The Progress from Clearfield, Pennsylvania • Page 1

BY GEORGE A.SCOTT, EDITOR OF THE PROGRESS Transportation A Trio of Railroads (25th of a Series) In addition to the major railroads The Pennsylvania, New York Central and the Baltimore Ohio along with the Buffalo Susquehanna, now a part of the B. tracks of four other railroads were laid in Clearfield County either before the turn of the present century or shortly thereafter. Coal again was the major lure for three of the railroads but a fourth was constructed solely for the purpose of hauling cut stone from a quarry. None Now in Area These railroads were the present-day trie-Lacka- wanna; the Pittsburg, Shawmut and Northern; the Bloom Run; and the Pittsburgh and Susquehanna, whose predecessor was the Altoona and Philipsburg Connecting Railroad, better known as the "Alley Popper." The latter three lines have long since passed out of existence and the Erie- Lackawanna hasn't sent a train south of Brockway, Jefferson County, since 1960. Because of their relatively minor impact on the Clearfield Area, the Erie-Lackawanna, Pittsburg, Shawmuf Northern and Bloom Run Railroads will be covered in this one article.

The Pittsburgh and Susquehanna or the "Alley Popper" merits more attention, which it will receive in the next two articles this series. The Erie Railroad The Erie's southward push into the coal fields of Elk, Jefferson and Clearfield counties, primarily for a source of fuel for its locomotives, began Feb. 26, 1859 with the merger of two earlier roads to form the Buffalo, Bradford and Pittsburgh Railroad Company under the sponsorship of the New York and Erie Railroad Company, later to be known as the Erie. Connecting with the main line of the Erie at Carrollton, N. the B.

B. P. ran for 25.97 miles through Bradford to a point called Gilesville, site of a bituminous mine, by Jan. 1, 1866. The New York, Lake Erie and Western Coal and Railroad Company pushed the line south for 29.68 miles to Johnsonburg (this section included the once famous Kinzua viaduct) in 1881-82 and in 1897 trackage rights were obtained over the Pennsylvania from Johnsonburg to Brockway (then known as Brockwayville), a distance of 27.76 miles.

Effective May 1, 1907 the Erie obtained new trackage rights over the Buffalo, Rochester Pittsburgh from Clarion Junction, north of Johnsonburg, to Eleanora Junction, later known as Cramer, in Jefferson County, a distance of 50.67 miles. A .89 Mile Long Road Eleanora or Cramer. was the site of a huge mine of the Northwestern Mining and Exchange an Erie subsidiary. The Cramer mine was closed in 1959 and Erie trains stopped running there at the same time. Clearfield County sports fans- will remember the strong Cramer baseball teams of the JC League in the late 40s and early 1950s.

Although its trackage rights over the B. R. P. B. O.

made it only a transient resident of Clearfield County, so to speak, the Erie did become a bonafide industrial citizen of the county with the incorporation Oct. 3, 1906 of the Eriton Railroad Company and construction by 1908 of -89 of a mile line from Eriton Junction on the B. R. P. to the mining town of Eriton.

The big Eriton mine closed in 1925 and the Interstate Commerce Commission gave permission to abandon the line in 1933. Only a few of the original houses remain at Eriton today but a Sykesville firm has begun a housing development in that area. Much of the former mines area is now used by the Old Town Beagle Club of DuBois as a training ground and the old Eriton tunnel, used by the Buffalo Susquehanna, has long since been abandoned. The P.S. N.

Railroad The Pittsburg, Shawmut and Northern Railroad Company had a connection or branch into Tyler as its only operation in Clearfield County. This was a 2.89-miles link built from Force to Tyler in 1919 by the Kersey Railroad, a subsidiary incorporated March 13,1900 to reach coal fields in the Weedville, Elk County, area. The Pittsburg, Shawmut and Northern Railroad was incorporated in New York Aug. 2, 1899 as a consolidation of a Pennsylvania company of the same name and the Central New York and Western Railroad Company, according to a history written by Dr. Roger B.

