The narrow gauge railroad has its abiding place in the oil regions. Here it thrives and lines the pockets of its stockholders. Its influence has always been a civilized one in the towns through which its passes, and its benefits are incalculable in the regions of rocky hills and forests. Clearing pathways up dizzy elevations and through dense woods, leaping across ravines and descending into valleys, it is an exemplification of man's ingenuity in overcoming the obstacles that nature has thrown in the way of commercial progression.
Narrow gauge routes are a godsend in a country where the expense necessary to the construction of a standard gauge route would be too great to warrant such an enterprise even being undertaken. The little roads have done wonders towards facilitating oil operations, and we look upon them always as the prime factor in building up the flourishing oil towns of Allegany county. They have proved to be safer than the broad gauge roads. Who has heard of a passenger losing his life by accident while traveling on a narrow gauge railway in the oil country - either in New York or Pennsylvania?