Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-02
MADE THE DIRT FLY.
A Midnight Raid on the Squirrel Hill
Electric Railroad.
RAILS AND CROSS TIES TORN UP.
The Contractor Interfered, But a March
Was Stolen on Him.
no DANGER IN GOING TO THE PARK

When the residents of Oakland in the vi
cinity of Boquet street woke up yesterday
morning they were surprised to find that the
tracks OF the Squirrel Hill Electric Rail way
had been torn up during the night and part
of the roadbed was being utilized as street.
To say they were surprised is putting it
mildly. They were astounded, and sought
an explanation of the midnight raid on the
railroad. It did not take them long to find
out the cause of the matter, and they are
now waiting for developments from the own
ers of the road.
After dark on Monday night gang of
men appeared on Boquet street, and, with
out any ceremony, proceeded to lay violent
hands on the roadbed of the Squirrel Hill
Electric Railway, and tear up the tracks,
The men worked all night. and when they
had finished the job had been doBe faithful
ly and we'll. About a half mile OF the
track was torn up and, without any noise,
the men shouldered their implements and
silently vanished.
WHY IT WAS DONE.
The work was done under the direction of
James Mcknight, Superintendent OF Schen-
ley Park, and the reason given was to clear
the Boquet street entrance to the park for
the Fourth of July celebration. at Joncaire
street the railroad interferes to some extent
with the driveway. and teams have had to be
driven to one side in order to pass over into the
park. The ground through which the teams
had to go Is very marshy, and frequently horses
and buggies slipped down the embankment.
Chief BigelOw thought the spot dangerous
place, and ordered Mr.. Mcknight to hx the
road.
The Superintendent sent gang of men to the
place on Monday afternoon, with orders to
move the railroad tracks. Contractor McKibben
heard of the men being on the ground, and
hastened to the spot where they were working.
He commanded them to stop, claiming that
they were trespassing, and said that he would
have them arrested. The foreman in charge
ordered the picks and crowbars stacked, and
suspended operations until he heard from
Superintendent Mcknight. The latter did not
open up negotiations for the continuance of the
work. but Withdrew his men. The contractor
thought he had gained victory, and also went
home, but is now wishing he hadn't
After supper Superintendent Mcknight who
had previously given word to about 40 or 50
men, appeared on the scene with his gang and
proceeded to make the dust hy. They started
at the Forbes street end and worked down to-
ward the junction Railroad tracks. As each
rail and cross track was pulled up they were
carefully laid to one side. The utmost care
was exercised not to harm the railroads. prop
dltion, only not in place to be Of any service to
anybody.
HISTORY OF THE ROAD.
The road is in litigation. and was sold at
Sheriff's sale about six weeks ago. Nobody
knows who bought it, nor does the owner ap-
pear to want to do anything with it. When the
road was projected it was intended for feeder
to the Fifth avenue cable cars. The owners
were people living on Squirrel Hill, who grew
cold as the work progressed. After the cars
had been ordered and about half the road built
it was found there was no more money to con-
tinue work, and the scheme OF rapid transit to
r,r1fr L 1IiCi Thn onTfr fnrS
entered suit for the amount of their claims
against the company, and obtained judgments.
Several attempts were made to sell the road In
its unfinished condition, and finally it was dis
posed of. The cars are stored in the second
story of the Pittsburg Traction Companys
power house at Oakland.
1t has been some years since railroad was
torn up in this city, and what the result of the
matter will be it is hard to determine. Chief
Bigelow had several rounds with the road on
account of a part of the line running through
Schenley Park. An injunction was asked for.
but the line came too near the park, 1t is said,
for the safety of the public. and it had to go.