Erie Lackawanna
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From: "Ronald" rdukarm AT roadrunner DOT com
Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:51:27 -0400
Subject: War Without Blood
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List,

I just yesterday came across the attached article, War Without Blood, from the December 10, 1888 issue of the Buffalo Morning Express describing the US Government's 4th seizure of the Lackawanna's coal trestle on the Buffalo River. I wish I had it when I wrote the 2-part trestle article in the Diamond, but then, I probably could not have reproduced the entire article.

This seizure thing was almost becoming a habit between the Lackawanna and Uncle Sam. The author (war correspondent) writes it with such tongue-in-cheek I'm sure he must have gagged at certain points. The local DL&W officials didn't want to upset the local troops from Fort Porter (near the International crossing to Canada). They provided the troops with chewing tobacco, Scranton coal for their fires and even offered a palace car for quarters. When all the local commander would accept was a boxcar, the Lackawanna quickly set to building stairs for the troops to assist entry.

As a quick background, the US Government claimed to own part the North Pier, a strip of land 700 ft long and 15 ft wide next to the River. The DL&W built its trestle on this strip and it was constantly disputed from 1879 to 1916. US troops occupied the trestle in 1892 at the request of the DL&W to safe-guard it against strikers. Finally the US seized it again for the 5th time in 1913, which brought the matter into court and settlement.

Ron Dukarm

AA_Gov_Seizure_DLW_Trestle_12-10-88.jpg

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