The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-20
From the Philadelphia Press.

The charter for the construction of
a railroad from Easton to Mahoning
Creek near Mauch Chunk was granted
by the legislature April II. 1886. to the
Delaware. Lehigh and Schuylkill Rail
road company. At this time ii was the
intention of the projectors of the road
to extend the line virtually into the
Schuylkill coal region. The company
also had right to build across the
river at Easton to Phillipsburg. For
some reason the name seemed inappro-
pirate and about 1850 it was changed
to the Lehigh Valley Railroad COM
pany. as the road was then principally
in the Lehigh valley. Although the
charter was granted In 1916 the road
was not opened until September. 1850.
During this interval there were several
stretches of the road built. but for some
reason the road remained unconstruct-
ed considerably longer than it was the
intention of the projectors.
The building of this road created
considerable discussion in and around
Mauch Chunk, Easton and Bethlehem
The projectors were men of prominence,
and while Judge Asa Packer was the
father of the operation of the road
James NJ. Porter, prominent citizen
of Easton, was the first president. Be-
sides Mr.. Porter there were other men
of renown who subscribed their names
to the charter of the company.
BRANCHING OUT.
For several years most of the work
was confined to the operation of the
road between the points set out in the
charter. but as the business increased
and larger field was opened to the
company the first steps towards branch
ing out and making the road the sys-
TEN it now is was begun in 1862 when
it subscribed to all the stock of and
practically built the Penn Haven and
White Haven railroad; which extended
from Penn Haven to White Haven,
distance of about eight miles. This
construction made a connecting links
with the Beaver Meadow Railroad and
Coal company, which extended from
Mauch Chunk to Audenreid, "a miles.
In 1864 the Beaver Meadow Railroad
and Coal company was merged into
the Lehigh Valley, and in 1866 the Le-
high and Mahanoy railroad. extending
from Black Creek junction to Mt. Car
mel, about 100 miles, was merged into
the Lehigh Valley system.
The road now began to assume large
proportions and it was considered one
of the ideal lines Of the state. It's earn
ing powers We're great and its business
was constantly increasing, and in 1868
the Hazleton railroad and the Lehigh
and Luzerne Railroad companies,
which branched from Penn Haven to
the Hazleton and Black Creek coal
fields, were merged. This gave the COM
pany quite an extensive system of lines
in the Lehigh coal field and made 1t one
of the big coal carriers at that time.
Previous to 1866 the North Branch Can
al company. which. extended from
Wilkes Barre to the New York state
line. along the Susquehanna river, a
distance of 104 miles, was bought. and
the Lehigh Valley Railroad company,
on the property thus acquired, con-
structed the road which is now known
as the Pennsylvania and New York
Canal and Railroad company.
LEASES A BANK.
In 1871 the Lehigh Valley railroad
leased the Morris Canal and Banking
company. This company, at that time
doing not only a canal business, but
large banking one as well. The canal
extended from Phillipsburg to Jersey
City, distance of about 1Ol miles.
About one yeai>afterward the con-
struction of the Eastern and Amboy
Railroad, from Phillipsburg to Perth
Amboy, was commenced. The Lehigh
Valley Railroad company at this time
as well as now, owned considerable
propSrty at Perth Amboy, and had
hu0t large wharves at that place. For
s0he time this extension answered the
purpose. but later the line was extend
ed from South Plaintield. on the Eaton
and Amboy division. to Jersey City,
where the company has valuable
water front
For number of years the Lehigh
Valley Railroad company's only meth
cd of reaching Buffalo was by con-
nection with the then New York, Lake
Erie and Western railroad. now the
Erie railroad. at Sayre. 1t ran its own
trains over this line by virtue of a
traffic agreement with the other com
pany. but a few years ago 1t gave up
its agreement and began the operation
Of IT'S own 1Tnp III TIE state OT NtW ! UTk.
From the New York state line to Buffa-
10 the road Is called the Lehigh Valley
Railway company. The company has
also under lease the Lehigh and New
York Railroad company. in New York.
| which is the old Southern Central. ex-
tending from the state line at Sayre.
through Owego to Fair Haven. on Lake
Ontario. Il distance of about 40 miles.
IT'S LAKE FLEET.
When the Lehigh Valley Railroad
company began to run trains to and
considerable freight business. and to
encourage this In 1880 1t began the
operation of q fleet of vessels on the
lakes which now Is composed of four
steel steamers and six wooden ones.
Within the last year the company has
acquired also the Middlesex Valley
| railroad. which extends from Geneva
into the grape growing district. and the
Elmira. Cortland and Northern. which
Is l15 miles long and runs from Elmira
through Ithaca to Camden, on the bor-
der of the lake.
on Feb. II. 1892. the railroad and 9TH
er properties of this company. but not
the properties of the Lehigh Valley
Coal company, were leased for 999
years from December /. 1891, to the
Philadelphia and Reading Railroad COM
pany, but this lease terminated Aug. s,
1893, and the property reverted to the
company. The capital stock and bond
| ed Indebtedness Of the company at first
was about $350O,OO0. and now 1t is $74,-
| 614,000, besides stocks of affiliated COM
panies to the amount of $57.196,0O0.
The company now has 6S5 locomo-
tives. 16369 freight cars, 81, ,926 coal cars.
1.171 passenger and other cars used in
conducting the business of the COM
pany. It now has 1,l45 miles of single
| track, $50 miles of second track, which,
with branches and siding. make a total
| trackage Of 2,49O miles. The Lehigh
Valley Coal company, which Is owned
entirely by the Lehigh Valley Railroad
company. was organized Jan. II. 1891
| to NINA md coll ron1 Sinca tho rpp,-