The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-04-02

alieliEg Of the New York Central By the
West Shore road, and this was used BY the
Pennsylvania railroad interests to strsngls
the South Penn project The yanderbilss
squeezed in THAR own territory, gladly made
terms that ended the prospective formidzbis
competition to the Pennsyivania railroad
\ interests
c0xDTrrox o. TIE WORK
The heaviest work bad been done. Five
tunnels, each from . mile TO a mile and a
half long. had been almost completed. Su-
merous smaller ones had been finished, cul-
verts Of solid masonry had been built and
nearly all the heavy filing had been COM
pleied. Only the lighter work Of grading
remained besides the completion Of the
longer tunnels to make the roAdbed ready
for the ties and rails when the expenditure
Of millions was made Of no effect by the
famous arrangement between the Vanderbilt
and Pennsylvania interests. Ruin and dis
couragement reigned all along the abandon
ed route. Property. had been enhanced IN
value By the prospects OF a trunk line of
basis Innumerable small business plans
had been formed by persons Of small capital
aud innurnerable small investments made
These were swept away oy the breath of
few railway magDates and prosperity was
changed to mourning. The last state Of the
inhabitants OF the southern tier Of counties
was worse than the first, when they were as
yet undazzled by vain hopes.
A Rich COUNTRY.
The whole country through which the
South Penn's right Of way passes is rich in
minerals, timber and agricultural products
Cumberland county has been described.
franklin county, through which the road
was to run after leaving Cumberland is no
less rich. Numerous streams give good
water power 70 mills that send -four 10 Ral-
timore. Phiisdeiphia and New York. Frank
lin is ine agricultural county and also
boasts its iron furnaces. which might he
greatly extended. The grist and flour mills
number more than a hundred, and there are
100 to $50 saw mills. There are also wooden
mills, paper mills, q straw board mill and
almost unlimited possibilities for industrial
development
Scotch Irish was the first population Of
Franklin county, followed by Germans
Chambersburg is the county seat, so called
after Colonel Chambers, who built stone
house rooted with lead as a protection
against the Indians when they became
troublesome after Braddocks defeat. Saw
and grist mills had previously been estab-
lished, and the houses we're enclosed in a
fort. After Braddocks defeat the Indians,
previously well disposed except when under
the influence Of liquor, gave way to their
savage nature, and for several years their
slaughter OF the whites form painful chap
ter in the history Of the country. Franklin
contributed her quota TO the Revolutionary
war and the war of 1912, hnd suffered in the
war of the Rebellion, until at last under or
ders from General Early it was cruelty
burned by NeCausland On his last raid in
1864. The flight Of the sick and the aged on
this occasion was one of the most pathetic
features of the war. For the damage uone
at that time q commission appointed at the
last session OF the Legislature is endeavoring
to obtain reparation from the general Gov
ernmeEt.
RAILROAD FACILITIES LACKING.
Fulton more than any otter county of the
group through which the South Penn passes
needs railroad facilities. which ii utterly
lacks. The country is agricultural because
it lacks proper transportation facilities for
its industrial development. Timber is abund
ant and large beds Of ore only await the
coming OF railroads to develop them. Btu
ninous coal and limestone also abound. At
the county seat, AcConnellsburg. where the
recent Sherif-s .ale Of the South Penn fran
chise occurred, are some small furnaces and
tnanufactories Of agricultural implements.
There are also tannerie-. saw mills. grist
mills and wooden mills. The only coal min
cd is for local use, and there is traditssn Of
silver mine Like the other counties Of
this region. Fulton county suffered much
frosn the Indians after Brsddock's defeA;.
Bedford county, the next through which
the South Penn route extends on its way
westward. consains rich agricultural vzlley,
and hne deposits Of coal, limestone and iron.
For fifteen miles in Bedford county the
route passes through the mineral lands of
Robert Hare Powell, on which are the IA
nous Saxton furnaces. There are forests of
chestnut, hickory. oak and sugar maple, and
bituminOus coal is worked on the Broad Top
mountain. Tanneries. wooden mills, etc.
flourish in the various small villages that
dot the county Bedford, the county seat
was originally Fort Bedford, named after
the Duke Of Bedford The town was laid
out by order of Gov. John Penn in I766.
Washington's headquarters we're here for
time during the WHISKY instruction. The
early history Of this region records the terri
ble slaughter Of the Tull family by Indians.
and gives a name to TGlrs Hill, six miles
from Bedford.
AFAETIxc DEVELOPMENTS.
Somerset county, next TO Bedford on the
west, is divided from it by Laurel Hill,
through which one of the long South Penn
tunnels is cut Coal, iron ore and lime
stone abound in the county. which Is also
well ,imbered Daiying is pursued, and
some leather and wooden goods are manu-
fActured Somerset contains in itself great
industrial possibilities. which the stimulus
oFs trunk line would have done much TO de-
velop.
The riches of Fayette and Westmoreland
counties are too well known to all our peo-
pie for further comment. The advantage
the South Penn would have been to this sec
tion can only be spoken OF as almost beyond !
Imagination. II would have opened the /
whole southern tier Of counties, and brought !
their wealth to the very doors OF Pittsburgh |
their immense deposits Of iron, coal, lime
stone and timber-and would have develop /
ed their agricultural possibilities and made !
the whole line OF road hum with the noise |
Of industry.
Milford Items.
The schools Of Milford township closed
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