The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-28

Ararat Summit 1t is only a quarter of
a mile long, but it cost between $780,
and $500, 900 to make it ready for the rails,
or at the rate of 81, 900 900 a mile. The
railroad was completed in 1873 and trains
had passed over it, but one night a quar-
ter of a mile of track and roadbed disap-
peared entirely and a great ,quagmire oc-
cupied the place where apparently solid
ground had been before. Into this pit
l0,O OO0 carloads of gravel-about 100 900 tons
and 800 hundred large hemlock trees,
branches and all We're thrown in without
having any perceptible affect toward
forming a bottom on which a new road
bed could be founded.
"Then steps We're taken by the con-
tractors to find out the depth of the re-
markable sink hole Four piles, each 40
feet long, were driven down, one on top
of the other, before solid bottom was
reached, showing the depth of the un-
stable spot to be 100 feet. This fact es-
tablished a row of piles was driven. in
the manner of test piles, on both sides
of the space required for the roadbed
They were driven close together, so close
that the work required nearly 8,0D of
them. These prevented the escape of
anything dumped into the inclosure.
For four months gravel rocks ana
forest trees, entire, were thrown into
the pit before the all-absorbing morass
d
were levelled to supply the trees, OF
which 500 from so to 100 feet high, and
with a spread of branches sometimes of
% feet. were used. An adjacent gravel
hill, so feet high and covering four acres,
was levelled to obtain material for build
ing up this remarkable roadbed, and
rocks weighing many tons each We're
tumbled into the depths before solid
way was made across it, 1t is doubtful
in history nf
| just such task ever confronted con-
| tractor"
Calvin Brodhead, an expert railway
| engineer, offers to build and operate a
| steam road between Stroudsburg and
| Bushkill II the right of way is given
| free of charge or without any expense
| whatever to him. says the Milford, Pa,
| Dispatch This is flattering inducement
| and ought to meet with the approval of
| all who will be benefited in that section.
AS time advances, the prospects of a
| railroad through the Delaware valley
| become more rosy and Editor Hart of
the Dispatch, confidently believes that
| before the dawn of the twentieth CEN
! tion between Port Jervis and Strouds-
| burg, and possibly between Milford and
| Scranton over the hills of Pike.
| For at least two years he has had
| assurances, all in a quiet way, that il
was only a question of a few years be-
| fore a steam railroad would penetrate
| this section, but as so many railroad
| schemes have for nearly half century
| been forced upon the farmers and other
residents of the valley, almost every one
termed the latest venture d fake pure
and simple,
But as time wears on the people are
| beginning to see the error of their ways
| and now II is almost the general con-
| sensus of opinion that a railroad Is on
| the way and is coming through at som
| date In the not far distant future.
| Dr. j. II. Shull secretary of the D., "
| and l.. railroad was asked concerning
| the opening paragraph and said that he
| had been aware Of the offer for two
months past, He added that In the case
| of the present road being given up they
| might make use of Brodhead's Offer
| Stroudsburg Times.
| The following statement concerning the
| earnings of the Wilkes-Barre and East
o"n Railroad company has been issued:
| February. 1895 1897
| GROSS earnings S3d 637 $2S 406
| Operating expenses ...,...... 1907 1908
| Net earnings ..,......,.,,,..$19,6 600 $12 81
| July 1-ATarch l.
| Gross earnings 1854, 1856 s297 56S