(Researched & Submitted by Richard F. Palmer)
Allegany County Republican, Dec. 6, 1882
The past year has been very important to Allegany county. Much more was done in that time in the building of railroads, from which it is being incalculably benefited, than was ever accomplished before, or will ever be done again in all probability.
From an authentic source, we learn that within the past year 175 miles of railroad have been built in this county. This is a remarkable fact, and stands unprecedented in the history of other counties in this state. One can not but be amazed when he considers the magnitude of the work done and the amount of capital that must have been invested to complete this distance of railway. One year ago this county had but one railroad, that one being the old reliable Erie; now it has five, namely G.V. C., T.V. &.C., B., E. & C., A.C., and N.Y. L.E. & W. railroads. Two of these, the B., E. & C., and the G.V. C., have each two divisions.
When it came to be known that petroleum existed in Richburg in paying quantities, the building of two railroads was at once commenced. Olean and Friendship parties became interested in the construction of a road beginning at the two places and uniting at Bolivar. This was soon built and was scarcely finished before a New York syndicate purchased it with a view of extending it to Angelica and thence to Swains.
The scheme was carried out, the road being named the Allegany Central, which united the northern and southern parts of the county with a road that is destined to be an important factor, if not already, in the future of Allegany.
The other road, the B., E. & C., was finished in a short time, connecting Wellsville with Bradford, with Bolivar as the central point, and opened up an avenue for a great commerce between McKean and Allegany fields. The G.V. C. road, which was commenced last spring and completed from Rochester to Olean, ruins through the most fertile part of the county, and will eventually be a great transportation route besides having a large passenger traffic. A branch of this road has lately been built from Nunda to Swains, connecting with the Erie and A.C. roads, giving the people of northern and southern Allegany a direct route to Rochester.
The T.V. & C. road, which, beginning at Attica, extends to Rushford, thence to Cuba, gives the people of that part of the county a rapid transit way to Buffalo.
Every section of the county is touched by the iron rail, and the whistle of the locomotive is heard by the most remote inhabitant. We venture the assertion that no other county in the state is so completely intersected by railroads as is this. If there should be an instance, it never was accomplished in the short space of one year. - Bolivar Leader.