The Watchman And Southron

OLD STAGES OF NEW YORK

Many Years Ago They Were Operated Regularly Between Metropolis and Other Cities.

In excavating underneath the former Tallman livery in New York recently workmen found a number of straps such as were used in former days on the stage coaches which plied between Albany to Buffalo.

The straps are supposed to have been made at the Sherwood establishment, which many years ago stood at the northeast corner of State and Dill streets. S. C. Tallman said he believed the straps to be at least 75 years old, and to have lain where they were found probably for that length of time or longer.

It was in 1809 that Isaac Sherwood of Skaneateles became a partner of Jason Barker of Utica in conducting the stage line which passed through this county, carrying the United States mail. It is recorded that in 1816 a line of coaches, among the proprietors of which was the firm of Isaac Sherwood & Co. of Auburn, was operated between Canandaigua and Utica.

These coaches passed over what was known as the Seneca turnpike, constructed between the two points named. It was designed to build this road six rods wide, the middle 25 feet of it to be covered with gravel or broken stone to a depth of 15 inches.

The Seneca Turnpike company was authorized to erect a toll gate every ten miles and exact 12 1/2 cents toll for two-horse teams and 25 cents for four horses.

From Utica east a tri-weekly stage line was operated to Albany, and this likewise was controlled by Sherwood & Co. and others.

The corner of State and Dill streets was a great center for stage coaches in the early days. Various other lines besides the turnpike stages converged in Auburn, there being stages to Homer, Ithaca, Oswego, Aurora and other places. It was in that day that the fight broke out between the Pioneer Line, as a new competing company was called, and the Sherwood combination.

The Pioneer Line gained control of the principal hotel in the village, known as the Western Exchange, hoping thus to embarrass its rivals. But the Sherwood interests fitted up the Bank of Auburn, as it was known, for their headquarters. An issue of this campaign was the question of running stage coaches on Sunday.