Wikipedia:WikiProject Trains/ICC valuations/Lehigh and New England Railroad
Interstate Commerce Commission, Valuation Reports, Volume 35
Lehigh and New England Railroad
[edit]Location and General Description of Properties
[edit]The railroad of the Lehigh and New England Railroad Company, herein called the carrier, is a standard-gage, steam railroad, located in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. One main line extends from Nesquehoning, Pa., southwardly to Tamaqua, Pa., and thence in a general northeasterly direction, through Pen Argyl, Pa., to Hainesburg Junction, N. J. The other main line extends from Swartswood Junction northeasterly to the New York-New Jersey State line. These two sections of main line are connected by means of trackage rights between Hainesburg Junction and Swartswood Junction. The company also has trackage rights between Pine Island Junction and Campbell Hall, N. Y., and Tamaqua and Tuscarora, Pa. Branches extend to Bethlehem, Allentown, Catasauqua, Martins Creek, Saylorsburg, and Maryd Colliery, Pa., and Sussex, N. Y. All of the above lines are single track, with the exception of 4.228 miles of road between Lansford and Tamaqua, Pa., which is double track.
The carrier owns 174.311 miles of road, all of which it uses. It also uses 8.461 miles of road owned by other carriers, of which 0.955 mile, between Hauto and Lansford, Pa., is owned by the Nesquehoning Valley Railroad Company. The remaining road, owned by lessors of the carrier, is described in the paragraphs below.
The carrier wholly owns and uses 291.514 miles of all tracks and wholly uses but does not own 10.507 miles of all tracks. These tracks, consisting of the first main track, second main track, and yard tracks and sidings, are classified in the trackage table in Appendix 1.
Introductory
[edit]The carrier is a corporation of the States of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, having its principal office at Philadelphia, Pa. It is controlled by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, through ownership of a majority of its capital stock. On the other hand, the carrier controls through ownership of a majority of its capital stock the Campbell Hall Connecting Railroad Company, and through ownership of its entire capital stock the Pochuck Railroad Company. The common-carrier properties of these two companies are operated in connection with the property of the carrier.
From the date of its acquisition until December 31, 1896, the property of the carrier was operated by other carriers; that portion extending from Swartswood Junction, N. J., to Liberty Corners, N. Y., being operated by the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad Company, and that portion extending from Hainesburg Junction, N. J., to Slatington, Pa., being operated by the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company. From January 1, 1897, to December 31, 1917, it operated its own property with the exception of the period October 14, 1904, to March 4, 1905, when certain property it had acquired from the Wind Gap and Delaware Railroad Company and the Lehigh and Delaware Railroad Company was operated by the Central Railroad Company of New Jersey. On January 1, 1918, the common-carrier property of the carrier was taken over for operation by the United States Railroad Administration, which still operates it on date of valuation.
Corporate History
[edit]The carrier was incorporated May 2, 1895, under the general laws of the States of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, for the purpose of acquiring the property, rights, and franchises of the Pennsylvania, Poughkeepsie and Boston Railroad Company. Pursuant to the above purpose, the carrier acquired at its organization the property, rights, and franchises of the corporation named and also the properties, rights, and franchises of several other corporations. The carrier, itself, and those corporations, together with their predecessors, total 12 different corporations, of which two underwent a change of name, and comprise the line of corporate succession culminating in the carrier as at present constituted. The following chart shows the names of the corporations, the respective dates of incorporation, and for each predecessor the date of succession, the immediately succeeding corporation, and the manner of succession. Reference to each of these corporations is made in the last column by its respective number shown in the first column.
