Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-03-28
For the Portare Sentinel.

Pittsburgh Railroad Co., have thought
proper to lay before the public the other side
If the question and let them judge for them
selves.
1t will be perceivable on all sides that the
principle object sought after is to break
1own, if possible, all influence that we
might have in representing our views in
regard to the propriety of subscribing S75,-
900 by the county of Portage to the stock
of the Cleveland and Pittsburgh K. K 20.
Besides this object to be -attained, jealous
and revengeful persons have sought the op..
portunity to vent their abuse, as is evidenced
by their slanderous representations. To
abuse and misrepresent seem to be the
principal arguments offered by those who
are endeavoring to force this subscription
upon the people. Let them suppose that this
unwarrantable course will induce US to re-
main silent, and whether It does or not, we
do not believe that these break down argu
ments will prevail when the question is
laid before the people.
Without dwelling further upon these
performances, we will proceed to relate the
circumstances connected with the location
of this Railroad.
During the summer of 1s47 Railroad
meeting was held at Ravenna for the pur-
pose of enlisting the feelings Of the citizens
of Ravenna in its favor. At this meeting
VIM. Goldman was appointed to obtain sub
scriptions at Ravenss, aa4E. Kent was
appointed for the same purpose to obtain
subscriptions at Franklin. Previous to this
time very little inducement had been offer
ed to the C. & P. R. R. Co. by the citizens
of Ravenna. But finding that efforts were
making at Akron to secure the location of
the road through that place,they were stim-
ulaled to procure the amount of subscrip-
ton necessary to secure the location Of the
Road through Ravenna; and it was tho't
at that time, (Which was time OF needy
that subscription from Franklin, and al
so an estimate Of the quantity of produce
received and shipped, would materially aid
in securingthe adoption oftheRavenna route
These were furnished, and both were view.
ed by an impartial director as being of i'm.
portance to them in stistical point of view,
as we'll as for the amountIsubscrbed. The
amount of subscription being about $l4,-
900, which was afterwards increased to
$25, 900 and offered to the Company, and
the amount of produce received. including
merchandise, was over 6,2OO,000 pounds,
while that at Ravenna for the same peri
cd was 100000 pounds. Thus, the
green eyed monster man will perceive
that the 'one little place down in the south
part of Franklin received nearly four
times the amount of stuff that was received
at his big town of Ravenna. (See Dec.
Report Of C. & P, R. R. Coz
During the process Of obtaining subscrip-
tions it was frequently expressed by Mr..
Geo. Robinson, engineer, that the best
route that could be found. in his opinion,
was by the Standing Stone, near the old
Glass Works, in Franklin; and it was Mr..
Robinson's opinion that it would not in
crease the distance more than or Of a
mile to locate the road at the point where
we were interested in its location. Mr..
Robinson S opinion was placed before the
Board by Z. Kent, at their annual meeting
held at Wellsville, Oct.zls, Ie47, and the
distance was not represented in any other
way, as was alleged in the communication
signed 'One OF the People, Neither did
we refuse to subscribe in stock the differ
ence in expense, and did not ask the Com
pany to locate the road through Franklin
on any other terms than that we would SUBJ
scribe in stock the difference in expense in
going there. On the contrary, we offered
them more than the difference in expense,
and we think such an assertion comes with
an i'll grace when we consider that route
was increased nearly three miles measured
distance. (besides running distance) for the
sole purpose Of getting to Ravenna, when
they light have saved all this extra dis.
tance and found straight route from Free
dom, Stark county, to Hudson, passing
through Randolph and Franklin, and be.
sides the extra distance, they would have
saved a large sum Of money in the grad.
ing. and the road would be much leyeler
when finished.
In pursuance Of resolution adopted at
Wellsville, Oct. Is, 1647, the Engineers
were instructed to survey the route by
Franklin, and also route directly to Hud.
son. After having surveyed the route to
Hudson, the Engineers returned on thai
line to point about 81 miles north wesl
from Ravenna, and there branched off to-
wards Franklin. The question was asked
why this route was surveyed? (no one sup
posing such circuitous route to Franklin
would be adopted The answer was tha,
they wished to make experimental lines
(while the real object, as it subsequently,
appeared to US, was to increase the distance
by the way of Franklin,) and we were in.
formed by the Engineers, that as soon as
they had completed the survey to Hudson
they would then return and survev the
route that we might select from Franklin in
to Ravennn. Our .routes.was -.accordinglv y
selected but we were somewhat disappoint.
ed by being informed that the Engineers
were called offto make an estsmate on the
Southern portion Of the line, but we were
at the same time informed that they would
survey our route as soon as they returned
from making the estimate. But they new
er came back to survey the route. And,
without accusing any person with anything
but pure and honorable motives, the ap
pointment of meeting at Atwater for the
purpose Of locating the Road was kept a
secret, as we believe for the purpose of Sc
curing the location of the road at certain
points, and to prevent its being located
through Franklin; and need not say that
n In NNrtrF ~E al III