Year: 1866

Whereas, The Atlantic and Great Western Rail
way Company are the owners of a railroad ex-
tending from Salamanca, in the State of New York,
through Pennsylvania, to Dayton, in the State OF
Ohio with two branches, one extending to Buffalo,
in the State of New York, and the other to Frank
lin, in the State of Pennsylvania, and the les
sees, for terms of ninety mine years. of the OIL
Greek Railroad, the Cleveland and Mahoning Rail-
road, and the New Lisbon Railroad, and have also
a contract with the OincinnatL Hamilton and Day
ton Railroad Company, for tie concurrent use of
the railroad Of the latter company from Dayton to
Cincinnau;


And whereas, The Western Central Railroad
Company, under the direction and control of the
Atlantic and Great Western Railway Company,
are about commencing the construction OF rail-
road, extending from some point upon the line OF
the Atlantic and Great Western Railway at or near
Franklin, Venango county, Pennsylvania, to a
point near Milesburg or Belletonte, in Centre
county;


And whereas, The Lewisburg, Centre and Spruce
Greek Railroad Company, under the direction and
control OF the Atlantic aud Great Western Railway
Company, are about commencing the construction
of railroad from the eastern terminus of the said
Western Central Railroad in Centre county, to a
point upon the Catawssa Railroad, in Northum-


And whereas, The Atlantic and Great Western
Railway Company and the Western Central Rail-
road Company have leased the Catawlssa Railroad
for the term of nine hundred and ninety nine years
from the first day of December in the year Of our


And whereas, 1t is the intention of the Atlantic
and Great Western Railway Company to lay a
track OF practical uniform gauge with that of the
present gauge of the railroad of the party of the
second part, from the point of connection with the
Western Central Railroad, in Venango county,
Pennsylvania, westward TO Dayton, in the Slate of
Ohio, and eastward to Oil City, Pennsylvania;


And whereas, the. Western Central Railroad
Company and the Lewisburg, Centre and Spruce
Greek Railroad Company intend to lay a track Of
practical uniform gauge with that OF the
present gauge Of the railroad of the party of
the second part upon the entire length of their
spectve railroads, thus forming, with the several
railroads before mentioned, an unbroken line of
narrow gauge railroads, from Cincinnati and
Cleveland to the southeastern terminus of the Ca
tawissa Railroad, under the management and con-
Company the Western Central Railroad Com
pany, and the Lewisburg, Oentre and Spruce
Greek Railroad Company, and forming, at various
points along It's line, connections with all the prin-
cpal railroads in the west and northwest


And whereas, The Atlantic and Great Western
Railroad Company have leased the Morris and
Essex Railroad, in the State of New Jersey, for
the term of nine hundred and ninety nine years;


And Whereas The Philadelphia and Reading
Railroad Company, by means of the main line OF
their railroad and other branches leased and con-
troled by them, connect the southeastern terminus
Of the Catawissa Railroad with the city of Phila-
delphia thus forming with the several railroads
already mentioned continuous line of railroad
connecting the cities of Cincinnati, Dayton and
Cleveland, and other important points In the west
with the city of Philadelphia;


And whereas, The East Pennsylvania Railroad
Company are about extending the line of their
railroad from Allentown TO point upon the Del
aware river at or near Easton, to connect with the
Morris and Essex Railroad Aforesaid;


And whereas, the Philadelphia and Reading
Railroad Company are about TO construct, or
cause to be constructed, a railroad from point
upon their main line, at or near Hamburg, or Port
Clinton, to point at or near Topton, upon the
East Pennsylvania Railroad, thereby forming, in
connection with other portions of their road, and
roads leased by them, and the East Pennsylvania
Railroad, as extended to the Delaware, continu-
line of RAILROAD connecting the Oatawissa Rail-
road with the Morris and Essex Railroad;


And whereas, the said several railroad COM
panies above mentioned have agreed with each
other, severally TO receive and transport their
respective railroads with promptness and dis
patch, all such freight and passengers may be
delivered by any other Of said companies at any
point OF connection, and further to manage and
direct thelr several lines IN such q manner as at
all times TO insure the prompt transmission OF all
through freight and passengers, and TO avoid any
unnecessary detention to either at any point OF
connection or junction: The object and intent be-
ing that the said several railroads shall be
worked, managed and directed by the respective
corporations owning or controlling the same as to
form one great through route from the cities of
Cleveland, Cincinnati and Dayton, and all other
points to or with which the said the Atlantic and
Great Western Railway Company may have
cess or connection to the city of Philadelphla via
the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad and it's
Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, the East
Pennsylvana Railroad, and the Morris and Es-


Now this agreement and contract made and con-
cluded this tenth day OF January, in the year OF
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and SIXTY
six, between the Atlantic and Great Western Rail-
way Company the Western Central Railroad
Company, and the LewIsburg, Centre and Spruce
Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company OF
the second part, and the East Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company or the third part. Witnesseth, that
for and in consideration as well of the premises,
and the advantages and benefits TO be derived bV
each from the facilities 70 be afforded by the others
for the transportation OF freight and passengers,
aforesaid, Of the sums OF money TO be expend-
ed by each in constructing and preparing their
several railroads for the accommodation of the
through trade received from the others, the said
parties have covenanted and agreed, and by these
presents do covenant and agree each with the other
as follows, VIZ:


First That from and after the execution, and
during the continuance OF this agreement the par
ties of the first part will deliver the parties OF
the second part, at the southeastern terminus of
the Catawissa Railroad, known as Oatawissa
Junction. both freight and passengers (the lines
avenues Of transportation for which they, the par
ties of the first part, may have the legal power TO
select or conrol) received by hem the said parties
Of the frst part, or either Of them, at any point
west OF Oatawissa Junction, upon the several rail-
roads now owned, leased or controlled, OF here
after TO be built, owned, leased or controlled by
Them the parties of the first part or either OF them
and destined eastwardly from Catawissa Junction
TO or beyond any point upon any OF the several
railroads now owned, leased or controlled, here
after TO be built owned leased controlled by the
parties Of the second and third parts either OF
them.


Second. That from and after the completion of
the extension of the East Pennsylvania Railroad
from Allentown to the Delaware river, and its
connection at said river with the Morris and Es-
sex Railroad, at point to be known, and in this
agreement hereafter designated as Morris and Es-
sex Junction, and during the continuance of this
agreement the Atlantic and Great Western Rail-
way Company will deliver to the party of the
second part or the party OF the third part, the
party of the second part may from time 70 time de-
termine, at said Morris and Essex Junction, both
freight and passengers (the lines or avenues of
transportation for which they, the said the Attain
tic and Great Western Railway Company, may
have the legal power to select or control received


CONTINUED on Second Pdgel