Saylor of Pennsylvania State University. Each of these two companies had an independent and complicated development, Dr. Saylor notes, and at the time of the P. S. N.

incorporation there were 145.38 miles of standard and narrow gauge railroad in five disconnected pieces. Eventually, through a lease agreement with the Brookville and Mahoning Railroad, which was renamed the Pittsburg and Shawmut in 1912, the P. S. N. attained its maximum mileage of 204 miles and operated a main line from Wayland, N.

to Kittanning, in 1914. The lease with the Pittsburg and Shawmut was ter- minated Sept. 1, 1916 with a resulting large loss of tonnage to the P. S. N.

Although the Pittsburg and Shawmut has no further connection with Clearfield County than its relatively brief lease with the P. S. and it is interesting to note that it was sold just last December by the Arthur T. Walker Estate Cor oration to an unidentified group of Eastern investors. Included in the sale were the Walker Estate's Allegheny River Mining Co.

and the Pittsburgh and Shawmut Coal Co. The P. and S. now runs between Freeport, Armstrong County, to Brockway, with offices in Kittanning. Longest Receivership in U.

S. The Pittsburg, Shawmut and Northern is unique in that it was involved in the longest receivership, over 41 years, in the business history of the United States. It had defaulted on interest payments on its bonds and on Aug. 1, 1905 was forced into Despite its receivership status, it managed to survive the great depression of the 1930s but its operations shrank each year and on June 1, 1946 it could not meet its payroll. A death blow was the agitation stirred up by Dr.

Elizabeth Hayes about housing conditions of the mining towns of the Shawmut Mining Company, a subsidiary, in Elk County which was followed by a strike on July 16, 1946. Dr. Saylor, in his history, comments that "The Pittsburg, Shawmut and Northern was a jerry-built road which Please Turn to Page 10, Col. 4 THE PROGRESS Today's Chuckle The world judges you not only by what you stand for, but by what you fall for. Vol.

61 No. 269 Clearfield, Curwensville, Philipsburg, Moshannon Valley, Thursday, November 16, 1967 Copy 10 Cents 15,590 Copies Daily 30 PAGES TODAY Earlier Deployment But No More Westmoreland To Hold Troop Line WASHINGTON A Gen. William C. Westmoreland reportedly will press for earlier deployment of troops already authorized but won't ask for a bigger U.S. troop i in South Vietnam, sources say.

These same sources predicted Westmoreland's request will be agreed to today when the U.S. a in South i a meets i President Johnson at the White House. Westmoreland's talks i Johnson continue high-level Vietnam conferences begun Wednesday when the President. met with Ellsworth Bunker, U.S. ambassador to South Viet- a Joining the President and at luncheon were Secret a of State Dean Rusk.

DP- fense Secretary Robert S. Mc- a a a a i a Earle G. Wheeler of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, director Richard Helms of the Central Intelligence Agency and special presidential assistant Walt W. Rostow. After talking with Westmorel a today, Johnson is to meet with Robert Komcr, chief of the U.S.

pacification effort in South i a reportedly gave John- son a a i i i i report on A i a progress in i a and a on his a i a by a Wednesday Saigon, tnld "It is very, very a i I a been more encouraged in my four years in Viet- a i i a progress by U.S. and South i a forces was i Westmorel a request a a i troop levels lie reached more i a scheduled. There now are a A i a i i men in Vietnam and Johnson earlier this a a i boosting to- feel a the a i both North Vict- a i by troops to 525.000 by he a to a him nrl Viet Con" 1 a reel- next 1 keep a i i i a But a is said to on the in the Please to Page 13. Col. 5 Haiphong Area Bombed By ESPER A a aid Ai I Hai- Assoeiated I'ress i a a i Cur- a i piers A I A U.S.

a Sea at norm and where an a a on a a bombed a boat a i i a No. 2." ict i might i Soviet- i and a i a close to the onr i of the a i A i a relations to a crisis of a i and only 1.7 of i i miles from the i a i a Three i i a a a a -p n( a said the docks today for the first i in (her a a i the i a a i in a i a a Turn to a 5. Col. 7 HIGHWAY SECRETARY Robert G. Bartletr, right, and rest of Stale Highway Commission listened to testimony from Clearfield County delegation at State College yesterday.

