1870-1871 Newspaper Discussions on Proposed Ithaca & Cortland Railroad

 

The Cortland County Standard, Tuesday, December 20, 1870.

ITHACA AND CORTLAND RAILROAD.

   The honest and confiding taxpayers of this town, at the time they yielded their assent to its being bonded to the amount of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to aid in the construction of the Utica, Chenango and Cortland railroad and the Ithaca and Cortland railroad, expected, and they were assured, that they were east and west lines, and they would connect at a point in the southerly part of the village.

   Accordingly the first map and profile of the Ithaca and Cortland railroad adopted by the Directors and filed on the 8th day of July, 1870, designates a line running directly east from the marl ponds and entering the village on South Main street, near Hyatt’s.

   And in accordance with this line, the Utica, Chenango and Cortland railroad located theirs, and several miles are graded. So far as the lines and the connection of the two roads wore concerned, all seemed, for the time being, satisfactory.

   A few weeks passed away when a strange desire began to be manifested to change the route from the marl pond into this village. This desire did not originate in Cortland, although it was blindly followed afterwards.

   It was obvious to every observer that the line from the marl pond east, (with a slight change west of the stone quarry) as designated in the July map, should be adhered to. It was quite evident that sinister influences were at work in antagonism to the interest of the taxpayers, and regardless of the prosperity of the village, in the bold proposition to change this straight line into one having a large amount of curvature, thus Increasing its length and crossing thoroughfares and streets, to the great detriment of public travel, and rendering many houses unfit for dwellings, and thus adding largely to the cost of the right of way.

   By this change the contractor would be benefited in the Increased length of road to be built, for it will add to the expense of construction alone some $15,000. Disregarding the original contemplation of connecting the two lines, this malign influence is now engaged in a divergence of the Ithaca and Cortland line to Syracuse.

   Having (in an unfortunate hour for this town) obtained possession of its bonds to the amount of $100,000, this same influence now lords it over the Directors, and with design, aided by a strange acquiescence, the rights of the town and the interests of the village are trampled in the dust.

   On the 10th of November, 1870, a map, designating this new route, was filed in the Clerk's office.

   The owners of the land over which it runs are especially opposed to its location, and for the following reasons among others:

   First—It unnecessarily increases the length of the line nearly half a mile.

   Second—It unnecessarily crosses important thoroughfares and village streets, and in such proximity to populous districts and dwellings as to create a constant source of annoyance and danger.

   Third—It passes so near the cemetery that the sight and noise of trains will disturb and embarrass processions and ceremonies incident to the burial of the dead [not to mention waking of the dead—CC editor].

   Fourth—It unnecessarily passes so near houses as to render them unfit to dwell in.

   Fifth—The cost of the right of way will be largely increased.

   Sixth—It is run on a line with a large amount of curvature.

   Seventh—The expense in constructing the road will be increased about $15,000.

   It is claimed that the original route, as designated on the map and profile, filed with the Clerk in July last, should be preferred to this new route, and for the following reasons among others:

   First--It is the shortest and an easy grade.

   Second—It is the most direct and without curve

   Third—It is less expensive.

   Fourth—It crosses fewer thoroughfares.

   Fifth— It is less disturbing to streets and dwellings.

   Sixth—Its entrance into the village is distant from the cemetery and without harm thereto.

   Seventh—For about two miles the grade into Cortland village from the west is descending.

   Eighth—It has the approval of three accomplished engineers.

   Every citizen of this town, and especially the taxpayers, have a deep interest in these matters, and no time should be lost in maturing a determined opposition to these mischievous designs.

   Dated Dec. 20, 1870.

 

   BRAKEMAN KILLED.—About three o'clock yesterday afternoon, MARTIN PEMBROOK, a brakeman on the Syracuse and Binghamton division of the Delaware and Lackawanna Railroad, was almost instantly killed by falling between two cars and being run over. He was walking on the top of the cars, and in jumping from one to another fell, as stated. This accident occurred at Chenango Forks. His body was terribly crushed and mangled. The deceased was eighteen years of age, and had but recently come into the employ of the company. He was a sober and intelligent young man, and had many friends. His remains were taken to the residence of his widowed mother at Binghamton.

   —Syracuse Journal, 15th inst.

The Cortland County Standard, Tuesday, January 10, 1871

ITHACA AND CORTLAND RAILROAD.

   The Ithaca Journal takes exceptions to some matters relative to the above road advanced by a late correspondent of this paper. In its last week's issue it says:

   We observe from an article in the Cortland Standard of last week that the influences which have been at work from the first to defeat the building of our railroad are not satisfied with delaying it for six months or more but are still active against it.

