Henry to thee
school children of Friendsville.