Raynors HCA 2017-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/23/2017
A great New York State railroad letter group written by Madison A. Carnahan who operated locomotives between Elmira, New York and Williamsport, Penn., upon the Northern Central Railway during 1869, reading, in small part: "…[March 15, 1869]…I was glad to hear of that grand exhibition…I could have got a girl if I had been there…what surprised e the most was Sam Swam going with one for I did not think he could raise the courage…but he has…concluded to try it…well aunt I have moved my quarters since I wrote…I am going to railroad for the Northern Central railway Co….it pays a little better then where I was…there was a man found dead in the canal…last week. A large cut on his head and in his arm…nobody knows who did it but the man went dead. they all know that this is a fast place. They don't care much whether a man is dead or not…[April 25]…circumstances, bis is a little dull here now on the road and in the shop too. There was 5 hands dismissed out of the shop last week on account of having no work…I will try to give you a short description of our city. It is built on the north bank of the Chemung river and its population is about 2500…it is a nice place. The streets are wide and paved the whole way across and lined with baywood trees…there is men sweeping the ' ' ' off all the time…on Lake St. and Water there is nothing but stores of the largest six. You can walk along and look across the street and see yourself. The country on the north is very nice and level for a long ways and south its a little like it is at home…[June 15]…business has been dull here for some time but I think we will have all we can do for awhile. There has been no Ralston trains for a weeks till last week. There was one every day till this morning. There [then] three. I was at Ralston yesterday and would have been there today but my engine broke down…they will have her ready to go to Williamsport tonight and if they do I am alright for some fun. I have lots of it there but up here there is no fun…everybody is for himself and the devil for all. I don't like New York one bit and…I could not stay here. I might stay here a lifetime and not know one girl only a lot of pretty ones but I don't know them yet nor I don't want to…I am right at home in Williamsport…let him know that I was running that machine myself…[Sept. 29]…I hope him a very pleasant trip and a nice ride on the rail road…I what to know what General Thomas is doing. Tell him if he don't have a good lot of walnuts gathered for me when I go home I wont give him no Christmas present…I am still living although they did try to kill me the other day but they missed it. The engine I was on went out in a cornfield…but I was not on it. When it stopped there was no one hurt nor much damage done…[Oct. 31]…things is lively here now. We have all we can do and a little more…I was coming up Millport Hill and the gas exploded in the fire box and burnt my overhauls…". Three letters have their original stamped transmittal covers with one bearing a three-cent locomotive stamp from that year's US Postal Service pictorial series. Minor soiling, else overall VG
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