The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-04-18
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
The Pennsylvania Railroad
COmpany's 5Oth Birthday.
THE GREATEST CORPORATION.
The History of its Inception and Growth
In Fifty Years.

London Economist that the pennsylvania
Railroad Company was the largest corpor-
alton, twice over in the world. Since that
date it has gone on increasing in magnitude
and importance, and is without doubt not
only the greatest of corporations, but also
the finest railroad property, and is man
aged with greater ability and integrity than
any other in America. 1t has long been
known as the model road, and service in its
ranks is the great school from which other
roads procure their expert managers.
The anniversary of its incorporation,
observed in suitable manner by the
company, so that milestone was set
up to mark its progress to which future
generations may look for historical date.
EARLY RAILROAD BUILDING.
The history of the great corporation is
the history of period which covers nearly
all that has been done in Pennsylvania by
private enterprise in the building and
operation of railroads.
period railroads had been chartered but
not built, and the state in order to secure
to it's citizens transportation facilities equal
to those of New York, had at an expense
of over $14,00O,00 constructed COM
bined railroad and canal line from Phila-
delphia to Pittsburg. which it operated in
an unsatisfactory way at great loss.
THE OLD STATE LINE.
This through line was in operation in
1884, and occupied practically the same
route over which the Pennsylvania Rail
road trains now run. 1t comprised four
divisions: First, the Columbia Railroad
from Philadelphia to Columbia, 50 miles;
second, the Eastern Division of the canal
from Columbia to Hollidaysburg, 172 miles:
third, the Portage Railroad, from Holidays
burg to Johnstown, 36 miles; fourth, the
Western Division of the canal, from Johns
town to Pittsburg, 10l miles. making
total Of 1914 miles from Philadelphia to
Pittsburg.
LOCOMOTIVES SCPERSEDE HORSES.
Horses were used for several years on
the Columbia railroad. The entire dist
ance, S5 miles, was run in nine hours, the
horses being changed every IL miles. The
first locomotive placed on the road was the
"Black Hawk" which was hauled over the
turnpike to Lancaster, as the eastern end
of the road was not then completed, and
was run between that town and Columbia.
1t proved failure and was not long in use.
Three locomotives were put on that line in
1886, and horse service was discontinued.
At least 40 locomotives were reported to be
in use in 1887. There was an inclined
plane on the Philadelphia end Of the line,
which sloped down to the Schuylkill, just
in front OF Belmont Mansion, the line Of
which is plainly traceable in Belmont
Glen.
RAILROAD CANAL & INCLINED PLANE.
Freight and passengers were transferred
to the canal at Columbia, and, on reaching
hollidaysburg the boats, made in sections
were hauled up the inclined planes of the
Portage railroad, and down again on the
other side Of the mountain to Johnstown,
where they again took the canal to Pitts
burg. 1t is easy to see that such system
either for freight or passengers, could not
compete with the Erie canal, which was
much larger, better and through compar-
atively level country, and commercial
supremacy Of Philadelphia, which had
been we'll maintained upt this period, was
lost to New York.
THE CHOICE OF ROUTE.
There was much effort to find feasible
route for an all rail line to Pittsburg.
Three different routes had been surveyed
and reported upon; the northern was via
Northumberland; the southern via the
mountains and Bedford and Franklin
counties, and the middle via the Juniata
and Conemaugh valleys. Schlattens sur
vey demonstra .ed the practicability of 60
ing over the mountains with the use of
inclined planes. All those matters were
ldlkeu oNel ny puDllc OHlcldlS bHu tHe
people, the commercial situation becoming
more serious from day to day, until a
public meeting was held in Philadelphia,
in the Chinese museum, which stood where
the Continental hotel now stands. The
subject was there discussed at length, but
no definite action was taken.
THE INCORPORATION OF THE ROAD.
Forces were at work, however, which
resulted in the passage of an act on the
18th of April, lSl6 incorporating the
Pennsylvania railroad, with a capital of
81, 600, with privilege to increase it to
$10,000,00O. Tho act authorized the build
ing of road to connect with the Harris
burg, Portsmouth, Mt Joy and Lancaster
Railroad, and to run to Pittsburg or other
place in the county Of Allegheny, or to
Erie. The policy CT the company was to
build the road with the money supplied
by the Stockholders rather than issue bonds
for that purpose. A diligent effort was
made to raise the money and house to house