The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-11-02
Franklin and warrcn RaaEroad.

The following we'll considered article from the
Dayton Daily Journal, will be read with interest:
Progress of Railroads.
The continued advance and increase of Rail
roads in Ohio, has been looked upon with some
degree of disfavor by those who are disposed to
believe that the worlds progressing with more rapid
ty than is either safe necessary. In the view of
many, too much capital has been invested and
too great an amount of energy expended in con-
structng the iron way in Ohio, and in other Wes-
tern States. This opinion is taken up and ex-
pressed perhaps rather hastily, without giving it
that careful consideration merted by subject Of
| such grave importance.
| In considering the question, it should be kept
constantly in view that the ideas IF men have run
entirely away from the old mode of travel; stage
coaches, turnpikes and horse power, as mems OF
conveyance, are antiquated and exploded, and un-
less for very small distances, longer toera-
ted. Hence an absolute necessity of covering the
whole face of the country with rails and locomo-
tves; only takingscare that they shall be inter-
laced SO thickly as to impair their utility
and profit 1t scarcely be predcated of this
State, that these improvements have reached this
JoSitiou. LIS CFOdSibS popuiditOu
proJuctsseekingunA Nj ark ct las weas the i'm
mense passenger travel continually flowing through
it to the still far West, alike forbid any conclusion
of the The central position of Ohio, places it
on different footing from those members of the
Confederacy, lying east of the AIleghnnies and
along the Atlantic board. They form one of
the marine frontiers, as California aud Oregon
form another, and Louisiana and Florida and Tex
as make up third. The condition of the central
States, of which our own is now the chief call for
the most enlarged means of inter-communcation
which is to be furnished by the iron path and iron
horse alone.
| Among the many Improvements of this sort
traversing this State, mono has met with more de-
cided favor than that familiarly called the Broad
Guage Road, more strictly defined as the Franklin
and Warren Road. This road has some advanta
ges in its charter, act Of incorporation, that more
recent enterprises do not possess, and these make
| its stock moro secure and rsmuneratve invest
ment than those of more recent projection. Bul
its claims to public attention rest not alone, mol
even mainly, on this point Il may be safely aver.
red that it exhibits so far lis limo extends, the
most direct path of communication with-three Of
the great commercial and manufacturing cities Of
the Atlantic: New York, Boston and Philadelphis
and at the same time includes the local adyan-
tage of passing through one of the most fertile apt
central sections of the State, without in course
of more than two hundred miles. having compe.
tition of any consequence.
! No road made Or projected within borders
runs parallel with for nearly ex'entof its
-
| at right angles more or less oblque and It is only
at its south western terminus, of Dnyton, and for
short distance in the neighborhood IF Gailn and
CrestIine, that there is any road whatever coming
into contact of interest with it, or likely in any
mode to impair its utility or profit.
1t may be well, perhaps, to glance momentari
ly at the route, and its connexions. The charter
ed limits cf the road extend from point il
Trumbull county, Ohio, touching the p Pennsylva-
mia State line through Warren, in said county
through Ravenna. and through Franklin Mills, in
Portage; Akron in Summit; Ashland, Crestline
Gallon, Marion, Urbana, to Dayton. The line o.
counties through which this road passes, among
the most productive in the State, aud their surplus
products are especially those always seeking q
market at the east, manufactured -four, wheat
wool and corn, are their great staples. and these
are poured forth toward The Atlantic marts in nc
stinted measure, and are yearly the increase
Independent. then, of its being great thro
line, the belt Of country through which the road is
located. IS, according to competent judges, sufie-
lent in extent and producIiveness TO furnish am
pie support for the improvement.
But the connections of this road to the east, the
west, and to the south are still greater points than
even the local traffic upon it, great that may
readily conceivedlo be. By come ctions aIrendy
in progress through Pennsylvania, this route con-
meets with the New York and Erie Railroad on
the same continuous six feet guage at Oean on the
Allegheny, and in Pennsylvania at Ridgeway,
with the Sunbury and Erie Railroad to New York
and Philadelphia, which improvement will be in
operation in the next three years. This latter
route furnishes the shortest possible railroad tran
sit between central Ohio and the commercial En-
poriun' OF the Union. We know of TO liue of com.
mqnieaton at all practicable, which viii bring the