American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-10-25

The City OF Lancacter, and her future
-, Prospects...The Railroad.

.t PTOspects..-The Railroad.
Now that the din of political strife is
ended, we desire to call the attention of
our readers to some matters of local inter-
est which we conceive to be of the utmost
importance. not only to the city of Lancas-
ter, but also to all the inhabitants Of the
county. We regard this period as avery
critical one in the history Of this city. A
few weeks will witness the completion of
tho G. w. & 2. Railroad to GAINESVILLE. Ii
any person was ever so foolish as to sup.
pose that the Railroad would, of itself, in
crease the business of Lancaster, he is by
this time, we lope, fully convinced Of his
error. We intend to show before closing
this article, that the Railroad will actually
seriously injure the bu'iness Of Lancaster,
unless the business men Of the city take ac-
tive measures 10 prevent such a result
The time was, in the early history OF
this State. and before the day OF railroads
and canals, when this place was the cen
ire Of trade for large entent of country.
Thon Lancaster was place of more ial-
portance than Columbus, Dayton, and ma
ny other towns which have since far sur
passed her. The construction Of the Ohio
Canal cut off a large portion of the trade
which formerly came here, and it became
necessary, in order to place Lancaster on
an equality with the little towns which
sprang up along the Ohio Canal, in the
northern part of the county, to construct
the Lancaster Literal Canal, which was
subsequently continued down the Hooking
Valley 10 Athens. The construction OF
the Lateral Canal was of vast importance
to the business of Lancaster, for without
it she would have dwindlad down into IN
significance. Even as it is, Winchester,
Carol, Basil and Baltimore now cut of
much of the trade which once came here,
while Circleyille on the west has long ia.
ken much trade from this county, which
the use of proper means would have secu-
red TO Lancaster. ~a'7si os
We do not wish to be understood as de-
string that the Canal had never been con-
structed;-rfar from it, for we know that
the county at large has been greatly beno.
fited by its construction. although it has
been Of comparatively little advantage u
this place, because our citizens pursued a
wrong policy They should have eugag-
cd in manufacturing. and then the trade,
not only of this, but Of the adjoining coun.
ties. would have been attracted by the su,
.perior market Of Lancaster. But the pol
icy Of our business mon seems thus far tc
have been TO rely upon the trade of thai
limited section ofour county which neces-
sity has heretofore forced to Lancaster.
What effect will the construction Of the
Railroad have upon the business of Lau.
caster? We reply. that it will cut of !
very important portion of :he trade which
has heretofore sustained this city. Fol
example, large portion Of the produce
from the west Of the county, which for
merly found a market at Lancaster, vii
hereafter be taken 70 Amanda. which now
affords as good a market as this place, and
as natural consequence ,Ithe farmers who
take their produce to Amanda will alst