The Ohio union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1849-1854, 1853-08-31
From the Hudson o., Register and Visitor. I
Influence of Railroads upon County
Villages. aQgiIN'

ShAdBCas titf
: II is oilen remarked lhatile establishment
OF railroad communication has marked
tendency 10 the Capitalization Of business.
that it tends 10 concentrate business opera.
lions at the termini of .he roads and AZ
distant points along the lines, fuininr Inc
smaller towns which lie between. NJ
one dOubts the decided advantages accnl-
ing TO the farming interests along he
whole extent Of tie roads; ihe value OF
farming lands is increased, The price Of all
farm products is augmented in proportion
10 the ease with which they are taken 70
the markets, while, from The same cause.
the price OF all articles brought from dis.
'ant points for the farmers consusnp,ion IL
reduced; but, as minated above, The ad.
vanlages 10 ihe smaller villages, as bust.
ness points, are not always SO apparen,.
on The other hand, il is oilen the case ,hat
points in which large amnnni of Ls =
ness had been done gradually decay, and
after time become well nigh deserted,
the old customers OF the business men,
taking advantage of the easy communica-
ton with larger towns, 60 lhther with
their produce and make their purchases
there, and thus give authority to the ssser-
ZION that railroads will destroy small bust
ness towns. But this is mol always the
result. Other towns, in no respect more
fa"orably located, exhibit new life, busi.
uess Of all kinds increases and in a few
4 years large and prosperous towns grow up.
1t is well 10 ask, why these different re-
sults' Their r,ih may he demonstraied
by the histnry Of thousands of places in
The older STATES, some Of which owe lhris
prosperity and others their desertion sp.
parentIy TO The same cause. Railroads. of
themselves, viii never augment The bust.
ness Of place thro' which they pass;
shey afford facilities fpr more extensive
business and equal facilities 10 all TO seek
a market and make purchases elsewhere.
The old sue "Provdencc helps these who
help themselves" is as applicable here as
elsewhere. If The men in a place illus
situated pursue their old routine, exhibii-
ing no new activity and enterprise, which
the new state Of things demands, (he result
will be that, that which might have been
benefit will prove an injury; their bus-
ness will dwindle away and their IOWA
present unmistakable evidences Of decay.
A town siuated in the rich farming seriiops
Of the State, ten, Gfeen VI twenty miles
from any other business point, with 10
meansof exit, except The common road "
The canal, may do large business under
almost any management Produce must
be sold and goods must be purchased. Gus
TONERS are under bonds 10 The few mer.
charls Of the place to do their busir,s IS
with them, and HE unly cOmpe linn is be-
tween these few business men. Each one
strives to offer as good inducements 10
his customers as his neighbour and nrpd
care but little about the superior adVan.
lages that are offered By traders, twenty
mites distant or the mud road which pass.
es his esta blishmeat. But whea railrr
Communications are opened, The comp, IL
lion is no longer, mainly, between indi,id-
uals, but between towns. Where tealih.
lnl public spirit encourages enlargement
where all extend cordial welcome to new
business men, encouraging the opening of
rival establishments, even at their own
, doors, regarding every new industrious
clizen as a valuable acquisition, the Town
will prosper; and when the handful Of
, men, Vhn before enjoyed monopoly Of
the business. lind themselves competing
I with hundred others, they will also find
their own business increasing and their
profits accum Hating more rapidly Than
before. But Iet different cnurse be pur.
, sued no attempt al enlargement made, No
5 effort to secure for customers as full an as.
/ sorlmrnt Of goods and at as fair prices as
! can be obtained in other places, on or a,
. the termini Of the road; let The desire
he manifested to retain the business as he.
fore, in the hands Of the few, and TO do
5 everything in the old way, and in shor'
Y time the complaint will be heard that"lhe
;. railroad has ruined the town." .'I'he len
n dency 10 Capitalization is so great that /
cannot he overcome" "Men within on,
n or Two hours ride Of large places will dc
', their trading and make their sales there"
Ie "Nolhng in the shape Of business can b
Il done here" and with apparent truth. On'
e, or the other Of these results will happel
e. In all places thus situated. ln every case
a il is for the ciliZens To decide which.