The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1909-04-08
RAILROAD RUMBLINGS.
The Old South Penn May Yet Be Resur-
rected and Become a Mighty Live.
Iy Corpse.
SHORTER LINE ACROSS STATE NEEDED

ago, the line of the old South Penn
stretching itself across the coun-
ties of Franklin, Fulton, Bedford,
and Somerset, to the West, was
the center of animation. Thou
sands of laborers were at work
boring holes through the noun.
ans, digging great cuts through
the hills, or bridging the hollows
with giant fills. Fat contractors
were in evidence, and here and
there along the line were the var.
ious camps, known by the name
of the contractor having the work
of that particular section in hand.
1t took lots of provisions to feed
this great army of men, and it
was cinch for the local butcher,
the farmer, and everybody else
that had anything to sell or trade
and the booze vender, too, came
along for his share of the fnan-
cial advantage of the great enter
prise. But, as is only too well
remem bered, after tve and half
millions of dollars had been spent
and everybody along the line felt
tbot tho roilr.No ri yuo O. n sumo +I,;,,c.
orders came one day to the con-
tractors to close down the work
indefinitely, discharge their men,
come to the desk and get their
money; and, If at any time IN the
futnre their services would be
required, they would be so ln-
formed.
1t was sad day for the farm.
ers along the road when they
saw the Italians marching away,
teams hauling the picks, shovels,
camp outfits, and other things
that had been used IN carrying
on the work. And 1t is little won
der that they felt blue; for many
of them had given the right of
way through their farms for the
advantage they expected to gain
by having the new railroad IN
their neighborhood.
1t was not on account of any
mistake in Judgment on the part
OF the projectors of the new road
that 1T was not finished, but be
cause the Pennsylvania railroad
could not afford at any cost to al.
low the competing road to be
built, and the Pennsy has way
OF sllencing opposition when it
sets It's head for the task.
Just now those who think they
are wise IN reading the signs OF
the times, say that 1T is only a
question of a comparatively short
time when work on the old South
Penn will be resumed, and fast
trains will be whlzzing across the
state from Philadelphia to Pitts.
burg, leaving the Pennsylvania at
Harrisburg, running up to Ship
pensburg over the Cumberland
Valley, and thence across the
mountains over the old South
Penn right of way, and thus save
fifty miles in distance and about
an hour IN time between Phlla.
delphia and Pittsburg. Cumber.
land Valley officials, who proba.
bly, know as much as any one
else about the matter, decline to
discuss the proposed short line
to Plttsburg.
The published report SAYS:
'The Gum berlandValley is arous-
ed over the report that the Cum
berland Valley railroad, which is
now controlled absolutely by the
Pennsylvania, Is to be four-track.
ed, with the intention of making
IL part of a new shortcut fast
freight and through passenger
line between New York and Pitts
burg.
vast improvements are said
to be contemplated, and are in
dicated by extensive purchases
of land all along the line of the
railroad. The latest big purchase
was the Rupp farm, just east of
Shlremanstown. One report is
that large shops are to be erected
there. The officials admit the
purchase but decline to say what
the land is to be used for.
''Plans we're made some time
ago for the double tracking of
the Cumberland Valley bridge
acroea tho Snoo,oha