J. C. & L. E. Railway to Make Many Improvements to Avoid the High Water.
With the near approach of spring the Jamestown, Chautauqua & Lake Erie Railway has commenced extensive operations with a view to raising the tracks between Jamestown and Clifton above high water mark. It will be remembered that during the recent flood-time the water stood over the tracks all the way from Jamestown to Clifton, in places the water being 18 inches deep. A year ago the water was even higher. By strenuous efforts regular train service was maintained, but the company wants to avoid future trouble of this kind.
The gravel for the filling will be brought from a point near Clifton, where the company bought a gravel bank containing 70,000 cubic yards on the Thayer farm last year. It will be an expensive operation, but according to present plans it will doubtless be carried out.
The improvement of the roadbed was commenced last year, when 30,000 new ties were put in. This, in itself, represented a large outlay, for ties cost 50c each and in addition the freight on each amounts to 19c. The placing of the new ties cost nearly $5,000, so that the total expenditure on this item of road improvement was about $25,000. The management is working hard to build up the road to a fine state of efficiency.
The latest equipment added is a new caboose that is fitted for use as a passenger car in case it is considered desirable to run a combination freight and passenger train. This car arrived Monday. In the passenger compartment there are two parallel seats running lengthwise of the car, one on each side. It is equipped with toilet facilities. There is also a baggage compartment and a small room where the railroad men can keep their clothing, lanterns and other supplies. Above this closet rises the usual caboose cupola.
Work is already in progress on the boats of the Chautauqua Steamboat Company, the men now being engaged in overhauling the boilers. It is the intention to have the fleet in excellent condition for the opening of navigation. – Jamestown Post.
Source: Westfield [NY] Republican, 26 February 1913, p. 2, NYS Historic Newspapers.