| No. | Name | Incorporation | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lehigh and New England Railroad Company. | Under general laws of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, May 2, 1895. | Carrier. |
| 2 | Pennsylvania, Poughkeepsie and Boston Railroad Company. | Under general laws of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Oct. 5, 1887. | Sold at foreclosure, conveyed to agent of bondholders Jan. 30, 1895, and reorganized Apr. 24, 1895, as 1. |
| 3 | Pennsylvania, Slatington and New England Railroad Company. | Under general laws of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, July 7, 1882. | Sold at foreclosure, June 28, 1887, after receivership, and acquired Dec. 15, 1887, by 2. |
| 4 | Pennsylvania and New England Railroad Company—New Jersey Division. | See 5. | Consolidated July 7, 1882, with 6 to form 3. |
| 5 | South Mountain and Boston Railroad Company. | Under general laws of New Jersey, Mar. 13, 1873. | Name changed to 4 on Mar. 11, 1880. |
| 6 | Delaware and Slatington Railroad Company. | Under general laws of Pennsylvania, Sept. 9, 1881. | Consolidated July 7, 1882, with 4 to form 3. |
| 7 | Slate Valley Railroad Company. | Under general laws of Pennsylvania, Apr. 28, 1886. | Merged with 2 on Jan. 19, 1891. |
| 8 | Northampton Railroad Company. | Under general laws of Pennsylvania, Sept. 3, 1901. | Merged with 1 on Sept. 28, 1903. |
| 9 | Wind Gap and Delaware Railroad Company. | Under general laws of Pennsylvania, Nov. 24, 1880. | Merged with 1 on Oct. 14, 1904. |
| 10 | Lehigh and Delaware Railroad Company. | Under general laws of Pennsylvania, July 7, 1904. | Merged with 1 on Oct. 14, 1904. |
| 11 | Lehigh and Lackawanna Railroad Company. | See 12. | Conveyed by sheriff's deed June 13, 1904, to Lewis A. Riley, and reorganized July 7, 1904, as 10. |
| 12 | Bethlehem Railroad Company. | Under special act of Pennsylvania, May 1, 1861. | Name changed to 11, on Apr. 8, 1864. |
| 13 | Panther Creek Railroad Company. | Under general laws of Pennsylvania, Aug. 14, 1913. | Merged with 1 on Nov. 28, 1913. |
| 14 | Crane Railroad Company. | Under general laws of Pennsylvania, July 28, 1905. | Merged with 1 on Dec. 1, 1914. |
Development of Fixed Physical Property
[edit]The owned mileage of the carrier, amounting to 174.311 miles, was acquired as follows:
| Mileage | |
|---|---|
| By purchase. | 46.90 |
| By merger. | 74.35 |
| By construction. | 74.16 |
| Total. | 195.41 |
| Difference between total recorded mileage and mileage inventoried as of date of valuation. | 21.099 |
| Mileage inventoried as of date of valuation. | 174.311 |
Of the 11 corporations that comprise the line of succession culminating in the carrier as at present constituted, five corporations did not construct any road or other common-carrier property. These companies were:
- Pennsylvania and New England Railroad Company, New Jersey Division.
- Delaware and Slatington Railroad Company.
- Lehigh and Delaware Railroad Company.
- Bethlehem Railroad Company.
- Panther Creek Railroad Company.
