THE PASSENGER PIGEON IN PENNSYLVANIA 117 



July. From then on sporadic fires were fairly com- 

 mon, until in February, 1910, a whole block was de- 

 stroyed. 



This was too much for the fire msurance com- 

 panies, which up to that time had paid all losses 

 promptly if not cheerfully. All existing policies in 

 Cross Fork were canceled, and the companies refused 

 to write any new ones. Possibly the remedy was a 

 drastic one. Certainly it effected an immediate cure. 

 Fires stopped, and in their place was started a series 

 of forced sales. 



Every one was anxious to liquidate such assets as 

 he might have to clear out. Five-room frame houses, 

 with steam ,water, and bath, were oft'ered for twenty- 

 five dollars, and a seven room house for thirty-five, 

 without finding a buyer. Many dwellings were torn 

 down, and everything salable shipped out of town. 



In the winter of 1912-1913 the stave mill followed 

 the sawmill. In the fall of 1913 the Bufifalo and Sus- 

 quehanna Railroad, which for some time had been run- 

 ning only three trains a week, discontinued its service 

 entirely, and the next spring tore up its rails. That was 

 the coup de grace ; Cross Fork was dead. In four 

 years its population had shrunk from two thousand or 

 more to sixty-one ! 



No longer did the w^oods resound to the blows of 

 the ax and the shouts of the fellers ; no longer did the 

 town answer merrily to the hum of the saw. The for- 

 ests were gone, and w^ith them departed the prosperity 

 oi a region of little value for agriculture or mining. 



