The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1848-03-17

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sures the prosperity of the towns.
In other counties the increase of the
value of real estate, both in town and
country, has been estimated at 10 per
cent, and this is not, in our opinion, an
extravagant estimate. WhOt then would
be the increase in this county? Taking
the tax valuation, the real estate in this
county is worth
Lands. ................ SIS, OH $50
Town Property. S73,754
Total real estate, .$5,945,634
AT 10 per cent the increased value of
real estate would therefore be 1884,
500 49, or considerably over half mil
lion of dollars; of which the increase on
country property would be $507, ,lSS, and
on town property SS7 1915 40.
Such are what we may reasonably ex.
pect will be the effects of the proposed
Railroad. And allow us to ask what will
be the consequences to the country and
to the people if The decision at the bal
lot box should be against the county sub
scri plion, and the building of the road
should thereby be defeatedl The con
sequences are not hard to foretel Fair
field has, hitherto in the history Of the
State, stood in the front rank of counties
in prosperity, in influence an in wealth.
Aud why was thsl Not alone on ac-
count of her industrious population, nor
the rich soil-though in either particular
she would compare favorably with any
county in the State-not alone nor prin.
cipaIly however was she indebted for her
standing to these; other counties, far
behind her in public estimation and ac-
tual wealth, possessed equally with her
these elements Of greatness: the true Sc
cret Of her progress and her prosperity is
to be found in the fact that she has al
ways, until now, possessed advantages of
getting tomarket equal to any other coun-
ty and superior to most others. The Ohio
Canal trayersing the county in one direc-
ton and the Hooking Canalin another, the
people had an outlet for their produce, a
channel for their trade, which while ca
mails Furnished the best mode of convey
ance, placed them on an equal footing
with the most favored. The position she
then occupied brought her into the notice
Of the country; it induced emigrauts to
seek home within her limits; it invited
capital and enterprise and industry, be.
cause here they could all be proftably
invested; here labor was rewarded and
skill found recompense. Fairfield be-
came Populous, prominent and pros.
porous county. But new era has come.
The Railway and the Steam car have
found their way intosome ofour neighbor-
ing counties, and whereverthey come they
give new life to everything by affording ia.
cilltiesto trade superior to canals & every
otherimprovement. They know no night
and no winter ice and snow and storm
and darkness cainot bind the Steam car
1t communicates its impulse not only to
the train behind but to every region
through or near which it passes. 1t
brings distant markets to your door; it
carries your produce a hundred miles for
what you could carry it ten, and it goes
that distance while you would be going
five. These are its exploits. BY these
it works its miracles, changes a marsh in.
to garden, and granite hill into mine
of gold. 1t infuses the hot blood of ac-
ton into everything around it, and it i'm.
parts its own energy to every thing it
touches. This is what it has done for the
places it has visited. Fairfield is no more
in the proud position she so lately occu
pied; other counties, by aid of this won
der-working engine, have shot ahead of
her. These counties are all now attract
ing public attention. The tide ofemigra-
tion aud of prosperity are alre eady setting
in their direction. Few come now to
Fairfield, aud fewer stay; the young and
cn;erprsng raised within our borders
are turning find more promising home.
We have more sellers and buyers of land;
land is falling, not because it is less val
able but because other places offer more
inducements to purchasers. And when
will this cease? Will it be when more
Railroads are made at distance from usl
Every one that is built becons away
some of our best citizens. 1t will never
cease until we have secured for ourselves
all the advantages that others possess.-
Until then our county will not only not
prosper, but it will not even hold its pres.
ent position; it will go backward as fast
as other places go forward.
But we have dwelt on this subject lon
ger, we are convinced, than was neces-
sary, Every one who will take the troub.
10 to think can easily satisfy himself of
the importance of moving at once in this
matter and securing to ourselves the ben
ehls which all must see will result To the
whole community by the proposed Rail-
road. We ought not to doubt the decis.
ion of the voters on the question submit.
ted, Like the people of Knox, Licking,
Green, Franklin aud other counties, the
people of Fairfield will see where their
true interest lies and will not suffer them
selves TO be left in the background while
their neighbors are making rapid strides
in the race of enterprise and prosperity.
In conclusion we may confidently claim
that the facts we have adduced establish