The Ohio union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1849-1854, 1854-03-15

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Justify q curvature Of less radius:
Full consideration will doubtless be CIV
en- 10 the subjec, Of gauge, in view Of The
roads made or being made TO meet nus ex'
tended line. The only drawback being
thai the different lines with whice the
Franklin and Warren Rail Road must nee
e~ssarily connect along This route, are OF
less construction, viz !: 4 feet 10 inch, Than
that proposed for il.
This question Of guage need not nov be
The subject OF argument. The lime has
passed Tor discussion on this subject, the
matter being considered as settled.
Whatever gusge may be definitely
adopted, ,ranshipmenis mus. take place at
some points between The Great West aud
the Atlantic, and whether these are to be
made in the progress Of accommodating
Greights at various points in the West or
at SOM great depo, near the Atlantic, is
question which may well claim tho earnest
consideration Of the Company, but does
not demand its immediate decision. Some
time mus, yet elapse before'it will be nee
essary to determine upon the rolling ma
chinery and working Of the road, thus CIV
ing leisure for ample reflection before a
final conclusion on this point; if indeed 1t
will be found at all expedient TO de'late
from that originally suggested. Undue
haste in this matter may run into the
original error, committed at the very
commencement Of rail road Improvements
that Of following and old beaten track
without any reflection upon it as a system.
The first rail road ia England, from which
our own country borrowed its ideas, was
content 10 take the old wagon track as its
guage without extending lis views 10 The
enormous changes which the invention
. would work in the whole face Of travelling
and transportation. When high speed
came 10 be required and powerful rolling
machinery to be applied, some inconven-
fences were found to be inseparable from
a narrow guage, which, with difficulty, the
ingenuity Of mechanical invention has been
able TO overcome. The means now being
generally adopted, has been an extension
Of gage, in many cases TO The width laid
down for the present improvement.
There is no occasion at present to If-
cuss the question, whether in the avoid
auce of the primary evil, reform has moi
gons too far and erred somewhat on the
opposite extreme. The question mainly
TO be considered is the facility or difficulty
of forming connections with roads OF dit
ferenl catibre, and that being the peculiar
province Of The Board Of Directors, YOU
y Engineer has M disposition TO 60 far'he'
!" ,han make a passing adverIence to thu
: subject.
The value Of this improvement presents
7 itself so broadly 10 the most casual exami
U nation, that observation upon it might be
u deemed uncalled for, were it not that thi,
report would be incomplete wiihou
i some of the advantages possessed by i
9 over any enterprise Of a similar character
!, in the State.
y There are two great resources in The
u business Of a channel Of inier-communicl
iion-eilher for freight or passeRgers-ih'
, through AID the local trade. The frs, o
= these has generally been deemed the mos
!" important. The connection Of two o
+ more distant points. having large relation
Of trade with each other, is usually III
g leading object Of the enterprise, and III
l. profit on this connection is mainly relie'
h upon to produce returns on the inves'men
in its construction. In this view, the dlrer
course taken BY this route from a leadin!
city in the west. towards the two larges
I emporiums on the Atlantic, is a point tina
i. cannot be too suorgly pressed as making
d the enterprise one Of the most valuable 70
h profitable investment. Whether We con
!. slider New York or Philadelphia as it
D, terminus, no other road as ye, in progress
is offers sd direct, rapid and economical
Transmission between the valley Of III,
C. Mississippi and the eastern ocean.
T Having sketched the general course AM
ID features Of the ro,d, | proceed 10 a sum
] mary statement Of the progress alrcad,
lie made, as also Of The preparations for I'll
,g early fuIilment and completion Of ih
e. work.
| am happy 10 be able 10 state that III
Us entire subscription expected on The PAL
lie of the City Of Dayton, hasbeen completed
he The operations of this important end {
or the line, delayed by unforeseen difficulties
it have already commenced. 1t is scared
be a matter Of regre, that an apparent della
ii. has taken place on this section Of The roa
IS for this delay is more apparent tia
" real. Preparations Of an extensive cha
igs sc,er have been made for some time /; an
he The ground oncc broken, there can be I
as doubt that the work will proceed with mo
than ordinary energy under the control
ii Iht contractor, Mr.. Henry Dooliltle,
he well established in repulalion for e%iieienc
Ter in every operation with which he has bee
connected. The exerlions already mat
M on his part, al other prints along the lin
furnish a sure guarantee that the Daytt
is end will he pressed with all the speed
which ii is susceptible. | may here
The permitted to say, that the choice Of t
The Company in this regard, has been en
lad nenty happy. The Contractors knO,
ere energy, acknowledged capacity, and fer
ity Of resource, are 81 we'll es,ablisht
that any adverence 10 them here may W
ded be omitted as sup%erluous.
ion. lp this connection permit me TO obser
asst. that | have every reason 10 be fully saI