|
CITY OF DUBOIS Page 95
"Whereas, it is a matter of much public importance to
the state at large, that a railway should be completed at an early
date, connecting the valleys of the Allegheny and the Ohio with the
valleys of the East Branch of the Susquehanna, by a system of low
gradients, for the movement of heavy traffic, thereby developing a
valuable portion of this commonwealth and adding greatly to taxable
values for state purposes, as well as to provide, in connection
therewith, for the absolute security and final payment of the
principal of three and a half millions of dollars, originally owing
from the Sunbury and Erie Railroad Company, for the purchase of
certain portions of the original state canals, together with
interest thereon from January first, one thousand eight hundred and
seventy-two.
"And whereas, it is believed that these desirable
objects may be accomplished, and in order to grant sufficient
authority for effective efforts to be made to secure the same; Be it
enacted, etc."
This preamble recognizes the vast resources of these
two valleys. Why the Legislature of Pennsylvania should issue an
apology for passing this act is not apparent at this date; but
evidently there was some objection to this amendment and the
opponents were consoled with the idea of the state securing three
and a half millions of dollars, which the state had invested and
probably could not get without some concern floating bonds to be
sold to the public.
In less than sixty years these two valleys became a
great feeder to the Pennsylvania Railroad lines and in less than
three years after this charter was granted the foundation for the
City of DuBois was laid.
This railroad crossed the Allegheny Mountains on the
lowest pass in the mountains. The elevation of the railroad at the
summit, is about fourteen hundred feet above sea level. The tunnel
through the mountains is a little over nineteen hundred feet in
length.
It is the only pass in these mountains in which two
railroads, one crossing diagonally above the other, cross through
the mountain. Fom 1925 to 1931 the three largest railroad
corporations in the east battled for exclusive possession of this
pass.
A survey of this line of railroad was completed by the
Allegheny Valley Railroad and construction commenced some time in
187o or 1871.
That one may have an idea of the condition of things in
this locality, when the first construction train came up over this
road, and the natives heard the whistle of the train, two
experienced hunters gathered up their rifles and started into the
woods to shoot what they supposed was a panther, but was nothing
more than the whistle of the construction train laying track on the
new railroad.
|
