The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-04-28

!, ~NhH SVoEEhf
Report Of the Committee OF the Cit,
eCcaseii IN Relation TO. the Management
The Committee whom was referred the ex.
animation Of the proceedings of the Board Of
Directors of the Central Ohio Railroad, here.
with
.7 REPORT, -.....
i That the resolution o. the City Council
met with prompt response upon the part OF
the Railroad Directory, and every facility for
the investigation bas been rendered In a
satisfactory manner.
Before proceeding to recspitulate the facts
connected with the contracts for the construc-
tion of Locomotive Engines and Passenger
Cars, it is proper to advert 10 the arguments
made use Of, by the President and others as
sociated with him, IN getting up the enter
prize for the construction Of the Central
Ohio Road; in obtaining stock subscriptions
from our citizens as well as aid from the
county. The argument most prominently
put forth was, that by means of it, manufact-
cries would spring up for the construction of
engines and passenger and burthen cars; and
our industrial interests be largely promoted
by the enterprise, and an increase of popuIa-
ton and wealth, as a matter of consequence,
would be the resulting benefits. p. How far
this state of anticipated results have been
verified, the public are doubtless enabled to
Judge ,imPartially from relation of facts
Policy. indicated and adopted by the Directory
while the read was in process of construc.
tion, favored the growth of these manufactur-
ing establishments, but no official pledge is
upon record to do SO at the expense of other
interests; it needed no other than individual
assurance, which was given, that q proper
degree of encouragement would be extended:
and, under this implied faith, some OF our
enterprising citizens embarked their capital,
with a snnguine expectation that their hopes
would be realized; and as an earnest of this
policy a contract was entered into With Dou.
glass, Smith & Co., by the Central Ohio
Railroad, for the construction of passenger
and burthen cars, to extend to a period of
four years from the date. The provisions of
this contract compelled Messrs. Douglass,
Smith g. Co. to keep force on hand at all
times, as well as material, to complete the
orders of the Board, either for the construc.
tion or repair of cars, and the Railroad Com
pany obligated themselves to pay such prices
as was paid by other Railroads, to responsible
manufacturers in Ohio. (See copy of con-
tract in the forthcoming report of the Pre-
sident) In the infancy of this enterpize, it
is proper to state, that the Central Ohio Rail-
road advanced their means largely, to fes-
ter its growth, and by liberal patronage,
placed it upon an apparently substantial foot
ing, thus enabling its enterPrising proprietors
to erect new buildings and to increase their
manufacturing facilities, commensurate in
part with the increased demands for machinery
consequent upon the prospective opening up
of more extended line of traffic upon the
eastern division Of the Cefitfal Ohio Railroad.
Anticipating this state Of things, the Board
Of Directors, on the 9Th of February, 1854,
ordered that the President be authorized to
contract for all the passenger and burthen
cars they may need for the use of eastern
division Of the Road. The requisiton of the
Superintendent called for 4
200 House cars, wheels,
200 Coal and Cattle Cars, r
.. SO Platform or Gondola,
~ go First class Passenger,
ls' 4 Second class {"
U Express and Mail, with post office and
70 express apartments.
4 No. 2 Baggage. r 1'Z 'a .'
In obedience to this requisition, the Pre-
sident invited proposals from Douglass, Smith
g. Co., for all the work they could do within
q prescribed period. (see Presidents report)
and on the i4th of Februry they made pro-
posals for
10 First class passenger, .-
A Second class
8 Mail express ......... ......
Baggage, -.. ...--. ... .
Which proposition was accepted, at slight
reduction upon proposed prices. A similar
contract was given to Messrs. Davenport,
Russell g. Co., of Massilon, for similar amount
and kind Of work. in the same proposal there
,Oas proposition from Douglass, Smith &
Co., for the construction OF the House, Coal,
Scuttle and Platform cars, dt prices not accept
able 10 the President-ihey doubtless anticipdt-
ing, that propositions might hdus beef made bs
other parties, they qualified their bid, by say
ing, that il these prices do not suit, they
would build them at prices named by re-
sponsib.e manufacturers in Ohio; THUS throw
ing themselves back upon their contract with
the Company. and the construction they had
eiSeT ii, which was to the effect. that they
were to have the preference At sp average Of
prices named by, responsible .manufactprers
in tae Slate Of Ohio, This conclusion would
seem to be fair, from the fact, that they were
compelled, under the. contract, to keep force
of men and material at oil times, to execute
the orders of the company, either for con-
siruction or repair; the Railroad company
deny that their construction Of the contract
10 proper, for the reason that, if generally
known, it would prevent wholesome COM
petition upon the part Of other companies in