The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1911-04-12
LAKE SHORE r. r. EXTENSION.
Road to Enter Forest County Territory
to Reach Clapp Lands.

The Franklin News of the 9th inst. con-
tained the following account of PROPOSE
tion to reach the Clapp timber lands on
Hemlock creek in this county and
possibly from connection with the
Collins road at Nebraska.
"Not long ago Jamestown, N. Y, par.
ties purchased portion of the Clapp
estate, lying principally in Forest county
just over the Venango county line, with a
view to developing it for oil and timber.
Recently they and other parties having
timber land in Venango county conferred
with officials of the Lake Shore road with
view to having branch line extend
from the vicinity of Van, or East Sandy
station. up the valley of Tarklin run to
aid in the development of the properties.
Yesterday party of Lake Shore officials
came here from Youngstown and went
over the Franklin & Clearfield line with
some of the property owners and dis
cussed the proposed new branch in all its
phases.
In the railroad party were the follow
ing: d. Il. Murray, division superin-
tendent; F. F. Fiefel, assistant division
superintendent; d. J. Torbron, division
freight agent; F. r. Meggers, a civil
engineer. Those interested in the pro-
perty were u. L. Squires and James Fl.
Forbush, of Jamestown, N. Y; ]. Z.
Kevreline, Of Pinegrove township, who
controls 800 acres, and Rev. d. B. To-
bey, of Franklin, who controls 800 acres.
W. t. Bell and daughter went along as
the guests of Superintendent Murray.
The special train went as far as Conder
station and on the return trip the men in
terested in the land got Off and took a
driving trip up the Tarkiln valley. 1t
was pointed out to the railroad men that
the proposed branch would traverse a
section of country rich in natural re-
sources, 1t is believed that the timber
on the Clapp and other tract is sufficient
in quantity to provide active operations
for many years. There Is also good tim
land along Tarkiln run, and it is said
that the land is underlald with coal.
There are also valuable deposits of sand.
1t is thought to be the aim of the owners
of the timber land to have the proposed
branch extend to Nebraska and connect
with the Collins railroad The distance
is twenty-five miles. 1t has been pointed
out to the Lake Shore officials that such
a branch would not be very expensive,
as the rights Of way can be had for prsc-
tically nothing and there would be little
grading to do. The ties and ballast
would be furnished by the property
owners. The largest item of expense
would be the construction of a trestle
across East Sandy creek, where the new
branch left the Franklin & Clearfield line.
The total cost of the road would probably
not exceed 100000 1t is understood
that Superintendent Murray promised
the property owners that he would have
preliminary survey made at once. If
the Lake Shore fails to build the proposed
branch, 1t is likely that the Collins rail-
road will be extended into the property,
as result of which the Pennsylvania
will get the business, these roads con-
Meeting at Sheffield"
The project to extend the road on
through the timber and oil lands and con-
meet with the Collins road at Nebraska is
also quite rife. 1t would also tap the
Wheeler IL Dusenbury railroad at Ross
Run, which latter connects with the
Pennsylvania at West Hickory. This
route would be by way OF Fertigs, Venus,
Wolfe's Corners, Newmansville, thence
down Piney run to Nebraska, and would
provide a very feasible short route with
an easy grade.