Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-11
THE ROAD NOW OPEN
A Great Demonstration Over Belle
vernOn'S First Railway Line.
PLENTY OF ORAToRY AND EDIBLES
Old Villagers Awaken From Their Leth
argic Slumbers.
MANY PROMINENT PEOPLE PRESENT

OF the latter place. 1t was truly gaia dal
in the history of Bellevernon, and never be
fore did the town present such an appear
ance The sturdy old country folk of the
borough awoke from their lethargic slum
bers of over half a century, and turned out
to do honor to the first railroad line to afford
them rapid transportation to the outside
world.
Bellevernon is historic little borough
1t was once stopping place for Daniel
Webster, Henry Clay, Andrew Jack
son and all the illlustrious men
of that day, while on theil
way to and from Washington via the old
stage coach route. 1t lies in beautiful
spot of country about 40 miles up the
Monongahcla river. The Pittsburg, Vir-
| ginia and Charleston Railroad skirts the
south bank of the Monongahela river, but
as the people had no bridge to get across to
| it, the railroad did not benefit the town very
much. Nearly all their business was done
| by the Monongahela river packets. but this
method of transportation is entirely too slow
for the townspeople.
PROMINENT PEOPLE THERE.
On Monday the first train was run into
the town, and Yesterday the event was ap-
propriateIy celebrated. A special train OF
five cars gaily decorated with flags and
bunting left the Pittsburg and Lake Erie
station at $50 o'clock and carried about LOO
of Pittsburg's representative citizens to the
town. Among the party were:
William McCreery, W. w. Patrick, ]. D.
Scully, holy Smith, Max Moorhead, Captain T.
Fawcett, Alexander Dempster. Charles Mey-
ran. R. j. Mcclure, ]. E. Umstaetter, George
Hill. John Swan, eX-postmaster of Allegheny;
W. r. Holmes DR.. ]. B. Murdoch, John Galley
ex-Sheritf of Westmoreland county, and q.
Dilworth; Among the railroad men were u; r
Cague, General Agent, L. S. q M. IS; f. A.
Dean, General Freight Agent, p. q L. E.; M.
E. Valiant, agent American Express Company;
I. W. Galleger, Division Freight Agent, B. &
o.; F. H. Kennedy, F. G. Bailey and w. 7.
Taggart, of the Lake Erie freight department
At McKeesport, where the train left the
"Pemicky" tracks, the party was joined by
President J. Wainwright, Secretary and
Treasurer w. T. Wallace, General Super
intendent o. A. Rogers and General Freight
and Passenger Agent j. c. Grooms. At
every point along the line the people turned
out to cheer the train as it sped ON over the
smooth and even roadbed. At Webster
and other points the school children were
assembled, and sang songs of joy and good
blown. and when the train pulled into
Bellevernon the noise was deafening.
A RoUsING RECEPTION.
Upon the arrival of the guests they were
given a rousing reception and escorted by
the crack brass band of the borough, they
marched to a stand where mass meeting
was held. Dr. J. T. Van Voorhis, ex-
member of tie Legislature, was the presi-
dent of the meeting and delivered the open
ing speech. He began by saying that his
Of fhop he "a
the shrewdness and skill o. the engineers
of the new railroad. He said the river was
the only means of transportation the town
had enjoyed, and while it was good enough
in its time, the present age demanded rapid
transit and quick returns. He compared
the engineers of the road to Napoleon, who
surmounted all obstacles in crossing the
Alps. He stated that it would be but a
short time until the road was extended to
West Virginia, and would soon be con-
nection of the Chesapeake and Ohio road,
in which controlling interest is being pur-
chased by the Vanderbilts. He said the
road would put new life and vigor into the
town. and nothing could retard its growth
and prosperity. He predicted a number Of
large industries to be located near them in
the near future.
President j. Wainwright was the next
speaker. He was followed by Hon. George
V. Lawrence, ex-representative from the
Congressional district. He began by saying
that the day was an epoch in the history of
the town. He reviewed and called attention
to the different methods of transpoI-
tation from the days of the pack
saddle until the present time. He paid
a tribute to the Pennsylvania Railroad, and
said the day would soon come when the
journey could be made from Pittsburg to
II
would be the power, and trains would be
run at the rate of 100 or 200 miles per hour.
SOME LIVELY SPEECHES.
Judge Hunter, of Greensburg, followed
Senator Lawrence. His speech was a re-
view of the rapid development of the coun-
try. State Senator Robbins, Of Greensburg,
made the speech of the day. He reviewed
the history of the country, and his remarks
were received with wild applause. Judge
Ewing, of Uniontown, said the county had
gave a glowing description Of the advance
ment of progress from the Indian trail to
the telephone.
Letters were read from Congressman
Bayne, Dalzell and other prominent speak
ers who could not be present. The meeting
then adjourned and banquet was held in
the Roley House. The afternoon was spent
visiting points of interest about the town.
In the evening a reception and banquet
were given by the citizens of the town.
The new road is 2S miles long and |
runs from McKeesport to Bellevernon.
Work was begun upon it some time in |
December, 1887. For some time afterward |
the company experienced considerable |
trouble securing rights of way and only II |
miles were built The other II miles were |
constructed since April last. The. capital |
stock is $500, 600, mostly held by Pittsburg
parties. So far the road has cost over ST. |
0OO, 900. The rolling stock consists of FIVE !
five passenger cars and 100 |
freight cars. On Wednesday they turned |
over " cars of coal to the Lake Erie Com |
pany. The directors of the company are
j. M. Goffey, G. h. Sackrider, S. F. Jones,
R. S. Linton, j. H. Given, B. L. Wood, Jr.,
and j. Chamberlain.
The following named well-known persons |
were also present:
E. 7. Douglas, J. ". Bailey, Dr. T. L. White, |
A. A b. Campbell ]. A Skelly, A. L. Riggs,
]. L. Stuckslader, Postmaster ]. B. Shale, A. |
w. Smith, NJ. F. Ryan, James Lynn, George |
Lippig and James Devenney proprietor of the |
Neios, McKeesport; Joseph Campbell, Brad |
dock; Hon. j. b. Flnlay and James Alexander, |
of Monongahela City, and Editor Richard Wi |
ley, of Elizabeth.
IUMpPn INTn nUp WAIVED