Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-04-24
~ All Editorialarticles designated Ly
q star, (*) are from the pen Of Mr..
Leete.
Ir0nton..Its Condition. Shall II have
Railway connections with other
places.

sudden acquisition OF great weallh thoI
has so generally pervojed tho minds o.
many Of the leading men Of this place,
since its foundation and which has, tc
some extent, been comm lnicated to all
CLASSES here, has finally passed off,
Mich has been done towards building q
city. As strongly as we have been a nd
still are opposed to the general features
Of the land policy tha. has governed the
place, we are still gra,ided with the gen.
.eral result. If tho Ohio Iron & Coal
Company does II not voluntarily rclinquish
its monopoly Of land, the law will DO i,
for them so that. on thar score, we have
no serious upprehensions for the future.
The three giant Rolling Mills, the Star
Nail Works, MERRILL & Co.'s Engine
Establishment. n similar Establishment
WILSON, KoUxs & CT I, the Foundries,
Plow Factories, and Axe Factories, to.
gether with the planning Mills, afford a
certain guaranty that there will, in fu.
ture, be heavy amount Of manu(ac,u.
ring done here. There is now more heavy
Iron Manufacture done in Ironton than
in Cincinnati, or at any other point west
Of Pi,tsburs. Though the finances Of
the country are extremely depressed, the
ears Of the people Of this place are now
greeted with the confused hum OF ma.
chinery that proclaims the presence Of
industry, and, at least, certain degree
Of prosperity.
The general scarcity and extremely
high rates Of provisions in this place
since its commenc cement, has been a Sc.
riuus drawback upon the prosperity Of
labor; there not being one.fourth enough
produce raised in this vicinity 10 supply
the home consumption. Almost every
thing in the provision line is imported
from other places, and the only channel
Of commerce communicating with other
regions Of country is the Ohio River,
which for the past year has not been
navigable for Though boats more than
onc.th:rd Of the time. The River nav.
igation being uncertain, and the manu-.
featuring and commercial interests Of
the place SO s'ea,, that connection with
the North AMI the railways Of the State
is impeta,ive!y demanded. The qnes.
ton is past all argument. The town has
been so far built or the faith Of such a
connection by means Of the Iron Rail.
road, commenced about six years ago.
and extended thirteen miles. Ten miles
more will connect i, with the Sciolo &
Hooking Valley Railroad, and that will
connect, directly or indirectly, with all
the leading lines passing through the
State. The effectof such a connection
will be directly to pour into tronton an
abundant supply Of all the agricultural
products Of the-rich interior, and bring
hundreds Of merchants here 10 purchase
shs Bor.Iron, Nails. Castings, Hollow
Ware. Stoves, Engines, Machinery,
l'lows, &c., manufactured in this place.
Then would money flow abundantly
among our laborers, mechanics AMI far
mers ,hroug ghout the entire county.
The Kcntuckians are looking for a
connection with tho North and Easl
through the Lexington & Big Sandy
Reilroad, and connection at this point
with the Ohio Railroads.
Lexington and Frankfort are but few
miles further from Ironton than they arc
from Cincinnati. If we are to prospe
and be blcst with plenty, the Iron Rail
road must be extended SO as to connect
this place with the railwaM OF the. State
Because times are hard here, i, is no rea
son why we should be idle. Nowis lh'
time to devise ways and means. Lot .h'
present company re.open its books 70
the subscription Of stock. Something
can be done in that way. Then mort
gage the road that is built, and the Who'll
line as pledge on which to raise fund
in the money market; and il that won
do, let every man that owns property il
town, and the Furnace Companies alon
the line Of the road, pledge their land I.
extend our road to Bloomfield. Its com
pletion will vastly increase the valu
Of all the real estate and merchants an
manufacturers capital here. Certain
is that nothing will ever be accomplish
ed without earnest and determined effof
We think i. would be well. 10 call
meeting Of the people on the subject
Will not tho merchs nts and manulact,
fers move in this matter, and put the ba
in motion?
Dangers to IrOnt0n from Fire.