Railroads and Railroad Street

The Cortland News, Friday, April 4, 1884.

Elmira, Cortland & Northern Road.

From the Elmira Advertiser.

   "What is the significance of the change of name on your road?" asked a reporter of Superintendent McLeod of the Elmira, Cortland & Northern railroad.

   "Well, it really means," said that gentleman, "that the old corporations, such as the Canal railway, the U., I. & E., the C., C. & D., and that portion of the old Midland from Cortland to DeRuyter, have passed into one vigorous corporation, and is now being made a railroad second to none in the country in point of roadbed, motive power, rolling stock and service."

   Since it came under the present management six new engines have been put on the road, and two of the old engines have been rebuilt, and two more are now in process of construction. Sixty miles of track have been relaid with steel rails, and before the snows of next November fly, it is the intention of the company to have their entire track of steel.

   Various other improvements are being made along the line. The addition to the shops at Cortland, which will double their present capacity, is already up. The interior of the new station here is being finished, and will be ready for occupancy by the middle of April.

   The superintendent reports that the gain of the freight and passenger business for the month of February, over that month one year ago, was twenty eight per cent. Within six weeks a train will be put on the road running directly into Syracuse via the Syracuse, Ontario & New York railroad, which runs through Cazenovia. Altogether the outlook for the road is more favorable than it has been before for years.

 

CORTLAND AND VICINITY.

   The Wickwire Brothers have bought of Mr. R. Beard the vacant lot adjoining a house owned by him on Church street, formerly the Elder property; paying therefor $2,500. They have also bought Mr. Lewis Davis' residence in the rear of their factory, paying therefor $3,000. They have also under consideration a proposal for the purchase of Mrs. Doud's property on Court street. If this and other negotiations are carried out, in which other parties are interested, it is the intention of these gentlemen to extend Railroad street [Central Avenue—CC ed.] through to Main, the above firm will remove their factory to near their other wire factory at the U., I. & E. depot, Dickinson & McGraw's building will be removed, and the land on both sides of the new street opened to the building of blocks, for which purpose there is no question but that it will be eagerly seized upon. From the D., L. & W. depot, therefore, Railroad street will extend straight to the center of the village, and of course be the main thoroughfare.

   A number of our most enterprising citizens — D. Bauder, J. M. Samson, A. Mahan, C. W. Collins, H. Wells, A. Sager, J. S. Barber, C. and T. H. Wickwire, and others, are negotiating for the property of Mr. J. S. Barber, on which stood the block [Groton Ave., north side near Main St.—CC ed.] which was burned, and the premises of Mr. F. Ives, east of and across the street from the Cortland House land. It is the intention of these parties to erect a block on the former ground in connection with the new Cortland House, the front of which will be devoted to stores, and the rear to an opera house. The first plan was to buy the Ives corner and the premises of J. M. Smith, and put up a fine, large opera house, but the price was too high, and the above mentioned project is the one now most likely to be carried into effect, in which case a business block only will be erected on the Ives corner. With Railroad street extended to Main street and built up, fine blocks in place of the ruins of the Wickwire and Garrison blocks, a handsome new Cortland House, and fine buildings on each side — well, anybody can foresee the business effect.

 

Meanness Superlative.

   There have been a good many mean things done by certain men in this town, a specimen brick of which was the stealing of the post-office and carrying it from the place it had occupied for about forty years, down to the extreme southern limit of the business portion of our beautiful village; but it remained until this week for the deviltry which before had only blossomed to ripen into the perfect fruit of cussedness. Some of the people of the village desired to extend Railroad street from Church to Main. It is to open up and beautify a portion of the town now substantially a waste. To carry it out it became necessary to buy of Mr. Beard the old Elder place. This the Wickwire Brothers contracted verbally to do for $2,500, and paid $1,000 down. The gentlemen from the south [Mr. Squires, W. H. Clark and business partners implied—CC ed.], finding it was to be carried out, went to Mr. Beard and offered a premium to break his contract and let them have it to kill the project. Mr. Beard, like an honest man, resisted the temptation. Comment is unnecessary. The facts explain themselves.

   But the deed is being recorded and these conspirators against the welfare of our village may take it when fully recorded, and by the light of their "opaque moon," find how evanescent are all human hopes, when based on rascality, and a desire to injure others that conspirators may thrive and fatten. When this street is extended the Standard block will be further in the country than ever, and that is the milk in the cocoanut.