   As we happen to know, the first location of the Ithaca and Cortland Railroad in the town of Cortland was made by the unanimous vote of the Board of Directors, and subsequently that location was changed by a vote just as unanimous. Six of the thirteen Directors reside in Cortland and may be trusted both tor their honesty and capacity, and the reasons that induced the change were, and are, we believe, for the best interest of the road and all its proposed connections.

   The road up the Otselic via Cincinnatus, which is now being constructed, has the best wishes and fullest co operation of our road so far as is possible; but not to the exclusion of other proposed roads.

   There is nothing in the present location of the I. & C. road less convenient or desirable for that road than the first location, but as the first location provided for no connection with the Syracuse & Binghamton Railroad, but crossed their track about a mile south of Cortland village, and as after full efforts that company declined to change their depot to accommodate that location, the Ithaca & Cortland were left to the option of changing so as to run into the present depot or carrying their passengers from one depot to the other by omnibuses—a style of transfer the general public are not partial to on through lines; and certainly it is a little too much to ask all the passengers between Elmira and Syracuse to make such a change at Cortland.

   Another strong argument in favor of the present location was that thereby the Midland Railroad could be the more readily reached and inducements for its extension over the Ithaca & Cortland Railroad would be greatly increased.

   In this Cortland and Ithaca had a common interest, and we are happy to say we have it upon the best authority that the arrangements are being consummated that shall bring the Midland both to Cortland and to Ithaca. Will not this be more satisfactory to the people of Cortland than the exclusion of the Midland from her borders?

   The men who write and talk like the correspondent of the Standard are hostile to the Ithaca & Cortland and also to the Midland, but they will be compelled to have both before next midsummer, and in fact we expect to see the Midland cars running through Cortland to Ithaca before the Otselic line is graded. But Cortland wants both lines; Ithaca wants both lines, and by the present arrangements both it is hoped will be secured.

   We would suggest to any disaffected friends in Cortland that by co operation they will gain more than by hostility. We have the cars now running on a portion of the Ithaca part of the line and hereafter shall have two passenger trains daily from Ithaca to the "outer world," and if our friends had put their shoulder to the wheel a little earlier the cars would to day be running through to Cortland. We feel confident that men interested in other roads and hostile to ours may be charged with this failure, and the longer they are listened to the longer will the consummation be deferred.

   We believe the Directors have done and can be trusted to do the best possible for the road to the location as in everything else, and we know Cortland will soon find herself in the enjoyment of two roads eastward instead of one for which we shall all be thankful.

Cortland County Standard, Tuesday, December 27, 1870.

ITEMS.

   Mrs. ELIZABETH CADY STANTON lectured at Homer last Thursday evening. The fact that she was to lecture there did not seem to be generally known here till that day. We have heard several of our citizens regret that they could not sooner have known it, as they would have been glad of the opportunity to hear this celebrated woman. We would suggest to the Homer Lecture Association that some means be adopted to acquaint the people of this section with their course of lectures, as we feel confident that their receipts will be sufficiently increased thereby to pay them for the trouble. The next lecture of the course (as we have learned accidentally) will be delivered by Gen. KILPATRICK, but when we are not advised.

   Our citizens should bear in mind the lecture by "Prick" POMEROY [possibly Dr. Theodore C. Pomeroy--CC editor] on the evening of January 4th, one week from to-morrow night. The reserved seats are already nearly taken, and those wishing them should send in their names as early as practicable.

   Last Saturday telegraphic communication between Cortland and Ithaca was completed by the connection of the wires at the postoffice in this village. Immediately on the instruments being in working order, the following congratulatory message was sent:

 

CORTLAND, Dec. 24, 1870.
Otis S. Wood and others, Directors of the I. & C. R. R., Ithaca:

   We congratulate you upon the completion of our telegraph line and wish you all a merry Christmas.

H. P. GOODRICH,

R. H. DUELL.

   And the following answer was returned:

ITHACA, Dec. 24.

H. P. Goodrich and others, Directors, etc.

   Your telegram received. We accept and return congratulations. Merry Christmas also in return. We hope early another year our railroad may emulate our telegraph in successful completion, from Ithaca to Cortland.

For Executive Comm.

OTIS E. WOOD.

   Mr. WOOD but expresses the hope of thousands of citizens, which, indeed, gives cheerful promise of fulfillment.

 

   Work Suspended, Jan. 10, 1871.—Work has been suspended for the present on the Branch between Norwich and DeRuyter, and probably will not be resumed during the extreme cold weather. The track being laid as far as DeRuyter, the only work left to be done is that of ballasting, which is found to be impracticable at this season of the year. We hear a rumor that an accommodation passenger train is to be put on the road in a few days, but cannot vouch for its correctness. The probabilities are that the road will not be opened for business until spring.

Editor's note:

View 1906 film of Market Street, San Francisco, a few days before earthquake struck: http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=NINOxRxze9k