Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-04-13

} Cincinnati TO st. Louis.
recollect well the first time wher
this line was first talked of; the first
tune l was In Aurora. They seized
upon me and said must make speech;
l did SO, and therefore do feel it fat
tering to be called on now that the great
work draws on towards completion, to
be remembered. 1t is but a few years
ago remember standing on the banks
of the turged Mississippi, and casting
my eyes to the opposite bank beheld
st. Louis, then situated in wilderness,
but now see what enterprise has made
herl One of the greatest cities on the
globe! Her course, like ours, has been
ever onward, and her reward is the
same, As regards this company, we
have seen some dark days, but they are
past, thanks to the energy of our people
and the magnanimity of our City Coun-
Gil. The speaker here detailed the ae-
ton of the Council. After this We
came to stop, then we appealed to an
American, Geo. Peabody, Of London, a
great and liberal man, who has made
his mark in England, too, in spite of diff
ficulties and prejudices. (cheers. y
Again we came to stop, and then
stepped forth Henry G. Bacon, of St.
Louis, three cheers, he said, ''take
my purse, use it." Well the result of
all this is, you now see the beginning of
the end. pledge myself, as contractor
Of this road, that in one twelve month
from this time you shall travel on this
line from Cincinnati to st. Louis.
E. B. Reeder, Esq, Director of the
Company, next offered the following
toast: .. .s
''Ohio and Indiana, eldest daughters
of the West; may their love grow with
growing years." (Cheers.)
DR.. 7. o. Edwards being called on
said: We may well celebrate the open
ing of this road,-a road within &c
miles of an air line between the two
cities, its length being 396 miles, and the
distance direct 800. If this is not a
great, a commandable enterprise, know
not one. lido not calculate the revenue
of the road, or its profits; there are
higher considerations attending it. 1t
binds Ohio to Mississippi; it will bind
US to California, to Boston, in Mass,
aye. and even to Maine. We have
passed through dark days, and are now
in glorious sunlight 7f' H- ."'r
This road and such as this will bind
together Territories and States; certain
men are trying to sap the foundation of
our government; such works as these
are and will be its great protectors
Let the whole country; its various
States and sections, become bound to-
gether by these, and it's safe; demigods
cannot divide it, Hell cannot destroy it,
(Cheers.) Bind Ohio to Kentucky, to
Mississippi, to Georgia, Indiana, Massa-
chusetts, Carolina, and then indeed there
will be union. In conclusion, / would
remind you our thanks are due the
President, Directors and all concerned
in the construction of the o. & NJ. R. R.,
on the opening of which we have en-
joyed this great and happy festival; all
honor to them, may they ever live in
our recollection and affections. up
rorious applause, with three cheers for
the officials of the line. 4 frautJ
Caleb B. Smith, Esq, President of
the Western R. R. Co., next mounted
the stand and said:-I am happy. to
recognize my Indiana friends, my friends
of my adopted State that has often be-
slowed its honors on me- l find it now
enjoying the blessings of internal i'm
which Improvements l ad-
vocated in 1880 when member of the
THE speaker here re-
viewed his action in the matter. In
diana was then a-wilderness, an obscure
and insignificant State; now shines the
fourth in the Union, and will be one day
the first, or one of the first of that
bright galaxy of stars, and her position
is and will be entirely owing to her sys-
TEN of internal improvements. The
time when man may travel from the
shores of the Atlantic to the Pacific in
"a hours is not far distant; should we
not then rejoice that we live in this pro-
gressive age? This line, the opening of
which calls us here to-day, will unite
the great city of Ohio to that of Mis-
souri,.
1t is one of the most important works
of the country. Only few years ago,
Aurora was an unknown, humble town,
moss grown village; now look at her!
and what has made the eleEation?-l
Railroads. This morning when l saw
her, l did not recognise her, so great is
the change. Thus kindred works con-
vert the dormant capital of fruitful lands
into gold. l hear of stagnancy, a
tightness in the money market; of per
cent, month, and such ike. Mer-
chants and traders complain of hard
times, and so forth. 1t may be all true,
but when 1 see the bone and sinew of
this great country, its agricultural popu-
lation fourishing, I think little of it;
and does it not prosper here in Indiana
and Ohio? The London Times SAYS,
we are a Dragging nation, why should
we not be? If any people on Gods
earth has a right to brag have not we?
Cheers. Weionly brag of what we
do orlcan do. And now few words as
to this line and its prospective profits.
The Hamilton and Dayton Road spent
great deal of money, so did the Little
Miami, but has not the country been thei