The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-09-03

subsequently Built-D., L. & w. Is
the Second Largest Producer Of An
thracite Coal.
Like the Pennsylvania Coal company
| and the Delaware and Hudson Canal
company, the Delaware, Lackawanna
and Western Railroad company was
formed by group of old-tlme New
York merchants, and SO has always
been conducted in a manner different
from these roads originating with and
| run by modern speculative interests.
Throughout an existence of fifty years
it has been characterized by large and
| regular earnings. The company had its
| origin in the purchase of large tracts
of land in Slocum Hollow, then part of
Luzcrne county, Pennsylvania, by the
Scrantons, who owned the oxford iron
furnace, in the western part of New
Jersey
Although 1t was known that coal un-
deraid the territory, the land was pur-
chased at an extremely low price, ow-
ing to it's inaccessibility. This was
some time in the forties. The develop
ment of the property soon began and
the village of Scranton was located.
The idea was to produce coal for the
oxford furnace, as well as for market,
and for this purpose a railroad line to
carry the product was built north from
Scranton to a connection with the Erie
railroad at Great Bend, a few miles
from Binghamton. This was called the
1.cggett's Gap railroad, the name being
changed April 14th, 1851, to Lacka-
wanna and Western.
FIRST LOCOMOTIVE.
AS showing the crudity of railroad
operations at that time there might be
mentioned that the first locomotive
placed on this road was a secondhand
machine which the owners had discard
ed on short road which they owned in
New York state. After having laid
under a wagon shed for several months
it was put on raft and noated to
Pittston, whence is was run over the
rails of the Pennsylvania Coal COM
pany's railroad to a point near Scran-
ton, where 1t was put on the new road.
After an experience of couple of
years, the roundabout route via Great
Bend and the Erie railroad was found
to be inconvenient and more direct
line east over the POcono noun tains was
built. This was heavy undertaking,
and taxed the resources of the new
company to the utmost, the cost Of de-
livering material in that section Cal.
most inaccessible) being very great.
However, the line was opened to the
TNp1,
the same time the Warren Railroad of
New Jersey, upon which the Oxford
furnace was located, was leased. thus
affordinS a connection with the Central
Railroad of New Jersey and an outlet
to New York harbor. Some time be-
fore the completion of the road to the
Delaware, the company which built it
consolidated with the Lackawanna and
Western. and the whole line became
known as the Delaware, Lackawanna
and Western railroad.
In 1868. the Morris and Essex railroad
| was leased, affording a somewhat bet
ter outlet to New York harbor. and in
the following year the Boonton branch
Of the Morris and Essex was built, i'm
proving facilities still further. In the
| course of the next twelve years an en-
tcnsive mileage in the state of Now
York was leased or built, affording di-
| rect outlet to Oswego and Buffalo.
SECOND LARGEST PRODUCER.
The Delaware, Lackawannr and
Western Railroad company is ...2 sec
| ond largest producer of anthracite coal,
| being exceeded only by the Philadelphia
| and Reading Coal and Iron company.
| There are two organiza tions which con-
troll more tonnage, the Erie and the
Lehigh Valley, but in both cases the
coal is not produced under a single
management or individual corporate
control.
The Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western has twenty-four mines having
an aggregate annual output of over g.
100000 tons. A considerable part of the
property is located in the city of
Scranton, and more of it in Lacka-
wanna township, which is immed tely
| adjacent thereto. Other operations are
located in Dickson City, Plymouth and
Kingston townships. The entire coal
properties are owned outright and are
supposed to have cost less than the
properties of any other of the large
| companies, having been in possession
| of the Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western for very many years.
AS the company has a charter ante
dating the present constitution of the
state of Pennsylvania, 1t Is enabled to
carry on the mining OF coal as part of
the abroad business without violating
any of the present legal requirements
Therefore the receipts of the coal de-
partment are included in the earnings
of the railroad company, ami all bust
ress pertaining to the mines is con-
Quoted in the name of the railroad
company. Coal constitutes something
more than one-half the total business
of the company, and until freight and
passenger earnings We're developed of
late years, was even more important
The special feature of the company's
coal business is its large Western tom
| mage, which it hauls over it's own line
| as far as Buffalo, and the important
| tonnage placed in Central New York
which is hauled to destination over its
own line.
| TRAFFIC PROFITABLE.
| By not having to pro rate with any
other railroad company OH this busi-
ness, the traffic is very profitable. Foi
many years the railroad was operated
strictly to the view of distribution OF
coal and passenger travel was sec-
ondary consideration. The New York
state roads to Utica, Oswego and Syra-
euse were acquired for the purpose OF
securing new markets, and when the
| New York Central insisted on an arhi.