The property constructed by the remaining corporations, the years when the various portions of the line were constructed, and the manner in which the carrier acquired the property are indicated in the following table, wherein, to facilitate comparison with the table showing the corporate succession, previously given, the same order of corporations is maintained:
| [Mileage subtotal] |
Recorded mileage | |
|---|---|---|
| Acquired through reorganization of the Pennsylvania, Poughkeepsie and Boston Railroad Company, Apr. 23, 1895: | ||
| Constructed by that company— | ||
| Benders Junction to Slatington, Pa., 1889. | 13.96 | |
| Hainesburg Junction, N. J., to Portland, N. J. [sic - Pa.], 1889. | 2.50 | |
| Swartswood Junction to Pellettown, N. J., and Sussex, N. J., to Liberty Corners, N. Y., 1889. | 16.90 | |
| Constructed by the Pennsylvania, Slatington and New England Railroad Company— | ||
| Portland to Wind Gap, Pa., 1882-1883. | 13.20 | |
| Sussex, (Deckertown) to Pellettown, (Papakating), N. J., 1882-1883. | 5.10 | |
| Constructed by the Slate Valley Railroad Company, Lockport to Hower's Quarries, Pa., 1886-1887. | 6.00 | |
| 57.66 | ||
| Less reductions due to abandonments and revisions of line— | ||
| Lockport to Slate Valley, Pa., abandoned. | 3.00 | |
| Sundry abandonments and revisions of line. | 7.76 | |
| 10.76 | ||
| 46.90 | ||
| Acquired by merger: | ||
| From the Northampton Railroad Company, Sept. 28, 1903, constructed partly by that company and completed by the Lehigh and New England, Bath Junction to Martins Creek, Pa., 1902-1903. | 17.06 | |
| From the Wind Gap and Delaware Railroad Company, Oct. 14, 1904, constructed by that company— | ||
| Wind Gap Turnpike to Pen Argyl, Pa., 1881. | 1.25 | |
| Pen Argyl to Bangor, Pa., 1882-1883, 1885. | 3.60 | |
| Saylorsburg Junction to Saylorsburg, Pa., 1887-1888. | 5.91 | |
| Saylorsburg to Lake Pepenoming, Pa., 1891. | .25 | |
| 11.01 | ||
| Less abandonments of line. | 3.15 | |
| 7.86 | ||
| From the Lehigh and Delaware Railroad Company, Oct. 14, 1904, constructed by the Lehigh and Lackawanna Railroad Company— | ||
| Bethlehem to Chapman's Quarries, Pa., 1863-1867. | 15.00 | |
| Chapman's Quarries to Wind Gap, Pa., 1865-1878. | 11.50 | |
| Bath to Lawrenceville, Pa., 1903. | .79 | |
| 27.29 | ||
| Less reductions due to abandonments and revisions of line. | 1.03 | |
| 26.26 | ||
| From the Panther Creek Railroad Company, Dec. 3, 1913, constructed by The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, Summit Hill to Tamaqua, Pa., 1846-1847. | 19.86 | |
| From the Crane Railroad Company, Dec. 1, 1914— | ||
| Constructed by that company at Catasauqua, Pa., 1907-1912. | 1.41 | |
| Constructed by the Crane Iron Works at Catasauqua, Pa., period of construction not definitely ascertained. | 1.90 | |
| 3.31 | ||
| 74.35 | ||
| Acquired by construction: | ||
| Pen Argyl to Benders Junction, Pa., 1896. | 7.96 | |
| Sussex Junction to Sussex, N. J., 1896. | .07 | |
| Quarry Junction to Bangor, Pa., 1901. | 3.75 | |
| Bushkill Junction to Northampton Junction, Pa., 1901. | 9.00 | |
| Point near Bangor Junction to Winsboro, Pa., 1902. | 1.75 | |
| Danielsville to Tamaqua, Pa., 1911-1912. | 32.00 | |
| Crane Junction to East Catasauqua, Pa., 1913-1914. | 5.43 | |
| Gap Junction to Palmerton East, Pa., 1913-1914. | 1.25 | |
| Hauto Screen Yard to Nesquehoning, Pa., 1915. | 2.07 | |
| Connection with Lehigh Valley Railroad Company at Lizard Creek Junction, Pa., 1916-1917. | 1.00 | |
| Bethlehem to Allentown, Pa., 1917-1919. | 4.75 | |
| Sundry branch lines and extensions, less abandonments and revisions of line, detail of which was not ascertained. | 12.60 | |
| 81.63 | ||
| Less abandonments definitely described— | ||
| Benders Junction to Bushkill Junction, Pa., 1896. | 4.00 | |
| Sundry small abandonments aggregating. | 3.47 | |
| 7.47 | ||
| 74.16 | ||
| Total. | 195.41 | |
Leased Railway Property
[edit]The carrier used facilities owned by other companies and other companies used facilities owned by the carrier on December 31, 1917, as indicated in the statement below. The description of the property, the period and terms of use, and the rentals paid or received during the year ending December 31, 1917, are as follows:
| Rentals | |
|---|---|
| Solely owned, but jointly used, used with— | |
