New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-01
RACQUETTE LAKE TRAVEL.
CONTROVERSY OVER A TWENTY MILE
RAILRdAD-HEARING AT ALBANY
YESTERDAY

Albany Jan. 81 CspeciaD-The Assembly Commit
tee on Railroads gave interesting hearing to-day
upon Assemblynaan Bedelrs bill to permit little
railway which runs from Clearwater. on the Ma
lone and Mohawk Railway. to Racquette Lake a
distance of twenty miles, anthracite coal in
its locomotives
Maxwell Evarts, o, New-York, appeared in favor
Of the BILL and was supported by lieutenant-Gov-
ernor Woodruff .ae head of the Forest Preserve
Board. Mr. Woodruff said in behalf OF the bill:
This Racquette Lake Railroad was built for the
accommodation OF summer tourists and for men
cottagers are Coils P. Huntington, William c.
Whitney and ]. Pierpont Morgan. When the rail-
of electricity or compressed air. The grades are
it is desired to use anthracite coal It is not be-
neved that will kindle forest fires A mistaken i'm
road crosses State lands. AS a matter Of fact, it
Durant who owned this highway.
The bill was assaiIed by c. D. Adams of Utica,
who said he represented the Old Forge Company,
the Fulton Chain Railway Company and the Crosby
transportation Company. These companies are
concerned in maintaining line of transportation
to Racquette Lake by the Fulton chain OF lakes.
Mr.. Adams declared that the Racquette Lake Rail-
way Company crossed the State forest preserve,
and therefore had been built in contravention OF
the Constitution.
Mayor Hadley Jones Of Little Falls, who said
he a stockholder in the Crosby Transportation
Company. opposed the bill. He then added:
7 belong TO the Republican organization, and
therefore was much interested when heard it
whispeher about that this bill Of Mr.. Bedell
organization measure, and must be passed
Hearing that Senator Thomas c. Platt going
brand this bill organization measure, I went
TO New-York TO see him and told him what I had
heard MI Platt in reply said the bill was
organtZa ton measure, and yet he would like to do
a favor for Mr. Huntington and hoped II would
pass the Legislature. 1 here and find the
members of the Legislature still declaring that il
Is an organization measure, and make this state
nent therefore to correct the misrepresentation. Mr.
Plat favors the bill, ii is true, but 1t is
ganiZation measure.
Edward H. Leggett, OF the Acknowledgements
department, said he owned a cottage near the
Racquette Lake Railway and feared that ii might
be destroyed by forest fires if the bill should be
passed
Maxwell Evarrs supported the bill and charged
that the opposition to II due to the fear of
rival transportation lines that they would lose
business. He added:
The Adirondacks are great pleasure resort. and
every such bill this is for the public benefit
cause II enables the man Of small means to reach
the heart of the Adirondack region at small ex-
pense. At present II takes days time and ii
costs one So or $40 to go from the Old Forge House
70 RacQuetre Lake, distance Of only twenty miles
Thus, coming back, you lose day, and it once
more costs you 50 or SO. If you have only a ten
Gays vacation that is a serious loss of time and
big tax on your pocketbook. By means Of the
ftacquette Lake Railway will reach your des-
tlnatlon IN less than an hour and at small cost.