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Interstate Commerce Commission, Valuation Reports, Volume 34

Pennsylvania and New York Canal and Railroad

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Location and General Description of Property

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The railroad of the Pennsylvania and New York Canal and Railroad Company, herein called the Pennsylvania and New York, consists of a double-track line extending in a general northwesterly direction from Wilkes-Barre, Pa., to the Pennsylvania-New York State line, near Sayre, Pa., and a single-track line from Avoca to West Pittston, Pa. The above lines, together with numerous short branches extending principally to local mining operations in the vicinity of Wilkes-Barre and Pittston, total 136.208 miles of road.

Introductory

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The property of the Pennsylvania and New York was operated by its own organization from the date of the completion of the first portion of the road, to November 30, 1888. From December 1, 1888, to date of valuation, it has been operated by the Lehigh Valley, under lease.

Corporate History

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The Pennsylvania and New York was incorporated, as the North Branch Canal Company, under the provisions of a special act of the State of Pennsylvania, approved April 21, 1858, for the purpose of acquiring and operating certain canals known as the Upper and Lower North Branch Divisions, formerly owned by the State of Pennsylvania. Under the provisions of a special act of the State of Pennsylvania, approved March 20, 1865, authority was given for the construction of a railroad, and for the change of name from North Branch Canal Company to that first mentioned above. The organization of the company was perfected May 24, 1858.

Development of Fixed Physical Property

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The owned mileage of the Pennsylvania and New York, 136.208 miles, was acquired partly by construction and partly by purchase. The termini, mileage, and date acquired for operation of the various main lines and branches are given below.

Recorded
mileage
Acquired by construction:
Main line—
Wilkes-Barre to Pittston, Pa., 1867. 9.500
Pittston, Pa., to Pennsylvania-New York State line, 1869. 85.454
Branches—
Towanda branch at Towanda, Pa., prior to 1867. 1.540
Waverly branch, Sayre, Pa., to Pennsylvania-New York State line, 1869. 1.440
Lehigh and New York branch, Sayre, Pa., to Pennsylvania-New York State line. 2.130
Austin branch—
Austin Junction, Pa., to old connection of Pleasant Valley branch, 1871. 1.300
Connection with old Pleasant Valley branch at Austin Breaker, 1891. 3.950
Mountain cut-off—
Avoca to Pittston Junction, Pa., 1887. 2.300
West Pittston branch—
Coxton Junction to Kingston, Pa., 1882-1887. 8.250
East leg of wye at Pittston Junction, Pa., 1888. 0.160
Avoca loop at Avoca, Pa., 1888. 0.510
Canal Street branch at Wilkes-Barre, Pa., 1888. 2.420
Bowmans Creek branch—
Port Blanchard branch at Port Blanchard, Pa., 1888. 0.110
Maltby Junction to Luzerne, Pa., 1890. 1.000
Colliery branches—
Prospect Colliery, 1871. 0.780
Heidelberg Colliery, 1871. 1.690
Heidelberg Colliery No. 2, 1871. 0.430
Exeter Colliery, 1882. 0.910
Maltby Colliery, 1884. 0.560
Forty Fort Colliery, 1885. 0.520
Harry E. Colliery, 1886. 0.200
Seneca Colliery, 1887. 0.650
Black Diamond Breaker, about 1887. 0.410
William A. Colliery, 1889. 0.640
Stevens Colliery, 1889. 0.480
Hutchins Colliery, 1889. 0.630
E. Boston Breaker, 1889. 0.050
Mount Lookout Colliery, 1894. 0.530
Fowlers Mills Colliery, 1890. 0.570
Lawrence Colliery, 1894. 0.460
Westmoreland Colliery, 1896. 0.760
Total. 130.334
Acquired by purchase: [from who?]
Branches—
Pittston to Pittston Junction, Pa., 1867. 1.830
Miners Mills branch—
Mill Creek to Miners Mills, prior to 1867. 1.250
Mineral Springs Colliery branch, prior to 1867. 1.490
Henry Colliery branch, prior to 1867. 0.570
Total. 5.140
Grand total. 135.474
Difference between total recorded mileage and mileage inventoried as of date of valuation. 0.734
Mileage inventoried as of date of valuation. 136.208

In addition to the property acquired as set forth above, the Pennsylvania and New York purchased, on May 25, 1858, from the Sunbury and Erie Railroad Company a finished canal 105 miles in length. Portions of this canal have been converted into right of way for the road owned by the Pennsylvania and New York.

Leased Railway Property

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The property of the Pennsylvania and New York is leased to the Lehigh Valley for the term of 99 years from December 1, 1888. The stipulated rental consists of the payment by the Lehigh Valley of the obligations of the Pennsylvania and New York under lease or agreements, all dividends as earned on preferred stock, interest on funded debt, interest on the floating debt which may be issued or contracted for the purpose of extending the railroad, and organization expenses.