Bolivar Breeze, July 14, 1904
TROLLEY TO ALLENTOWN – Effort Being Made to Secure the Extension of the Electric Road From Bolivar to Allentown.
A determined effort is being made to secure the building of an electric railroad from Bolivar to Allentown, a distance of 6½ miles to be operated in connection with the Olean Street Railroad. W. R. Page and W. I. Miller of the Olean Street Railroad, accompanied by H. W. Eaton of Bolivar drove over the proposed line Saturday [July 9th, 1904] and found hat a free right of way could be secured.
The old BE&C grade would be followed most of the way. It is graded and this heavy expense would be eliminated. The only obstructions on the grade are a power house and an oil well which has been drilled recently. The power house can be moved and the oil well can be dodged.
At Allentown the party met a large number of people who are greatly interested in the proposition and the matter was discussed at length. The Olean Street Railroad Company makes the people of Bolivar and Allentown this proposition: If they will take the bonds of the road in an amount necessary to build and equip the line, say $65,000, the interest and principal to be guaranteed and paid by the Olean Street railroad company, the latter will at once begin the work of building the line and will have it in operation before the snow flies.
It is proposed to get power from the power house at Cases and to use the surplus cars now owned by the Olean Street Railroad Company. A large number of Allentown people have agreed to follow suit. It is likely that a public meeting will be called in Bolivar to be attended by Bolivar and Allentown people and others interested in bring the matter to a definite head.
The party drove from Allentown to Wellsville via Knights Creek and Scio to look over the proposed line as Mr. Page had never been over the road. A franchise for Wellsville was secured some time ago by Wellsville parties and there are some right of way contracts via the Brimmer Brook route for sale by the promoters.
The proposed line to Allentown would carry both passengers and freight and express and would be a feeder for the Olean line. There is a large amount of freight received in Allentown and it has to be hauled on wagons. The line would be liberally patronized by oil men who own leases out that way. President Page believes the line would be a good investment.
Owing to the heavy expenditures of the past two years the Olean Street Railway Company has not the ready money to build the line, but it is willing to guarantee the payments of the bonds to be issued to build the line if the people along the line will subscribe to the bonds.