News of the year 1921 of the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad is presented here as reported in area newspapers.
For all previous articles on this doomed project, see: Midland Pennsylvania Railroad.
_____________________________________
From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 28 January 1921:
LEGAL NOTICES
NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE.
Notice is hereby given that under, and as directed by a decree of the Common Pleas of Dauphin County, entered December 14, 1920, in the suit of the Commonwealth Title Insurance and Trust Company, Trustee, under deed of trust executed by Midland Pennsylvania Railroad Company dated July 1, 1910, against Midland Pennsylvania Railroad Company No. 665 in Equity, the said trustee will at the courthouse in the City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, at 2 p.m., on Wednesday, the 9th day of March, 1921, offer and expose to public sale as an entirety all of the property, estates real and personal, corporate rights and franchises of the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad Company, a brief description of which is as follows:
All and singular the partially completed standard line of railroad beginning at the junction thereof with the lines of the Northern Central Railway Company at a point immediately south of the intersection of the same with Shippen’s Run in the Borough of Millersburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and running thence in an eastwardly direction through the counties of Dauphin and Schuylkill to an intersection of Center Street at or near Fourth Street in the Borough of Ashland, including rights of way, easements, station ground, tracks, passenger and freight houses, engine and car houses and buildings and structures of every kind and description, and including all equipment, locomotives, cars, machines, tools, wires, poles, etc., and all material and fuel for constructing operating or repairing a railroad, and all franchises, liberties, privileges and immunities of said railroad including the franchise to be a corporation, and all property of whatsoever kind or nature owned by the railroad at the time of said deed of trust was given or thereafter acquired.
CONDITIONS OF SALE
No bid less than $25,000 will be accepted, and no bid will be received from any bidder show hall not have deposited with the trustees as a pledge that he will make good his bid in case of its acceptance the sum of $5,000.00 in cash or certified check on a bank or trust company of the State of Pennsylvania. The deposit made by any unsuccessful bidder will be returned when the property is stricken out and the deposit received from the successful bidder to be applied on account of his bid. Twenty per cent of the purchase money must be paid in cash to the trustee within ten days after the property is stricken down the deposit above provided for to be part of said twenty per cent, the rest of the purchase money shall be paid to the trustee within three weeks, aafter date of confirmation of the sale for which confirmation trustee shall make application within two weeks after sale I first installment of purchase money has been paid in full, in making payment of said balance of eight per cent, bonds acquired by the above-mentioned deed of trust may be used at such value as trustee may estimate may equal the amount such bonds would receive in the pro rata distribution of the purchase money; in case of failure to comply with terms of sale the amount of deposit shall be forfeited and applied as specified in the decree.
The property shall be sold free and clear of all encumbrances except mortgages, judgments or other evidence of indebtedness that appear on record as prior in lieu to the mortgage or deed of trust above reference to, and free and clear of equity of redemption and of other interests except taxes due the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which taxes the purchaser or purchasers will be required to pay in addition to his or their bid.
COMMONWEALTH TITLE INSURANCE & TRUST COMPANY, Trustee
Northwest Corner Twelfth and Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia
JUNKIN & NEWBOURG, C. H. BERGNER, Counsel
_____________________________________
From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 9 March 1921:
Harrisburg – The Pennsylvania Midland Railroad Company with all its stock, right of way, material, etc., was bought by a committee of bond holders to-day for $33,000. It was placed on sale by a Philadelphia bank which held a mortgage. The line was to run from Millersburg to Ashland but was never completed farther than Gratz.
_____________________________________
From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, 9 March 1921:
State Tax on Midland Railroad, Sold at Auction
The Midland Pennsylvania railroad, extending forty-four miles from Millersburg to Ashland but never operated, which was sold at public auction here recently to a committee of bondholders for $33,000 on foreclosure proceedings, was subject to State taxes of $10,896.63 and a mortgage of $6400, it became known here today.
_____________________________________
From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 10 March 1921:
Railroad in Upper End of County Is Sold For $33,000 by Auctioneer
All the property of the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad Company, including ties, right of way and other equipment, was sold yesterday by Auctioneer Maxwell H. Hite to a committee of mortgage bondholders at a public sale in front of the Courthouse, held in compliance with a court order secured by the Commonwealth Title Insurance and Trust Company, Philadelphia, trustee.
The consideration was $33,000, the purchasers assuming State taxes amounting to about $10,000 and a mortgage against a station for approximately $6,400. The railroad was started several years ago and was to be built from Millersburg this county, to Ashland, Schuylkill County. It was completed to a point beyond Berrysburg, after which work stopped. The mortgage bonds which were outstanding amounted to about $900,000, this debt being wiped out by the sale, which netted the bondholders only $33,000.
