The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1850-07-29


nothing else can be plead in extenuation
of such folly. J. G, 8.
Report on the Railroad.
OFFrcE OF TIES & H. v. R.,
Portsmouth, o., July l3, 1850.
At a meeting Of the stockholders of this
company, held this day, agreeable to notice,
areport was submitted by the President &
Directors-of which-and of the proceed
ings thereon, the following is al abstract:
The charter Of the company (obtalned
Feb. 20, lS49) made the following points,
viz: Piketon, Chillicothe, Circleville, A
manda, Lancaster and Newark. Owing
partly to this fact, and to the ambiguity Of
the act authorizing county subscriptions,
March Is, l849) and to an amendment ap-
plicable to Fairfield county March "a, l849)
the company failed to obtain the subscrip-
ton Of any Of the counties last fall, (not-
withstanding Ross, Pickaway and Fairfield,
gave considerable maiorities in its favor.)
In accordance with an order of the Board
Of Directors, passed at Circleville last fall,
application was made to the last Legislature
for the privilege Of running the road through
any part Of Jackson county, and to thisend,
a bill mo. 162 herewith) was drafted and
presented, defining clearly the manner Of
proceeding in the matter of county sub
scriptions. But this bill, either by design,
or through inadvertence, was SO changed be-
fore its passage, as TO render its amendment,
or partial repeal, absolutely necessary, be.
fore the company can avail itself of any aid
from county subscriptions. Thus it is, that
from circumstances beyond their control, all
the labors Of the Directors, have thus far,
resulted in little more than preparing for q
beginning. A history of all that it has been
possible for them to accomplish, may be
stated in few words.
Shortly after the passage of the charter
books were opened for subscription, at this
place, Chillicothe and Circleville. We OBJ
tained, by vote almost unanimous by this
Town, their corporate subscription, for one
hundred thousand dollars, and Of individual
subscriptions, by our own citizens, nearly
forty thousand dollars, and by the citizens oil
Ross county, upwards of twenty thousand
dollars, we have also recently obtained by
the citizens Of Jackson county, subscriptions
to the amount Of nearly $1,000 land addi,
tions we are assured are being made.) We
have also subscription circulating among
the owners OF Furnaces and Furnace lands,
by which we confidently hope to add some
$30, 900. On the whole, our reliable pres
ent subscription, may perhaps be safely es-
timated at $l60, 900, and to this may safely
be added at least 1000 more.
The recent vote in this county on the
question of subscribing 100000 was car
ried by an overwhelming majority, (97l) and
our commissioners have made the subscfip-
ton, but as before remarked, this is not a.
vaiable without an alteration of the law.
The counties of Ross, Jackson, Pickaway
and Fairfield, will be required to vote on
the same question at the fall election, unless
it shall be thought advisable, first 10 obtain
the necessary alteration of the law.
The Directors have recently caused sur
vey and estimate to be made Of the route
from Portsmouth to the Town Of Jackson,
which is found to be far more favorable than
was anticipated, VARYING very little from the
estimate made last autumn up the Scioto
valley, amounting to less than half the cost,
of the average Of all the western railroads.
The Jackson route would open an entirely
new trade Of incalculable amount, passing
il continued TO Lancaster (by branch) in
that direction, for some forty or fifty miles
through the very best Of the Iron and Coal
region Of Ohio. Securing the business al
once of seven furnaces now in operation
making an average of 1000 tons Of meta
each, annually, and would no doubt induce
the speedy erection Of more than as many
more, andgthe number would undoubtedly
continue to increase, in an equal ratio will
the further extension of the road.
The right of way has been obtained, will
scarcely an exception, for the whole line t
the Town Of Jackson.
The citizens Of that county, duly appre
ciate the advantages to result from it, ant
are accordingly very friendly to the road
and many Of them have become subscriber
to the stock. BY order Of the Directors.
J. V. ROBINSON, Pres't.
Portsmouth, July l3, 1850.
And the same having been read, il was, o.
! motion Rcsolued that the same be submitte
to a committee to report thereon, where
upon the said committee reported as 70!
lows: e
The report estimates and profile presente
by John w, Webb, Esq, Engineer, of tn
explorations made by him, exhibit two yer
feasible and cheap lines Of railway, on III
routes Contemplated by the terms and pre-
, visions of the charter and the amendments
These estimates are based upon mere e1
perimental survey, and the committee al
! inclined 10 believe that a careful examine
tion will very materially reduce the low el
!. Inmates. To this conclusion the committe
have been led by information derived frol
other sources than the reports, and espt
cially from the engineer himself. n
!, Considering the Importance Of connectin
this road with the mineral region Of Jacl
son county, your committee hesitate not
recommend that route. provided the mear
can be raised TO insure itsconstruction. Sue
means should be secured before the compan
is committed 10 any route, as It Is alwal
much easier TO zscurc subscription Of Il
J lstOck BY q tompany struggling for cxistenc