| The Central Railroad Company of New Jersey, Maryd branch, 1 mile; term from Dec. 1, 1913, until terminated by either party upon 60 days' notice; annual rental equal to 42.5 per cent of the gross earnings on this branch. The rental from the use of this branch is included with that from the use of other property as stated below. | |
| Philadelphia and Reading Railway Company, Maryd branch, 1 mile; term from Dec. 1, 1913, right to operate over this branch for transportation of anthracite coal. | (Not reported.) |
| The Central Railroad Company of New Jersey— | |
| Tracks, 6.089 miles of first track and 4.228 miles of second track; Hauto to Tamaqua, Pa., including sidings and other facilities; term from Apr. 1, 1916, until terminated by either party upon 30 days' notice; annual rental equal to 42.5 per cent of the gross earnings and all taxes and assessments that may be levied upon the traffic transported under the agreement; carrier pays all expense of maintenance. | $9,077.93 |
| The rental stated also covers the use of the Maryd branch stated above. | |
| Tracks, 0.10 mile at Bethlehem, Pa. | (Not reported.) |
| The Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company, tracks, 0.63 mile, Pen Argyl, Pa.; term from Oct. 24, 1913, until terminated by either party upon 90 days' notice; annual rental equal to 6 per cent on the cost of the property, plus one-half of the cost of maintenance. | (Not reported.) |
| Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, Slatington interchange yard, 0.84 mile; for indefinite period from Oct. 21, 1908; annual rental equal to 6 per cent on one-half of the cost of the property and any additions or extensions made thereto, plus one-half of the cost of maintenance. | (Not reported.) |
| Solely used, but not owned, leased from— | |
| Campbell Hall Connecting, tracks, 4.082 miles, Liberty Corners to Pine Island Junction, N. Y.; for indefinite period from Jan. 1, 1908. | None. |
| Pochuck Railroad, tracks, 3.424 miles, main line, Glenwood Junction, N. Y. to Glenwood, N. J.; for indefinite period from Jan. 1, 1908. | None. |
| The Nesquehoning Valley Railroad Company, tunnel and tracks, 0.955 mile in length, from Hauto to Lansford, Pa.; term expiring Nov. 3, 2867; on basis of lump-sum payment, equal to cost of construction, amounting to $564,489.40. | |
| E. P. Wilbur Trust Company, office building, Bethlehem, Pa. | |
| Jointly used, but not owned, owned by— | |
| Philadelphia and Reading Railway Company, portion of Schuylkill Valley Branch, 5.40 miles at Tamaqua, Pa. | (Not reported.) |
| Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, sidings and yard tracks, 1.45 miles, passenger and freight station facilities, Slatington, Pa.; term from July 8, 1915, until terminated upon 6 months' notice. | (Not reported.) |
| The Central Railroad Company of New Jersey, track to turntable, 0.37 mile, use of turntable and passenger station facilities, Bethlehem Junction, Pa. | (Not reported.) |
| New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad Company— | |
| Tracks, 18.50 miles, and other facilities from Haines burg Junction to Swartswood Junction, N. J.; term from Mar. 16, 1912, until terminated upon a 1-year notice given by either party on Mar. 1, of any calendar year; rental $0.002066 per ton-mile for each ton of freight transported, and all taxes, assessments, etc., that may be levied on such. | 51,189.61 |
| Tracks, 61 miles, and other facilities for transportation of coal only, from Hainesburg Junction to Little Ferry, N. J.; term from June 28, 1910, until terminated upon 3 months’ notice given by the owner in case of breach of covenant by the Lehigh and New England; annual rental $50,000 plus 25 cents per ton for each ton of coal in excess of 200,000 tons transported during the year, less a credit of 25 cents per ton for each ton delivered to the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad Company at Hainesburg Junction to be applied to the payment of the stipulated rental of $50,000; the Lehigh and New England also pays all taxes and assessments that may be levied on its freight or revenues. | 74,182.55 |
| Freight station, dispatcher's office, and appurtenances at Hainesburg Junction, N. J., term from June 1, 1907, until terminated upon 60 days' notice; annual rental $25 plus one-half of salaries of joint employees and one-half of expense of maintenance, heating, and lighting. | (Not reported.) |