(Progress Photo) From Clearfield County Delegation David S. Ammernian introduces county delegation Nelson G. Parks outlines rnad needs Robert D. Jones asks Crooked Sewer work Highway Commission Gets Requests for 35 Projects By WILLIAM G. WILLIAMS Progress News Editor STATE COLLEGE i spokesmen for Clearfield County asked the State Highway Commission at a public hearing here yesterday to consider 35 projects in its continuing six- year construction program.

"Many of the projects are familiar holdovers from previous listings; others are being listed for the first time." Nelson G. Parks, executive director for the Clearfield County Planning Commission, told the seven-man a body. Parks a a i spokesman for the county but remarks were also made by: David S. A a chairman of the county commission; Robert D. Jones, of the Southern Clearfield County Planners Nonpublic School Aid May Be Part Of Fiscal Pact By VINCENT P.

CAROCCI HARRISBURG (AP) Rep. Martin P. Mullen said today he was confident the solution to the slate's fiscal dilemma would include financial aid for parochial and private schools. "I don't see any other way it can be worked out," Mullen, D- Pbiladelphia, commented. Dry, Warmer Weather Could Aid Road Job A few days of dry and above 40 degree weather could mean the completion of blacktopptng along Clearfield's Route 322 reconstruction project.

A spokesman for the contractor, Herbert R. Imbt Inc. of Slate College, said this morning that although the immediate weather prospects do not favor the operation he is hopeful that enough days of more typical a i weather will come along within the next week. The dry, above 40 conditions are necessary for putting the Please Turn to Page 13, Col. 4 Legislative leaders met with Gov.

Shafer for 90 minutes Wednesday, on the heels of a four- hour session Tuesday night, and were scheduled to get at it again at 3 p.m. this afternoon. Shafer called the latest bargaining session "most satisfactory," and while insisting no final agreement had been reached, said a tax package could be passed as early as next week. The hottest report to sneak out. of the closely-guarded deliberations was that Shafer was agreeable to an additional penny tax on cigarettes, with proceeds earmarked solely for nonpublic school aid.

A nickel increase, to 13 cents, already has been approved this session. Neither Shafer nor would comment specifically on the report. "The conferees, a agreed all along not to discuss specifics Please Turn to Page 13, Col. 3 Inside The Progress Classified Ads 20, 21, 22 Hints From Heloise 25 Comics 29 News From Around World 13 Sports 18, 19 Obituaries 13 Hospital News 15 Editorial, Columns 4 Social News 7 Today in History 4 Sunday School Lesson 14 Salute 6 Births 13 DuBois R. D.

2 Man Heads ASCS Group J. Sherman Smith of DuBois R. D. 2 has succeeded James of Luthersburg as chairman of the Clearfield County Conservation Committee, ASCS office at Clearfield announced yesterday. Mr.

Bonsall resigned 31 due to the press of other business. The ASCS County Committee now consists of Mr. Smith, who formerly was vice a i a Wayne Freye.r of Kcrrmoor, the new vice a i a John W. R.iddlc of Curwensville, the new member, and Duane Peters of Woodland R. first alternate member.

Goodbye to Political Posters, Thanks To District DeMolay If you are wondering a happened to all Ihe polilical advertisements that were tacked to utility poles, trees, fence posts and the like, ask the members of the Clearfield and Philipsburg DeMolay. These young men spent last Saturday afternoon roaming about the Clearfield County-Mo. shannon Valley area removing the signs. It was a i service project on the part of members from Clearfield and Philipsburg who traveled to Curwensville, Grampian, Woodland, Biglcr, Philipsburg, Shawville and Frenchville to remove the poster ads. Some of them dated back to the 1964 campaign.

The boys collected a pick-up truck load of the posters and photographs and burned them at. the Cams Brothers Planing Mill on Old Town Road. Secretary, Jhree football Aides Quit Valley AMESVILLE Leonard E. Buranovsky tendered his resignation last night as secretary a as a member of the Mos a Valley School Board. The resignation, submitted due to the pressure of business, was accepted with regret.

Mrs. a i a D. Holencik was elected secretary to fill the unex- pired term. A a a now exists on the board. The resignations of Frank Monlorc, Alfred Pallo and Robert Sinclair as assistant fool- a coaches were submitted and accepted.