___________________________________
From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, 10 March 1921:
Midland Railroad Right of Way Sold
The right-of-way of the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad Company which abandoned plans after completing a small part of a proposed forty-four mile railroad between Millersburg, this county, and Ashland, Schuylkill County, about eight years ago, was sold at public sale in front of the Courthouse late yesterday afternoon and bought in by a committee of the bondholders for $33,000.
The sale, which came about through a foreclosure, was subject to State taxes amounting to $10,896.63 and a mortgage of $6400.
_____________________________________
From the Lebanon Evening Report, 11 March 1921:
Bondholders Buy Pennsylvania Midland Railroad Subject To Taxes
A bondholders’ committee Wednesday bought the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad, extending from Millersburg to Gratz for $33,000. The railroad, which was never operated, was intended to extend to Ashland. It was bought subject to State taxes of $10,896.63 and a mortgage of $6400. A Philadelphia bank was the seller.
_____________________________________
From the Harrisburg Patriot, 11 March 1921:
MIDLAND RAILROAD SOLD FOR $33,000
A bondholders’ committee Wednesday bought the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad, extending from Millersburg to Gratz, for $33,000. The railroad, which was never operated, was intended to extend to Ashland. It was bought subject to State taxes of $10, 896 and a mortgage of $6400. A Philadelphia bank was the seller.
______________________________________
From the Philadelphia Inquirer, 11 March 1921:
Uncompleted Railroad Sold
Special to The Inquirer
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, 10 March [1921] – The Pennsylvania Midland Railroad was bought by a committee of bondholders for $33,000 when placed on sale yesterday by a Philadelphia banking group which held a mortgage. The line was to run from Millersburg to Ashland, but was never completed beyond Gratz.
_____________________________________
From the Altoona Tribune, 12 March 1921:
MIDLAND RAILROAD IS DISPOSED OF AT AUCTION
All the property of the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad Company, including the right of way and other equipment, was sold on Wednesday by Auctioneer Maxwell H. Hite to a committee of mortgage bondholders at a public sale in front of the Harrisburg court house, held in compliance with a court order secured by the commonwealth Title and Trust company, Philadelphia, trustee.
The consideration was $33,000, the purchasers assuming state takes amounting to about $10,000, ad mortgage against a station for approximately $6400. The railroad was started several years ago and was to be built from Millersburg, Dauphin County, to Ashland, Schuylkill County. It was completed to a point beyond Berrysburg, after which work was stopped. The mortgage bonds which were outstanding amounted to about $900,00 this debt being wiped out by the sale, which netted the bondholders only $33,000.
_____________________________________
From the West Schuylkill Herald, 18 March 1921:
ABANDONED RAILROAD SOLD
The Midland Pennsylvania Railroad Company, with all its stock, right of way, material, etc. was bought by a committee of bondholders Wednesday of last week for $33,000. It was placed on sale by a Philadelphia bank which held a mortgage. The line was to run from Millersburg to Ashland but was never competed farther than Berrysburg, with grading as far as Gratz.
_____________________________________
From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 23 March 1921:
Sale of the property of the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad Company, which was organized with the intention of constructing a line from Millersburg to Ashland, Schuylkill County, was confirmed in court to-day. A committee of bondholders purchased the property at a public sale on foreclosure of a mortgage for $960,000. The rails, ties and other equipment will be sold.
_____________________________________
From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, 23 March 1921:
Midland Railroad Sale Confirmed by Judge
Judge Hargest signed an order confirming the sale of the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad Company which was bought at public sale recently by a man representing the bondholders of the company. The railroad was never operated. Ten and more years ago its construction was started with the idea of operating between Millersburg, this county, and Ashland, in Schuylkill County.
H. Bergner, on of counsel in the case said the purchasers intend to “wreck” the railroad and sell it for junk.
____________________________________
From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 20 August 1921:
RAILROAD AGAIN IS SOLD; OWNER MAY REBUILD IT
Midland Pennsylvania in the Lykens Valley May Take on New Life
Millersburg, Pennsylvania, 20 august [1921] – The sale yesterday of the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad lines, land and equipment to George F. Moore, of Delaware County, was gladly received here by Lykens Valley residents, who still have hope that the line started several years ago would be competed and open up a rich agricultural section that is now virtually untapped by a railroad.
Moore bought what remains of the original road for $30,000. The new owner will complete the line at once, according to reports here but little of any definite plans could be learned to-day.
The railroad was started more than 10 years ago by a number of Philadelphia capitalists and prominent residents of the Lykens Valley. It was to begin at Millersburg and go through Berrysburg, Gratz, Valley View, Gordon and end at Ashland, where the plan was to make connections there with the Philadelphia and Reading Railway.