| Erie Railroad Company, tracks, 16.84 miles, and passenger and freight station facilities, Pine Island to Campbell Hall Junction, N. Y.; term from Mar. 16, 1912, until terminated upon a 1-year notice by either party; rental $0.002066 per ton mile for each ton of freight transported, for operation of one passenger-train daily except Sunday, a payment to be made in case gross earnings may be less than $4,500, and payment of all taxes and assessments that may be levied on freight or revenue. | 44,816.00 |
Lessor Companies
[edit]Predecessor Companies
[edit]Pennsylvania, Poughkeepsie and Boston Railroad
[edit]Introductory
The records reviewed did not indicate that this company was controlled by any individual or corporation on January 30, 1895, the date of its demise, nor, on the other hand, that it controlled any common-carrier corporation.
The property of this company was operated by its own organization from January 1, 1890, until the receivership, February 17, 1891. From that date until April 30, 1892, it was operated by receivers. From May 1, 1892, to July 31, 1893, it was operated by the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company, as agent. From August 1, 1893, until the date of its demise, that part of its property known as the Pennsylvania Division, which comprised approximately 24.90 miles, was operated by the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, and that part known as the New Jersey Division, which comprised approximately 22 miles, was operated by the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad Company.
The only accounting records of the Pennsylvania, Poughkeepsie and Boston Railroad Company obtained, were those for the period from November, 1889, to February 17, 1891. For that reason only partial information can be given from the accounts in connection with the finances, operations, or investments. Certain information indicated hereafter, pertaining to the period, February 18, 1891, to the date of demise, was taken from annual reports to this commission and from other sources.
The railroad owned by the Pennsylvania, Poughkeepsie and Boston Railroad Company on the date of demise aggregated 46.90 miles of single-track, standard gage, steam railroad, located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. Its main line, aggregated approximately 43.90 miles, and consisted of three disconnected sections, namely: Slatington to Benders Junction, Pa.; Wind Gap, Pa., to Hainesburg Junction, N. J.; and Swartswood Junction, N. J., to Liberty Corners, N. Y. Its branch line projected from Slate Valley to Hower's Quarries, Pa., approximately 3 miles.
Development of Fixed Physical Property
Of the 46.90 miles of road owned by the Pennsylvania, Poughkeepsie and Boston Railroad Company on the date of its demise, it had acquired approximately 18.30 miles from the Pennsylvania, Slatington and New England Railroad Company, 6 miles from the Slate Valley Railroad Company, and approximately 33.36 miles were acquired by construction. There were several abandonments and revisions of road by the Pennsylvania, Poughkeepsie and Boston Railroad Company aggregating approximately 10.76 miles. Details with respect to the construction of this property are given in the chapter on development of fixed physical property of the carrier.
Slate Valley Railroad
[edit]The accounting records of the company were not obtained. Therefore, no information can be given from its accounts regarding its financial dealings, corporate operations, or investments. Certain information stated below was obtained from the accounting records of the Pennsylvania, Poughkeepsie and Boston Railroad Company. The records reviewed did not indicate whether the Slate Valley Railroad Company was controlled by any individual or corporation on January 19, 1891, the date of its demise, nor, on the other hand, whether it controlled any common-carrier corporation. The company owned on the date of its demise approximately 6 miles of railroad, extending from Lockport to Hower's Quarries, Pa. The property was all acquired by construction, performed under contract by Smart and Company of Philadelphia, Pa.
