The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-04-05
ERIE'S NOTES AUTHORIZED
Improvements May Include Cutoff
Through Wayne County-Would
Mean Lighter Grade and Less
Miles
Especial to The Citizen. }


Albany, April 4.-The public SER
vice commission has authorized the
Erie railroad company to issue S10,-
100000 in three-year five per cent.
gold notes The proceeds are to be
used for double-track construction
and grade reduction.
The announcement of the above
issue of notes would lead the reader
to believe that something good might
be in store for Honesdale and Wayne
county The Erie proposes to make
a number of changes in it's road be-
tween New York City and Chicago,
several, however, having been made
in Ohio and on the New York divis-
ion The big issue will in a measure
improve its western divisions, but 1t
is claimed that possibly there will
be enough left in the treasury to
make the long-talked-of cutoff
through Wayne county.
The Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western and other railroads have, by
recent cut-offs, shortened their routes
between the Metropolis and the
Windy City, several miles. In order
to compete with these roads the
Erie must eventually come through
Wayne county. The p. r. Van Frank
survey made in 1868 of which the
late Charles Avery was surveyor, cuts
the distance down about II miles
over the present route by coming
through this county. Mr. Van
Frank was chief engineer for the
Erie at the time under whose direc-
/ tion the survey was made. Accord
ing to Mr. Van Franks survey the
distance between Lackawaxen, where
the Honesdale branch of the Erie
! leaves the main line and the Star
rucca viaduct, going across Wayne
county, was a fraction over 63
miles. From Lackawaxen to Star
| ruca via. the main line, it is about
! so miles.
! Not only the cutoff of II miles
would be a big item in coming
through Wayne county, but the
grade would be much lighter. Mr..
| Avery, in a letter on the subject to
! The Citizen, stated that the grade
was cut down more than one-half be-
tween Susquehanna and Tallman
Summit, near Lakewood. From an
other source, it is claimed that the
/ grade is only 40 feet to the mile
between Honesdale and to within five
miles of Ararat and only 54 feet to
the mile from the summit to the
| Starrucca viaduct.
! Mr.. Avery said: The survey was
pfade during the spring and summers
/ = 1864, frcn May to August. A
| route was surveyed from the head
waters of Johnson Creek. down
Johnson Greek to the LackawaXen,
| thence down the Lackawaxen by AL
denville, Prompton, HOnesdale, to
! 'Hawley, to connect with the Hawley
branch which was then building. A
return survey was made by Homes
dale and up the Dyberry by Tanners
Falls, crossing the head waters of the
! Dyberry and Equinunk creeks, pass
ing near Amos o. Sherwood's and l.
mile pond to where Lakewood now
stands. Thence down the Shadagee
and Starrucca creeks to Susquehan-
ma, connecting with the Erie at the
west end of the Starrucca viaduct
where the Jefferson branch now con-
meets with the Erie.
=" The Honesdale Branch has been
built and occupies part of the route
between IHonesdale and Hawley
while the Jefferson Branch is on the
survey, certainly as far as Brandts.
Taking all this into consideration it
would seem that it would pay to in
vestigate this route before going to
very great expense to change the
present route of the Erie"
Honesdale is one-third the dis
tance between New York City and
Buffalo. In the event that the cut
off is made Honesdale would without
a doubt be the end of the New York
division. Operating expenses would
also be cut down, which is an i'm
portant item in railroading. Should
the change be made the Erie would
undoubtedly do away with one less
terminal, cutting out Port Jervis and
Susquehanna and centering upon
/ Honesdale as the end of the first or
New York division terminal.
! Another story rife is that the Erie
may strike in on the cutoff at Mast
Hope, leaving the main line at that
point, coming through Wayne to
,Honesdale, cutting out Hawley and
other towns south and east of Homes
dale.
In all events Honesdale's future is
bright. The town will live to see its
best days and that, too, before many
years will have passed away. Here's
to a Greater Honesdale.
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