The road was built as far as Berrysburg. Several trains were run in to that point and then everything stopped. Since then several attempts were made to complete the road, but money was unavailable. People of the valley, who put a great deal of money into the venture, failed to respond the second time. At Berrysburg a costly bridge spans the road, but no train ever ran over it. The grading was competed to a point near Gratz.
One of the promoters of the original plan was the late Joseph F. Romberger, a prominent merchant of Berrysburg and a president of a Lykens bank. He and a number of other traders of the first plans have died. Boards of Trade were established in all of the Lykens Valley towns to aid the railroad proposition, but they, too, passed out with the railroad.
____________________________________
From the Harrisburg Patriot, 22 August 1921:
MIDLAND R. R. NOW BEING DISMANTLED
Line From Millersburg to Point Near Berrysburg Sold and Track Is Torn Up – Selling Right of Way
Reports of a sale last week which would result in the rebuilding of the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad which once extended from Millersburg to a point near Berrysburg, are declared in Millersburg to be without foundation.
The road was sold on March 9 of this year in an equity proceeding in the Dauphin County Court, instituted by the Commonwealth Title Insurance and Trust Company of Philadelphia, trustee, against the company. Payment was made on June 24.
The charter rights and property of the company were sold to the trustee company and Benjamin F. Moore, Delaware County, was named to handle the sale of the property of the road. It is declared that under the deed of trust delivered, it was specified that the property was not to be built. The consideration was $33,000.
Moore has been going ahead with the sale of the road which was started ten years ago and was to have extended to Ashland, but which never reached beyond Berrysburg. The rails and ties were taken up long ago and have been sold gradually after having been stored in Millersburg. Three carloads of rails were sent away recently.
The Millersburg terminal has been sold to the American Legion Post and the Gordon terminal has also been sold. The equipment of the road was sold through Walter L. West, a consulting engineer of Philadelphia, and the real estate through James C. Bowman of Millersburg.
Bowman has disposed of much of the right of way and station property already and has received no instructions to discontinue the sales of the forty-mile right of way. Much of the property is being sold to the former owners.
___________________________________
From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, 22 August 1921:
Up-County Railroad Not To Be Built, Reports Say
Rumors that the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad which once extended from Millersburg to a point near Berrysburg will be rebuilt are without foundation, say reports from Millersburg. The road was sold on March 9, in an equity proceeding in the Dauphin County Court, to the Commonwealth Title Insurance and Trust Company, Philadelphia, and Benjamin F. Moore, of Delaware County, was named to handle the sale of the property of the road. It is declared that under the deed of trust delivered it was specified that the property was not to be built.
It is stated that the rails and ties have been taken up and sold and that much of the right of way has been sold to the former owners. The Millersburg terminal has been sold to the American Legion Post and the Gordon terminal also has been sold.
___________________________________
From the Elizabethville Echo, 25 August 1921:
MIDLAND RAILROAD RIGHT OF WAY BEING SOLD TO FORMER OWNERS
Last week there were several reports that as a result of another sale of the road, the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad would be put through from Millersburg to Ashland, but other reports declared that such reports were untrue.
The rails and ties were taken up from Berrysburg to Millersburg and stored at the latter terminal. Just recently three car loads of these rails were shipped away. The real estate at Millersburg was sold to the American Legion Post and the land along the right of way – 40 miles – is being sold by James C. Bowman, mostly to the owners of the farms along the route.
____________________________________
From the West Schuylkill Herald, 2 September 1921:
Midland Valley Railroad Is Sold For $33,000
Schuylkill county’s uncompleted steam railway, the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad Company, was sold to F. B. Moore, of Delaware County, for $33,000, the Commonwealth Title Insurance and Trust Company, of Philadelphia, acting as the medium of transfer. The map of the roads extends from Millersburg to Ashland, thru Berrysburg, Gratz, Valley View and Hegins. It was started 10 years ago, but graded only as far as Gratz from the Millersburg end. This will likely be the finish of the railroad for many years to come.
___________________________________
From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 27 August 1921:
LEGAL
NOTICE
Notice is hereby given to all holders of bonds of the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad Company and all other persons having claims against said company, that the undersigned, trustee, by order of the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin County, at its office at the northwest corner of Twelfth and Chestnut Streets (Room 517), Philadelphia, at eleven (11) o’clock a.m., on the 12th day of September, 1921, will receive all claims against the proceeds of the sale of all the property of the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad Company under foreclosure proceedings, arising on the first mortgage bonds or coupons belonging thereto or otherwise, and hear all persons interested therein or in the fund for distribution or alleging to have claims against said company. All claims not presented shall be forever barred from participation in the proceeds arising from the sale.
COMMONWEALTH TITLE INSURANCE AND TRUST COMPANY, Trustee.
____________________________________
News stories from Newspapers.com and from on-line resources of the Free Library of Philadelphia.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.