Some stories found in local and area newspapers describe the ongoing efforts in 1910 to complete the surveying of the land over which the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad would be built.
The article from 2 August 1910 is one of the few in which the local “managers” of the railroad are named.
____________________________
From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 1 July 1910:
TO START NEW ROAD
Engineers for Midland Pennsylvania Establish Quarters
By Special Correspondence
Millersburg — The engineering department of the new Midland Pennsylvania Railroad has rented the second floor of the new Pick Building for office quarters. There are eighteen members of the corps and actual work on the new road is expected to begin this week.
_____________________________
From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 2 August 1910:
ENGINEERING CORPS BEGINS OPERATIONS
Midland Valley Railroad Excites Great Interest in Lykens Valley
The engineering corps of the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad Company, with headquarters at Millersburg, began active operations Saturday and there is great interest throughout the valley.
Elected as officers of the Lykens Valley Board of Trade are the following: president, Joseph R. Romberger; first vice-president, J. Irwin Miller; second vice-president, R. R. Updegrave; treasurer, Valentine W. Quigel; secretary, T. S. Klinger.
A Board of Managers, representing their respective districts, comprises:
Killinger – F. W. Lenker, George M. Weaver, C. E. Hoy;
Valley View – Abe Schoffstall, J. E. Rickert, R. R. Updegrave;
Berrysburg – Joseph F. Romberger, Jacob W. Harman, George F. Warner, Morris S. Daniel, alternate;
Hegins – Franklin P. Barnd, Valentine W. Quigel, Morris S. Schwalm;
Gratz – T. S. Klinger, J. W. Phillips, Harry Smith;
Weishample – Clarence S. Maurer, Archibald H. Keller, Edwin Lucas;
Springville – J. Irwin Miller, D. W. Herb, Howard Weist;
Mabel – A. L. Yoyer, C. H. Kessler, Walter Yoder
Sacramento – S. A. Buffington, C. E. Harner, Calvin J. Header;
Gordon – C. A. Kleber, Austin L. Kaufman, A. H. Bolick.
The people are clamoring for a railroad, and the newly organized Board of Trade will make a supreme effort to obtain the Midland Valley, which is practically assured. Speaking recently, Finley Acker, of Philadelphia, said:
“When you search for the basic cause of the prevailing ignorance regarding this valley and the present scarcity of varied industries, you will find it to be wholly due to the entire absence of railroad transportation. Your valley, all the way from Gordon to Millersburg, has been wholly dependent upon the slow transportation which your forebearers used when the Declaration of Independence was read, 134 years ago.
“Among those who are familiar with the subject I find the opinion to prevail universally that there is no other locality in the United States which, for the introduction of a railroad, is so advantageously situated; which has a settled population so large and thrifty;which is assured of such large immediate passenger and freight earnings per mile, and which has such favorable prospects of continuous growth as Lykens Valley.”
_____________________________
From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 23 Aug 1910:
Engineers For New Railroad Working South Side of Valley
By Special Correspondence
Millersburg — The corps of engineers surveying the route for the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad, between this city and Ashland, are now working along the south side of the valley, near the Wiconisco Creek, endeavoring to secure a better route. The corps in about a week will move their headquarters to Gratz.
_____________________________
From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 7 September 1910:
New Engineering Corps
Millersburg — A new corps of engineers has arrived and has begun the final survey for the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad. The first corps has gone to Gratz….
_____________________________
From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 7 October 1910:
Corps of Engineers Moves Forward
Millersburg,,,. Another force of Midland Pennsylvania Railroad surveyors, located here for several months, moved to Gratz.
_____________________________
Transcribed from Newspapers.com.