Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-02-09

age between these two points. AS the
existing highway here is already of
insufficient width for public safety in
travelling, the State Highway Commis-
sioner declined to issue the permits to
the railroad company and requested
them to find for the State sufficient
land paralleling their tracks whereon
TO construct highway of sufficient
width to render vehicular traffic safe
at all seasons of the year.
The State Highway Commissioner
called Mr.. Lincoln's attention to the
fact that the railway company, at the
present time, was occupying the site
of the highway as originally laid out,
permission to do so having been OBJ
tanned many years ago from the
township supervisors. The State High
way Commissioner informed Mr.. Lin
coin that he had been unable to find
anything in the law which would war
rant township supervisors extending
to public utilities companies any right
of way over highways under their
jurisdiction, in fact on contrary, he
said he had found that township
supervisors were specifically pro-
hibited from so doing. In conclusion
the State Highway Commissioner in
formed Superintendent Lincoln that
the permits would be withheld until
adjustment of this question had been
reached.
MFR. Lincoln's Letter
Under date of February 8, Super
intendent Lincoln wrote State High
way Commissioner Cunningham as
follows:
Wiliamsport, Pa, Feb. 5, 1916.
Hon. h. ]. Cunningham,
State Highway Commissioner,
Harrisburg, Pa.
Dear Sir
In the matter of your letter of
January Goth, the receipt whereof l
have heretofore formally acknowl-
edged. which said letter relates to GER
tain applications made by the Will
Transport Division of the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company for permits from
the State Highway Department au-
thoriZing certain changes in the loca-
ton of State Highway Route No. l, l
note the following paragraph in your
said letter:
Referring to the records OF the
original layout of the highway in
question it has been found that it
was laid out 80 feet in width and
the understanding is that where a
road has been absorbed by a rail
road company that one equal to the
original width must be supplied.
(See 215 Pa. ST. Reports, page
l49).
LAS the question of the width and
location of the highway in question,
as originally laid out, will probably
be fundamental in dealing with the
problems discussed at our interview
of January 26th, we have endeavored
to ascertain the facts in connection
with the original laying out and open
ing of said highway, but thus far have
been unable to obtain sufficient data
to enable US to reach a satisfactory
conclusion.
You doubtless have access to the
records referred to in your letter
upon which the above quoted para
graph of the same is based.
ITO the end that we may be in a
position TO deal intelligently, and |
trust harmoniously. with the situation.
won't you please give me a reference
TO the records showing that the high
way in question was laid out at an
original width of so feet and the rec
ords showing the location of said
highway.
Yours very truly,
(Signed) H. P. LINCOLN.
Superintendent"
The Reply
Under date of February s Commits
sioner Cunningham replied to Mr. Lin
coin, the text of his letter being as
follows:
February s, 1916.
II. p. Lincoln,
Northern Central Railroad,
Williamsport Division,
Williamsport, Pa.