We have not before alluded to the difficulty between the New York Central and the Buffalo, New York and Erie Railroad, in reference to the crossing of the latter over the former’s track, at Batavia, because we have wished to do neither an in justice, and have not been able to fully get at the facts. Taking the statements of both sides, we arrive at about this result. The Buffalo, New York and Erie wish to cross the Central Railroad at a certain point in Batavia. The Central has resisted this in the Courts and has been defeated ; though the case is to go up higher. It is said the Central Company do not object to the crossing of the Buffalo, New York and Erie at a proper point, but resist the laying of the cross track over a “nest work” of branches where such crossing would be a source of great in convenience.
For ten days or two weeks past, the case has been assuming a warlike aspect, force being used on both sides. The Buffalo Express of Tuesday says :
There was much excitement at Batavia yesterday, arising from an attempt of the Buffalo, New York & Erie Company to cross the track of the New York Central. Mr. Patchin, of the B., N . Y. & Erie, had about fifty men engaged in laying the track, which on the south side they had worked up to within fifteen feet to f the Central at 2 o ’clock, when we left. It was probably completed to the Central last night. The Central had placed on one track a train of freight cars, a part of the wheels of which were run off the track, and chained thereto with heavy iron chains, so that they could not be removed without great difficult. On the other track were three of the largest locomotives of the Company, which were kept fired up, so as to be used at pleasure. Besides these impediments, the Central had a large physical force to resist any attempt to remove the obstructions from the track. Up to 2 o’clock no serious collision had occurred. as no determined attempt had been made on the part of Mr. P. and his forces to clear the track and effect the crossing.
On the north side of the track there is a gap of some two hundred feet to be filled, on the route of which is a Central wood pile.— An attempt was made yesterday to remove the wood, but as soon as a stick was removed it was thrown back again by the Central forces, until that labor was suspended. The B., N . Y. & Erie people were not in sufficient force to accomplish the work successfully.— Thus matters stood at 2 o’clock. Mr. Patchin declares his intention of crossing today, but we doubt his success, as the Central is ordering additional locomotives to the scene of excitement, and is making every preparation to oppose by force, it will require a very large force and a good deal of determination to accomplish the work, as the Central contemplates a desperate resistance.
The Batavia Herald of the same day says :
Two o’clock p. m.— The Central men are now piling up the wood that had been removed, in its original place across the course of the Batavia & Attica track . Over fifty men are now guarding this wood pile, and we heard an order given “ not to let a stick be moved again until the bark came off.” The excitement at Batavia runs high , a large portion of the population being on the ground, to witness the performances. We can but think that the course taken by these roads will be injurious to their interests.— If they may resort to brute force to carry out their plans, may not others, with equal justice, adopt a similar course, with reference to them ?