We look north across the Chemung River to the town of Corning, a settlement of about 4,000 at the time. In the background is Dutch Hill, showing signs of deforestation that would grow in the years ahead as Corning became a manufacturing center. In…
Subtitle of this bird's eye view of southern tier town makes clear the importance of rail lines to its economic viability: "Junction of the New York, Lake Erie, and Western and the Syracuse, Geneva & Corning R.R.'s." The yards of those railroads are…