Pennsylvania, Slatington and New England Railroad
[edit]The accounting records of the company were not obtained. Therefore, no information can be given from its accounts regarding its financial dealings, corporate operations, or investments. Certain information stated below was obtained from the return of the carrier to Valuation Order No. 20 — Corporate History. The records reviewed did not indicate whether the company was controlled by any individual or corporation on June 28, 1887, the date of its demise, nor, on the other hand, whether it controlled any common-carrier corporation. The railroad of the Pennsylvania, Slatington and New England Railroad Company was in course of construction on the date of demise of that company. Two sections, one extending from Portland to Wind Gap, Pa., approximately 13.20 miles, and the other extending from Sussex to Pellettown, N. J., approximately 5.10 miles, had been completed. The property of the company was placed in the hands of a receiver on June 9, 1885, and thereafter the construction of the road was practically suspended.
Pennsylvania and New England Railroad Company-New Jersey Division, Originally Named South Mountain and Boston Railroad
[edit]The accounting records of the company were not obtained. Therefore, no information can be given from its accounts regarding its financial dealings or investments. Certain information stated below was obtained from the return of the carrier to Valuation Order No. 20, Corporate History. The records reviewed did not indicate whether the Pennsylvania and New England Railroad Company-New Jersey Division was controlled by any individual or corporation on July 7, 1882, the date of its demise, nor, on the other hand, whether it con trolled any common-carrier corporation. The railroad which this company proposed to construct was to extend from a point on the Pennsylvania-New Jersey State line, near Portland, Pa., through Warren and Sussex Counties, N. J., to the New Jersey-New York State line. Right of way, between Baleville and the Walkill River, N. J., and in the vicinity of Swartswood Junction, N. J., was acquired, but only a small part of the construction work had been performed at the date of demise of the company.
Delaware and Slatington Railroad
[edit]The accounting records of the company were not obtained. Therefore, no information can be given from its accounts regarding its financial dealings or investments. Certain information stated below was obtained from the return of the carrier to Valuation Order No. 20, Corporate History. The records reviewed did not indicate whether the Delaware and Slatington Railroad Company was controlled by any individual or corporation on July 7, 1882, the date of its demise, nor, on the other hand, whether it controlled any common-carrier corporation. The railroad which this company proposed to construct was to extend from a point near Portland, to Slatington, Pa. Right of way between Bangor Junction and Portland was acquired, but only a small part of the construction work had been performed at the date of demise of the company.
Northampton Railroad
[edit]The accounting records of the company were not obtained. Therefore, no information can be given from its accounts regarding its financial dealings or investments. However, certain information stated below was obtained from its minute book, and from the return of the carrier to Valuation Order No. 20, Corporate History. The records reviewed did not indicate whether the Northampton Railroad Company was controlled by any individual or corporation on September 28, 1903, the date of its demise, nor, on the other hand, whether it controlled any common-carrier corporation. Construction was begun by the Northampton Railroad Company shortly after the date of its incorporation, September 3, 1901. The railroad, as projected, was to extend from a point on the Martin's Creek branch of the Belvidere Delaware Railroad, near the west bank of the Delaware River, to a point near the borough of Bath, located entirely in the State of Pennsylvania, and at the date of demise had not been completed.
Wind Gap and Delaware Railroad
[edit]The accounting records of the company were not obtained. Therefore, no information can be given from its accounts regarding its financial dealings, corporate operations, or investments. However, certain data stated below were obtained from its minute book, from reports on file with this commission and from the return of the carrier to Valuation Order No. 20, Corporate History. The Wind Gap and Delaware Railroad Company was controlled on October 14, 1904, the date of its demise, by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company through ownership of capital stock. On the other hand, the records reviewed did not indicate that it controlled any common-carrier corporation.
