American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-11-22

IAHVq8Hout.
On Friday Of last week The arst train
Of ears passed over The entire length Of
this road from ciscinnad to ZAnesyille.
carrying The Board Of Directory, the vari.
Gus officers Of the road and + number Of
invited guests. The regu4 trains COM
moncsd running Immediately. 70 The great
Qualification Of passengers and shippers
generally along The lineo the road.
Our fdoHd RussEL, Of Tie Clinton Re.
.~paItiean." who was a passenger on the
opening excursion, gives bis readers the
following historical data. which win Be
specially interesting 10 u readers.
The "Bill to incorporate thu Cincinnati
WILMINGTON and Z~auesyille Rilroad Com.
pany." was introduced INTO the House of
Representatives by r. 3. Harlan, ESQ.
the member from Clinton county, early 10
the month Of December, 1859. After
much struggle and difficulty, the bill pass
ed both branches Of the Legislature. On
the 9th Of February, 1851, as soon after
tho passage of the law as proper notice
could lie given. the corporators assembled
at Clrcleville. where it was resolved that
books Of subscription should be immedi-
ately opened along the line Of the road
AT the April election following, elections
were held in the several counties, submit
ting to the people the question Of county
subscription Meantime every township
and n~eighborhood in every county on the
line OF the road was thoroughly canvassed.
and the question Of subscriptious discussed
npon the stump, in school houses, church
es, and at the 6reside. so that by tn. time
the first Monday IL April came round every
voter was thoroughly posted upon every
argument, pro and con. having any bear
ing upon the question. The elections
were excited and hard contested, but re-
suited favorably to the enterprise-the
people literally and magnauimously vot-
ing the subscriptions authorized by the
Legislature. On the 18th of May follow.
ing. the stockholders met at Circleville and
chose F. Corwin and L. Fitzbugh, Of Gin
ton. w. Griswold. of Piakaway, ". Me-
dill and D. Tallmadge. of Fairfield, and
D, Lyman, of Muskingum, directors. AT
the Meeting of the Directors which assem-.
bied soon afterwards. F. Corwin of Will
mington, was elected President Of the
Company, ]. Radebaugh, of Lancaster.
Treasurer, and w. Triplott, of Circleville,
Secretary. The survey of the road COM
menced at Morrow, on the 95th Of July,
1851, by Mr.. McCracken, the chief engi-
neer. On the Gath Of November follow
ing, all of the work on that portion Of the
road lying between Morrow and Lancaster
"A distance Of 80 miles-was let to A.
DEGRAFF Or the most satisfactory terms to
the Company. On the goth Of January,
1859. the remainder of the work, from
Lancaster to Zanesville, was let to s.
Chamberlain. On the lst Of April, 1853,
The tracklaying commenced at Morrow. un-
der the direction Of that energetic and ex-
perienced tracklayer. Nj. Ashcraft, who
has laid the entire track from Morrow to
GAINESVILLE. On the 18th Of August the
road was opened and daily trains of cars
commenced running as far as Wilmington.
On the Gath of Novomber, the track was
down and the road opened rs far as Wash
ing!on. On the i4th Of April. 1854,
trains commenced running TO lancaster
On the 23l Of August last, trains were
running as far as Lexington. and yester-
day, the 18th Of November the locomotive
snorted in triumph on the banks Of tho
Muskingum at Zsnesville-a little better
than four years from the time DeGraf
commenced his work.