The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1854-03-08
These. gentlemen. ure


The road. A glance at the map will show ai
once that more highly cultivated and produc-
tive line of country could moi be selected for the
maintenance of road; and it may safely be
promised that the entire home trade along the
linz will be secured, and that no other line (ei-
ther existing OF proposed) can interfere or COM
pe,e with this.
Among the nnultitudnous projects Of this rail-
way age, there is none which makes show OF
comparison with this line, if We except that
known as the Laae Shore Road, the termini OF
which are Cleveland and Erie. Isut this the
best paying road within the borders OF our State
sinks into comparative insignificance when
compared with the immense advantages OF the
line now under consideration.
The objects of this line are similar TO those OF
the Lake Shore Road; but lis advantages are
mmeasurably superior. The Lake Shore
Road will necessarily command very limited
local trade, while the Franklin and Warren
runs through a rich and highly cultivated coun-
try,whose local business alone would fully JUS
tify its construction without any reference
whatever TO the immense business it must COM
mund at either end Of the line.
To substanliate the general position herein
assumed, and the great advantage clained in
location, it is merely necessary to state that 1t
takes the sa ne general line as that adopted by
the far reaching mind Of Col. Clinton when en-
gagged in the examination of line for great
/ railway route from the Atlantic TO the Missis-
sippi.
Subsequent, surveys have shown that this
route is among The most available as portion
of that gigantic enterprise which will ere long
connect with iron bands the two great oceans of
the globe.
With these suggestions refer you, with full
confidence, to the forthcoming report of our
able and distinguished chief engineer Samuel
Il. Kneass. Esq, which will be furnished about
the close of the present year.
1t will be proper to state, here, thai con-
tract for the construction of the work wns nude
with Mr.. Henry Doolittle, in June last. at a
rate below what the Company might reasonably
have expected. and every hope is INDUCED thai
it will be pressed to the most speedy and salts
factory conclusion.
The finances Of the Company are, it is be-
lieved, fully adequate for the construction Of the
road. They consist, chiefly, of local individu-
al subscriptions, amounting, in the aggregate,
to one million three hundred thousand dollars
with the encouraging prospect of being increas
ed to one and half million Of dolars. or The
first named amount. nearly one million on reli
able Subscriptions are now in the possession o
the Company; the balance viii. be ready for de
livery at different points on the line so soon a
the proper examinations nre made for the per
manent location of the road. This amount, 40
aed to the portion subscribed aud payable 10 h,
contractor, will amount to about two and a hal
million Of dollars, which. Il i, confidently be
ieved, will constitute sufficient basis 20 ensur
. The completion of thu work, and establish am
pie confidence in the enterprise.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
;, = MARVIN KENT, President''
: FRANKLIN, PORTAGE Co., July II, 1853,
. Abstract of the Engineers Report.
IL Three essential points were kept in view 10 Il
:. eating the road. 1st. Shortest line from Dayto
J. to Pennsylvania line. 81 Face of the country be-
It fitted for economical construction. 81 Prints
10 connection with other roads, more especially tt
=. Western and Southern.
, With these considerations in view, the concll
:, sion of the Engineer is that the following route
- clearly indicated:
r "Considerng the city of Dayton the Southwes
10 ern terminus of the road the starting point th
line runs up the Mad River Valley to the town
a Urbana, where it will cross the Mad River ar
h Lake Erie road, also that now constructing fro
n Columbus to Urbana and to extend westward
the State of Indiana, at Union. From this poiI
still tending enthusiastically, after passing throu|
ie Mingo Valley, through the village of Lewisburg
le and, descending Spayne's Run to Darby Cree
III the route takes almost air line ofabout 81 mil
ne through Marion and Gallon to Crestline, mak
k the entire distance to that point from Dayton II
IN miles-add to this, So miles to Cincinnati, maki
n in all from that city to Crestine by this L
!, miles, which contrasted with the route by Colur
bus and Xenia, gives an advantage to the Frank
- & Warren Rail Road of % miles.
~ From Crestine, still proceeding in northes
y course with line slightly curved, over high
5n favorable country and touching the towns of As
5h land Akron, and Franklin. crosses the Clevela
n and Pittsburgh Rail Road near the village of R
,st VIENNA, and proceeds in the same direction throu
o. Wndham. and Warren, in Trumbun county,
.l the Pennsylvania State Line, giving an emit
:. length of 240 miles from the city of Dayton.
: Throughout this extended line, there is curv
AZ ture of less radius than 1910 feet. and Cradle
ID exceeding 80 feet, tenths per mile. In a fe
10 cases economy might dictate the acceptance o.
n higher gradient, and at point the same reas
he would justify curvature of less radius
e. The report ably discusses the subject of guag
of ntimatIng that the only drawback TO the wi
guage adopted by the F. & W. R.R. is the Fl
!. that its connections along the route are #. 10
= In the question of guages the point mainly to
IVY considered is the facility OF difficulty of formi