This company owned on the date of its demise approximately 7.86 miles of single-track, standard-gage steam railroad all in the State of Pennsylvania. Its main line extended from a point near Wind Gap, to Bangor, approximately 4 miles, and its branch line projected from Saylorsburg Junction to Lake Poponoming, approximately 3.86 miles. The above-described railroad was all acquired by construction.
The property of the Wind Gap and Delaware Railroad Company was leased to the Lehigh and Lackawanna Railroad Company in April, 1883, and was operated by that company until April 2, 1888. On the last-mentioned date the property was leased to the Central Railroad Company of New Jersey and it was operated by that company during the remaining life of the Wind Gap and Delaware Railroad Company.
The Wind Gap and Delaware Railroad Company was the lessee of 1 1/6 miles of railroad located in Northampton County, Pa., for a period of 999 years, from July 31, 1891. This property was leased from the Harrisburg and New England Railroad Company and the Harrisburg and Delaware River Railroad Company, who appear to have been the joint owners thereof. The rent payable for use of the property was stipulated to be $1 per annum, but, under an agreement bearing the same date as the agreement for lease, the Wind Gap and Delaware Railroad Company was exempted from the payment of any rent.
In connection with the 1 1/6 miles of railroad mentioned above, the Wind Gap and Delaware Railroad Company was the possessor of a lien of $1,920 on that property. This lien was the result of a judgment obtained by an individual for damages to his property caused by the construction of the railroad. The judgment was assigned to the Wind Gap and Delaware Railroad Company by the holder on August 27, 1891.
Lehigh and Delaware Railroad
[edit]The accounting records of the company were not obtained. Therefore, no information can be given from its accounts regarding its financial dealings, corporate operations, or investments. However, certain data indicated below were obtained from the records of the carrier.
The company was controlled on October 14, 1904, the date of its demise, by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company through ownership of its capital stock. On the other hand, the records reviewed did not indicate that it controlled any common-carrier corporation.
The property of the company was operated by the Central Railroad Company of New Jersey under lease, from the date it was acquired from Lewis A. Riley, July 8, 1904, until the date of demise. The Lehigh and Delaware Railroad Company owned on the date of its demise approximately 26.26 miles of single-track railroad extending from Bethlehem to Wind Gap, Pa., all of which was acquired from Lewis A. Riley, who had purchased it at a foreclosure sale on June 13, 1904, from the Lehigh and Lackawanna Railroad Company.
Lehigh and Lackawanna Railroad, Originally Named Bethlehem Railroad
[edit]The accounting records of the company were not obtained. Therefore, no information can be given from its accounts regarding its financial dealings, corporate operations, or investments. However, certain data indicated below were obtained from its minute book, from its report to this commission for the year ended June 30, 1904, and from the return of the carrier to Valuation Order No. 20, Corporate History.
The records reviewed did not indicate whether the Lehigh and Lackawanna Railroad Company was controlled by any individual or corporation on July 8, 1904, the date of its demise, nor, on the other hand, whether it controlled any common-carrier corporation.
The Lehigh and Lackawanna Railroad Company owned on the date of its demise approximately 26.26 miles of single-track, standard-gage railroad, between Bethlehem and Wind Gap, Pa., all of which was acquired by construction.
A contract was entered into on September 7, 1863, with William R. Moffitt for the construction of the road between Bethlehem and Bath, Pa., at a price of $7,000 per mile, payable $2,000 in cash and $5,000 in stock. After some work had been done the contract was assigned to Charles Brodhead, Augustus Wolle, and William Chapman. Brodhead and Wolle were, respectively, the president and treasurer of the company, and also, were two of its directors. Those men, with the aid of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, completed the grading work between Chapman's Quarries and Wind Gap, approximately 10 miles. The laying of ties and rails on that part of the road was performed by Charles Brodhead under contract, and was completed on August 12, 1878. Another contract was made with the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company on January 5, 1867, for the completion of the road to Bath, and a supplemental agreement was made with the same company on March 9, 1867, for extension of the road from Bath to Chapman. That part of the road between Bethlehem and Chapman's Quarries was completed on November 28, 1867, and the entire road was opened for traffic on August 14, 1878.
