An October 1867 article from a Buffalo newspaper about the progress of the construction of the Buffalo and Washington Railroad from Buffalo to East Aurora.
BUFFALO AND WASHINGTON RAILROAD
Its Progress and Prospects.
Few persons, not immediately connected the enterprise, have any idea of the amount of heavy work which has been done on the Buffalo and Washington Railroad between this point and Aurora, or of the early day when the two places will be connected by rail.
A ride along the line of route, yesterday, disclosed the fact that of the sixteen miles of the road and Aurora, fourteen are graded and ready for the rails, and the detached portions, about two miles in all, at the heavy cuttings and deep swamps, will also be finished inside of the next two weeks, when the process of laying the ties and rails will be commenced. There are about five hundred men employed on the work now, and as fast as one spot is completed the spare force is concentrated at another, and everything that energy, brains, experience and money can accomplish is being brought to bear towards the completion of this portion of the road.
The line between Buffalo and Aurora, with the exception of a curve to cross Seneca street and connect at the N. Y. Central Depot on Exchange street, a slight and almost imperceptible deflection to avoid some high lands and deep cuttings is an almost perfect straight line. The grading is acknowledged by all railroad men who have examined it to be beautiful, and the nearest perfect of any road leading into the city. The work is done in the most substantial and economical manner. It has been so laid out through the city as to be the least possible obstruction to the streets, running, as it does, on a straight line on the rear end of one tier of lots midway between Seneca and Clinton streets.
At the little Buffalo Creek crossing a substantial trussel work bridge has been completed, and at Big Buffalo Creek a most solid T abutment, of flint stone, has been finished on the westside, and on the east side a like abutment will be completed by Saturday next; and the timber for the bridge is on the ground, being framed, and will be ready to be placed in position by the time the abutments are ready. The road strikes the creek at this point at right angles, and the size and quality of the stone used and mason work of these abutments will bear comparison with any work of the kind in the country.
Through the swamp near the Indian Church a substantial embankment has been made which will resist all freshets. At the gulf a fine arched culvert is being made, the ring stones cut, and on the ground; the arch in course of construction and the filling in, at this point, will be completed by Saturday next. The numerous culverts on the line of the road are all constructed with the same quality of durable flint stone.
All along the road we noticed piles of ties, of the hardest woods, already hewn to their proper thickness and of a uniform length, ready for being laid. The iron for the rails is now on the way, and by the 20th of November next it is confidently expected the first trial trip will be made between the two points.
When we consider the amount of heavy work done, and the short time in which it has been accomplished—for it was not, virtually, commenced until the first of August last—no better illustration of the old adage “money makes the mare go’* could be had. It also affords a most striking comparison of the advantages to be derived from working such enterprises on the cash principle, over the old credit system, by hypothecating the bonds of the roads. Too much credit cannot be given the stockholders of this road for the cheerfulness with which they have paid in their installments, and the interest they have taken in the road. It argues well for the ultimate and speedy completion of the road to Emporium. It has aided and strengthened the exertions, of the engineer, contractors and employees, and has infused a spirit of confidence in the people along the entire route that will produce the most beneficial results.
Besides the pride that our people may take in this beautiful road, they have cause to rejoice that it will prove one of the most beneficial routes leading into this city that has been projected by the pioneer of railroad engineers in this city, Wm. Wallace, Esq. It will open up to Buffalo the great natural outlet to the coal, a commodity so much desired by our increased manufacturing interest. It will bring almost to our very doors the finest bituminous and anthracite coal mines in the world, and afford a natural outlet for the timber and other products of a rich and fertile region, which have, hitherto, been almost inaccessible. The distance to Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington will also be shortened some thirty miles or more.
No road ever opened under more favorable auspices. Buffalo will begin to reap the benefit of the enterprise from the day of its opening to Aurora, in the facilities that will be afforded to bring in the fuel, timber, bark and agricultural products of that section. But the crowning results cannot be accomplished until the road is pushed into the coal mines, and this should be done inside of two years, Mr. Wallace, the engineer, seems to be wrapped up in his pet scheme, which, it seems, thirty years ago he conceived, and actually run over the route for a skeleton profile; the contractors, Messrs. Degraff & Smith, are most competent men for the work, having devoted the best part of their lives to such work, and built more railroads than any other contractors in the country; the officers of the road are men of capital and unflagging energy;. the people on the line of the route are eager to subscribe to the stock and push on the work, and we really can see no reason why any of the bonds should ever be forced on the market. If the same enterprise is displayed in the future by its officers, and the disposition of the public to aid the enterprise be taken advantage of now. the road will be completed to Emporium even in less time than we have hinted above, and paid for at that.
Source: Evening Courier & Republic. Buffalo, NY. October 1, 1867