A resolution of respect and regret in the untimely passing and the county i i Mayor J. Wilson Laing of CoaJ- port; and Mayor Paul of Irvona. The County a i Commission's testimony covered three categories: five Iraffic hazard elimination projects; five sections of the Route 219 relocation; and 25 miscellaneous projects. Mr. Jones and the two mayors argued for improvements to Crooked Sewer Road and Route 53.

The Planning Commission suggestions are: Hazard Eliminations Pleasant Hill, a Philipsburg. .3 mile, S34.000, already on Highway Commission project inventory. Route 17037 near Bloominglon, .3 mile, S56.000, already on in- venlory. Route 86.1 east of Grove. .4 mile, $42.000, already on inventory.

Route 322 and Route 153, i section at Eigler. improve I a fic and channelization. new project. Route 53 at i a between Chester Hill and Osceola Mills, i new project. Route.

21!) Relocation Norlh of Luthersburg. lanes, 4.4 miles. SG.762.000. McGees Mills to 17008, two lanes. 5.5 miles, 84,555.000.

170(14 to McGees Mills, Mayor J. Wilson Laing stresses B-C-I roads Mayor Paul Lindsey pushes Rt. 53 work Lawrence Board Approves Plan For Interchange Please Turn to Page 8. Col. 5 The Weather Cloudy, not so cold (Sec Forecast Page 8) Please Turn lo Page 8, Col.

3 BLOODMOBILE GIVE BLOOD BE A DONOR BLOODMOBILE The Red Cross Bloodmobile will be in St. Francis School Auditorium, Monday, Nov. 20, from 1 until 7 p. m. The Lawrence Township Board of Supervisors last night approved, by resolution, a plan for the development of Lawrence Park by the Lawrence i a i Commission at the Oct.

10 board meeting. a Park is a proposed complex to be i by the Tracy Dale realty i and Boron Oil Co. a a to the Clearfield I a of the Keystone Short a a Run. The plan which the supervisors approved a nigh; was prepared by the i consult- i i i Rodgers Associates. a shows projected i i a recreational and i a plots as well as an access road to an a i i in the i i i The i a will he i by the developers, to a a i specifications, of course.

Closer home and more im- i a were a i i design at. the i new i i off Old Town Road, with the supervisors and towns i engineer John Hess con- i on office and conference room facilities in the building which will soon be ready for use. Representatives of the Lawrence Fire a No. 1 -Chief Rowles. Joseph S.

Thompson, i Lawrence Stevens, secretary; and Don a first assistant chief a the meeting Please Turn to a Col. 5 In Pennsylvania Coal Survey Completed (EDITOR'S NOTE: A study titled, "The Economic Importance of the Coal I to Pennsylvania" has been completed at The a i a Slate University by Dr. George H. K. Schenck, assislant professor of i a economics, and Dr.

John J. Sehanz former professor of i a economics, now- at the University of Denver. Following is the first of a three-part summary' of the report.) UNIVERSITY A A comprehensive survey of the econ i i a of a nia's coal industry with recommendations for future a i has been completed at The a i a State i i This study of one of the slate's great industries was years in a a i and represents a significant effort toward a i the importance of coal. The 200-page report was prepared the auspices of the Commonwealth's Coal Research Board. In a a i the net contributions of coal to the state's econ- Plcase Turn to Page 8, Col.

2 Russell McCreadie Heads Fire Police Patrol at Clearfield McCreadie was elected i of the Clcarfield Fire Police a at, a a i a a i last, i He i serve i a i John M. Thorn, vice i a J. a sec- a a Pyle, a i i a Stewart, a i a sec- a a a a i i a a i i a Newton, i i a i i a Stew- a second i a Charles S. Powell, third Elected to serve a four-year on the Board of Governors was E. G.

Prills. Patrol reminds area patrols of the. police school a starts this Sunday at 2 p.m. i Clearfield Junior i School West, Room 12, Captain John E. Shult7.

of the Clarion Police a will be the i All members of area patrols are urged to attend. iNEWSPAPERl.