The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-03-14
WHY NOT WAKE UP!
VIM. j. Helm. of pittsburg, Writes Very
interesting Letter TO The People OF
Fulton County.

GENTLEMAN i noticed IN
the issue of the "Fulton County
News" of February 28th, a notice
of the project of building a line
from Cham bersburg to Mount
Union via, McConnellsburg.
About three years ago visited
Fulton county for the first time,
and shortly after, purchased
about 100 acres of land, and there
fore being interested IN the wc!-
fare Of that territory, it might
be of some interest to the resi-
dents of Fulton county to hear
thu impressions gained by visi'
tor who has kept in close touch
with the conditions there for the
last three years.
Being born and raised In Pitts
burg, which every one knows is
city of manufacture, mechanics,
aud electricity, well named the
"World's Workshop, i was amaz
ed to find a lack of pu bic interest
and facilities and old time meth
ods so close to our city, aud IN a
territory which | feel is so natur-
ally rich as to merit developmet.
| mentioned this to several resi-
dents and the reply was, the old
"South Penn" had come so near
completion, and then was drop
ped, that the people hal lost all
hope and everything deterlorat-
ed. If | am moi mistaken, that
occurred nearly twenty years
ago, and it seems to me tnat II
that is the real reason, it is time
to rise and become clear of rail
roads who maroon localities, and
happily the last ten years has sc
developed electricity that 1t solves
the problem, and is proving
boomerang all over this country
to the railroads, who practically
had everything in their hands ur
to the last few years. AS an in
stance [ will state that up to five
years ago, the best part of Pitts
burg lay on the north side of the
Monongahelariver. On the south
side of the river is mountain
1--WE call 1t hilD called Mt. Wash
lngton and in back of this noun
tam lay miles of farm land which
sold for 500 per acre ten years
ago. About three years ago q
tunnel three-fourth of mile was
bored through Mt. Washington,
and fast electric line was run
through and across country tc
Charleroi and Allenport about 2e
miles) This line taps a dozen
towns along the Monongahela
river, which formerly were only
reached by rail, which followed
the river and had to travel twice
as many miles. This electric
road makes almost as good time
as the p. r., any cars PASS any
point every half hour; the fare Is
less than half, and the result is
that ac cage, now laid out in lots
is worth from $4,000 TO S., 900
and Pittsburg is rapidly taking
up this section. Further con
struction is about to begin to ex
tend branch of this line to Wheel
ing, w. Va, a distance Of ~ miles
by rail. This road does not carry
freight, probably there Is legisla
ture against 1T, but it certainly il
an exceedingly good paying line
This proves practically that set
tlement and development will
surely follow the establishment
of facilities and every land owner
should lend his aid and encour
agement to any projects of thii
kind.
If there is to be legislation OF
the subject of allowing frelgh
haulage on electric lines, 1T seem
that the News should stimulat
, interest in every way to deman,
this leaislation, and this will O
, course be fought by railroads
, Every man should write his reI
rescntahve to support any sue
F, measure, or petition prepare
: and sent to the proper leglsli
: lures.
I, Electricity certainly is the con
+ ing power, it is cheaper, it's road
climb over hills and in place
x,hnro a laoAxx, "a tsyn AA.,ll ~