The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-11-07
THE OLD SOUTH PENN AGAIN

A corps of engineers, supposed
to be employed by the Wabash
interests, has been engaged the
past few weeks surveying aroute,
which, to all appearances is the
old South Penn route. The Off
cials of the Gould interests deny
that the surveying is being done
for the Wabash outlet to the sea-
shore, but it is believed by all
railroad men who are well versed
in the Typography of Pennsylva-
MIA that the old South Penn route
is the only one feasible from the
Wabash outlet.
The South Penn route created
more interest, when it was being
surveyed, than any other route
that has ever been mapped out
in this or any other State. The
Vanderbilt interest was eager to
have an inlet to Pittsburg and the
South Penn route was to be the
one used. The route starts from
Shippensburg, at which place is
the terminal of the Western
Maryland, to Pittsburg. The
route was mapped out and every
arrangement made for the road
to be laid, when the Pennsylvania,
realizing what effect would result
by the Vanderbilts tapping Pitts
burg, commenced to block the
Vanderbilt scheme.
Negotiations were entered into
between the Vanderbilts and the
Pennsylvania officials. The re-
suit was that an agreement was
made to the effect that the Van
derbilts abandon gaining an en-
trance to Pittsburg. and that
hereafter they would notencroach
upon any territory traversed by
the Pennsylvania. The agree
ment worked both ways, as the
Pennsylvania agreed not to enter
upon the Vanderbilt territory.
The result of this agreement was
that the South Penn route was
abandoned.
Ever since the reported dream
of Jay Gould for an Atlantic sea
board line with an outlet at New
York for his vast system of rail
ways, it has been a perplexine
problem to secure a route, LEI
alone right of way, to build the
necessary line. With what pro
gress has already been made in
extending the line from Toledo to
Pittsburg, by the purchase of the
Wheeling & Lake Erie and the
building of the Pittsburg, Car
negie & Western from Jewett, O.,
to Pittsburg, and with the posi-
bility of purchasing the Western
Maryland, it appears that Jay
Gould's dream is going to mate
rialize in the very near future.
The Gould interests have so fai
bid the highest for the Western
Maryland road which is another
indication that the South Penn
route will be chosen as a Pitts
burg outlet. The rumor that the
Wabash intended to build line tt
Harrisburg and there connec
with the Philadelphia & Reading
for Allentown to New York owe
the Central railroad of New
Jersey seems to be without foun
dation as it is well known that tn
Philadelphia & Reading is a Nor
gan line and that Morgan is to-
friendly to the Pennsylvania inter
ests to allow the Gould interests
an outlet over that route. BY
purchasing the Western Mary
land and the building line from
Pittsburg to Shippensburg owe
the South Penn route the Wabasl
will have little opposition to theil
contemplated seashore outlet.
Behind the proposed route an'
ready to pour the entire east
bound traffic over the Wabash
Pittsburg-New- York lines is th,
following railroads aggregatini
14,745 miles of track: Missoui
Pacific system, 5,326; Texas ant
Pacific, 1920: international 4