The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-10-22
Sale of r railroad.


Seventy years ago almost the entire pop
ulation of Burlington county had gath
cred near New Lisbon to witness tn
opening of the third railroad ever bull
in the United States. The utmost conf
dence had been expressed on all sides a:
to the success of the road. Even six
months prior, when the first spadeful OF
ground had been turned by John Black, q
name had been given the railroad; money
in large quantities had been subscribed
the necessary paraphernalia for the com
pletion of the line was on hand, and
everything was in readiness for the be-
ginning of what at that time was thought
would be the greatest railroad in the
world. Later events proved, however that
the old Delaware and Atlantic Railroad
was to be but short lived, for after an OPP
Grafton of but twenty years it succumbed
to the wiles of the county sheriff and fad
ed into dim past.
But two other railroads were then in
existence, one running from Washington
to Baltimore, and the old Camden and
Amboy, the first of the Pennsylvania
lines The anticipation of a railroad in
that section had thrown the community
into spasm of excitement.
John Black, Eayre Oliphant Joseph
Smith Restore Lamb and Anthony Nor
ris, five of Burlington county's staunchest
members of the Society of Friends, had
undertaken the management of the road,
and because of their reputation for honesty
and integrity but little difficulty was ex-
perienced in raising the money for the
roads successful operation.
When completed the road ran from Kin
kora, station on the old Amboy railroad
and also steamboat landing on the Del
aware river, through Juliustown, Colum-
bus, Jobstown, Lewistown, New Lisbon
and finally ending at Hanover Furnace.
This terminus was originally the centre
of large iron fields and for many years
was used as smelter for this industry,
finally passing into the hands of the
United States Government Much gold
had been found in the neighborhood of
Hanover and the government at one time
contemplated operating smelter or mint
at Hanover, but this idea was quickly
abandoned. This furnace was also in the
heart of the 'pines." and the railroad
made it terminal in anticipation of large
revenue to be derived from freighting
timber to the Amboy railroad and the
Delaware river, where it could be re-
shipped to all parts of the state. Indeed
this was the only use the railroad was put
to and almost the only source of income
for a long while.
No railroad ties were used in the con-
in place by wooden cross beams twenty |
yards apart. The up-to-date steel rails
were not in vogue at that time, and the
track was merely two by ten piece OF
timber placed foot deep in the ground, |
on top of which was nailed flat piece of |
iron, resembling wagon tire.
The advent of steam engine in the
neighborhood had awakened much curios-
ity, and all voiced aged Nancy Blair, of
Columbus, when, after noticing the en-
CINE putting, she exclaimed my, how
tired the poor thing isl See how it putfs
and snorts 1t must have come long
wayr'
The one engine used was quickly dis
pensed with owing to its excessive weight.
When soft ground was reached this en-
CINE would simply bury the prehistoric
track beneath the surface and be COMPEL
ed to stop. Too many occurrences of this
nature forced mules to be called into ser
vice. and for many years the road was OPP
Grated in this manner. Pine timber was
freighted from Hanover to Kinko3a, one
car at time and two mules to each car.
Each car carried eight cords of wood and
travelled at the rate of five miles an hour.
Almost a day was consumed in making
one trip, feat which is now accomplished
in forty minutes. One day each week
small closed car, called a passenger car,
was run over the line. At the beginning
this was crowded with residents wholly
out of curiosity.
Finally business fell off and money was
needed Mr.. Black and Mr.. Morris agreed
to bond the road and float the bonds if
the stockholders would assign any inter
est they might have in the road. This
was agreed upon and the bonds were
floated in Philadelphia Fifty thousand
dollars was raised in this manner and the
road was continued, but only for a short
time, for unsuccessful management soon
again brought it to bankruptcy, and the
bondholders foreclosed. A long law suit
was the result
By this time steam roads were common.
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company had
acquired much territory in the neighbor-
hood and was successfully operating its
lines Negotiations were entered into and
lease was signed in 1850. The Penn
sylvania got lost in the financial shuttle
also, and for a few years the road was not
in operation. The Pennsylvania finally
leased it in 1879 to the Columbus, Kinko-
ra and Springfield Railroad the yearly |
rental being the net earnings. These have
not been sufficient to meet the interest,
hence the sale.
On Saturday afternoon from the steps
of the court house the railroad was sold. |
There was but one bid, by William B. |
Bratten, he offered $4,000 and as nobody |
competed with him, the property was
cried off trr.him.