The property of the Lehigh and Lackawanna Railroad Company was leased to the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company under an agreement, dated January 23, 1867, for 99 years. A supplemental agreement, dated March 13, 1867, was made, and operation of the property was begun on January 16, 1868, by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, and conducted by that company until March 31, 1871, when the property was leased to the Central Railroad Company of New Jersey and operated by it until May 29, 1883, subject to the terms of the first-mentioned agreement. The agreement was then modified and the lease was transferred to the Philadelphia and Reading Railway Company, which operated the property until December 31, 1886. The Central Railroad Company of New Jersey again acquired the property for operation on January 1, 1887, through court proceedings, and continued the operation thereof during the remaining life of the Lehigh and Lackawanna Railroad Company, with the exception of the period from February 12 to August, 1892, during which it was operated by the Port Reading Railroad Company as lessee of the Central Railroad Company of New Jersey. There were several modifications of the agreements mentioned above. The final agreement, dated August 17, 1893, provided for a rental equivalent to 21 per cent of the gross receipts, or a minimum of $1,500 per month. This rental included the properties of the Lehigh and Lackawanna Railroad Company and the Wind Gap and Delaware Railroad Company.
Panther Creek Railroad
[edit]The Panther Creek Railroad Company was organized by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company for the purpose of acquiring and operating certain railroad property, known as the Panther Creek Railroad, of which the last mentioned company was the owner.
The company was controlled on November 28, 1913, the date of its demise, by the carrier through ownership of capital stock. On the other hand, the records reviewed did not indicate that it controlled any common-carrier corporation. The property of this company was operated by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, from the date it was acquired from that company until November 28, 1913, the date of demise.
The Panther Creek Railroad Company owned on the date of its demise approximately 19.86 miles of single-track railroad, located entirely in the State of Pennsylvania. Its main line consisted of two disconnected parts, one extending from a point near Nesquehoning, to a connection with the tracks of the Nesquehoning Valley Railroad Company at Hauto; the other extended from a connection with the tracks of the same company at Lansford to Tamaqua. The length of its main line aggregated approximately 5 miles. Its numerous branch lines aggregated approximately 14.86 miles. The entire 19.86 miles of road owned by the company on the date of its demise had been acquired through purchase from the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, under deed, dated September 26, 1913. Details with respect to the construction of this property are given in the chapter on development of fixed physical property in the report on the carrier.
[...]
The deed, dated September 26, 1913, under which the above-mentioned property of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company was conveyed to the Panther Creek Railroad Company, also conveyed the right, title, and interest of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company to exclusive use of the Nesquehoning Tunnel, (property of the Nesquehoning Valley Railroad Company), for the term expiring on November 3, 2867. This right passed to the carrier in its acquisition of property of the Panther Creek Railroad Company.
Crane Railroad
[edit]The Crane Railroad Company was controlled on November 30, 1914, the date of its demise, by the carrier, through ownership of capital stock. On the other hand, the records reviewed did not indicate that it controlled any common-carrier corporation. The property of this company was operated by the Crane Iron Works and affiliated companies from the date it was acquired to the date of demise. The railroad owned by the Crane Railroad Company consisted of 3.31 miles of standard-gage tracks located in the borough of Catasauqua, Pa., and vicinity, of which 1.90 miles had been acquired from the Crane Iron Works and 1.41 miles by construction. Further details with respect to the construction of this property are given in the chapter on development of fixed physical property in the report on the carrier.