The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1893-02-10

| Monday. in writing about the railroad
down the Blacklick gives the following;
| 1t is announced from Harrisburg that d
! charter has recently been granted by the
state department to a corporation styled
| the ''EbenSSurg and Blacklick Railroad
| company" capital $4,000; the object De
| ing il is alleged. to construct railroad
| thirty-five miles long, from connection
| with the Cambria and Cleartield railroad
| between Kaylor's and Ebensbnrg stations,
! in Cambria county, through Biackiick val
| lev Ito a connection with the Indiana
! branch of the Pennsylvania railroad near
| Blacklick station. etc. Now this informa-
| tion in some respects is definite, particular
| ly in not naming, il known. the precise
point where a junction of the projected
road will be made with the Cambria and
| Clearfield railroad. Now, whether the line
will certainly pass through Ebcnsburg and
| thence down the south branch valley OF
BIacklick or not, the inference, therefore,
is that the connection with the line of the
Cambria and Clearfield railroad may be ef-
fected at a point north of Ebensburg, and
somewhere between KayIor's junction and
CarrolItown, thus abandoning the line from
Kaylor's via Ebensburg. Should such
course have been decided upon by the
PENNSYLVANIA railroad company in the con-
Struction of this thirty-fiye miles say, of
road. no doubt has been done after careful
and systematic Investigations were made
of the several routes leading through the
Blacklick valleys, based upon accurate
and instrumental surveys of those routes,
embracing directnesS, minimum gradients,
eeonomicrl construction, etc.
There is no question that a number of
feasible and desirable natural routes lead
off In the proper direction from the vicinity
of the line of the Cambria and Cle9rfield
railroad, north or northwest of the borough
of EbenSburg, presenting favorable facili-
ties and inducements for the adoption of
some one of them; for example there is
middle branch of B'acklick creek ard at
tendant valley, some two miles north and
west of Ebensburg, atfOrding all the prere-
quiSiteS of practicable grades, cheapneSS of
construction, etc, from its head To june
tion with the Blacklick valley; then the
west branch of hlacklink-stream and val
ley-a short distance beyond, paralleling
the first named and presenting equal ma
tural advantages with the first mentioned
for laying out and constructing a railroad,
and still further on towards NicktOwn and
Carrolltow and also within reach of con-
nection with the Cambria aud Clearfield
line and the valleys of MorriSon's Run,
Elk Lick Run, Dutch Run, etc, tributaries
of the north branch of Blackick creek and
valley and with the last named stream
and valley penetrating as extensive and
valuable coal territory as abounds in
Cambria county.
The remarkable natural and material
M adyanfapaS that ynuld ha-
long To any one of these last mentioned
routes for the construction of this pro-
posed railroad, in regard 10 drectneSs
and consequent saving in distance, light
gradients and cheap construction. in con-
nection with the vast deposits of coal, i'm
menSc forests of valuable timber, as well
as the miscellaneous traffic such a road
would develop render its importance in
calculable, if wisely located, and, there
fore, meriting more than cursory consider
alton by the Pennsy lvania Railroad COM
pany before taking final action. Such a
connecting link" too, would probably
eventually constitute part of a short line
over whicE To operate fast trains between
Blairsville intersection on the main line of
the Pennsylvania railroad and CreSSon,
and vice versa. 1t has been shown that il
need not prove a difficult task to ''pick
and choose" a suitable and profitable route
through Cambria county, and, il this link
is TO be built, the presumption Is that the
Pennsylvania Railroad company will view
the matter in the naked light of its sound
est judgment and best interests, mater
tally, and without in the least being gov
erned by sentiment or sympathy for indi-
viduals, localitiaS, places or people or their
idioSyncracieS, but, all things being equal.
will adopt that line of construction con=
Sidered most eNpedient and advantageous
in all respects. That company il not
building and operating railroads to crafty
the capriceS or enlarge the fortunes of in
dividuals or the general public. but for its
own proper use, benefit and behoof, ami
who shall dispute the prOpriety of such
course? In the following of which il is To
be hoped no special or personal privileges
or favorS will be granted, nor selfish az =
grandizement permitted.
1t is now definitely settled that the route
adopted from kaylor's is that following
the line OF the EbenSburg and CTesSon
branch through EbenSburg and down past
the old toll gate at the west end of town.
striking the Blacklick at Edward Owens
old dam. At a meeting of the directors on
Wednesday of last week at Philadelphia,
the Ebensburg route was adopted, provid-
ed the right of way can be secured without
too much expense. On Tuesday the en-
gneers ran portion of new line near
the steam tanneryin Ebensburg which will
locate the line a little further south a that
point and do cons ideTable less damage 10
the tannery property.