The following article concerns the arrival of the tracks of the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad. With the completion of this line, Jamestown had a rail connection to Salamanca, and from there to the Erie Railroad and New York City.
“HERE SHE COMES !!”
The Cars at Dexterville!!
LIGHT IN THE EAST !!Hip, Hoorah! The cars are in sight. As we go to press today (Thursday) we are within hearing of the first locomotive that ever whistled in Southern Chautauqua, and a few moments’ walk would show us the cars – a mile or two East of the place. Yesterday the track-layers were in sight all day; the inspiring whistle broke faintly on the listening ear early in the present week and the snort has been growing plainer by degrees and beautifully louder. Tonight the locomotive will be near Dexterville, and by Saturday night at the foot of Main Street. Think of that! Oh, ye stage pounded travelers, and sore old horses; ye benighted back-woodsmen and impatient merchants – the iron horse just ready to rush into the heart of Jamestown – out-of-the-way backwoods Jamestown – where nothing larger than a circus wagon or faster than an old-fashioned wheeled coach was ever before seen! Who does not feel as if he “had the power,” and could shout “Hooray,” and “glory,” and ruin his oldest hat at the event? Some one strike up the hymn “Ain’t I glad to get out of the wilderness.”
P.S. – 4 o’clock, P. M. – We have just come from the scene of operations a quarter of a mile below Dexterville where one hundred men are laying track. Such a rush and din of work! work! we do not expect to see or hear again soon.
Every man seems to work in every muscle. Yesterday two miles of track were laid. One squad lays the ties, one trims the surface for the rail, one “services” up the tie to the spot with dirt, one adjusts the ties to rail length, one propels the rails, one lifts the rail off to the spot, one prepares the spikes. and one drives the in – and so on. The road moves right on – the rails are laid and the locomotive comes up to the place with its freight of ties, spikes, chairs, &c., as if it was one complex machinery in harmonious motion. – The track will be at Dexterville to morrow morning, and a locomotive will cross Main Street in Jamestown by 4 o’clock on Saturday afternoon.
Dr. STREATOR, the contractor, is ready and urgent with the work at all points, and the Engineer Corps, under Messrs. KENNARD and HILL’S supervision, are driving their operations with equal energy.
Source: Jamestown [NY] Journal. 24 August 1860.