The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1856-06-12

The Ohio and pennsylvania Company
subscribed 100000 of the stock of the
Fort Wayne end Chicago Road, and the
Ohio and Indiana Company made SINH
lar subscription to the amount of $213,
$50, which was paid by a transfer of real
estate, which the Ohio and Indiana Com
pany had itselfreceived on its stock sub
scriptions.
The construction of the Fort Wayne
and Chicago Road was looked upon as
essential to the realization of the idea
which had gradually developed itself as
the Ohio and Pennsylvania and Ohio and
Indiana Roads had progressed, of an up-
broken line ofrailway of uniform gauge.
and operated by a unity of interest. from
Pittsburgh (the chief manufacturing and
distributing point of the vast mineral
wealth of Pennsylvania to Chicago, the
chief depot of the agricultural wealth Of
the northwest, and the point of distribu-
ton for the tide Of emigration in its west
ward flow. All parties feel satisfied Of
the permanent value as a line of travel of
the route occupied by the three roads be-
tween Pittsburg and Chicago, for the rea-
son that it was the most direct route, and
as near as could be on The line Of the great
movement of men, which had long been
going on between the States Of Pennsyl-
vania and Ohio, and the region west and
northwest of Chicago.
The Fort Wayne and Chicago Rail-
road was commenced in the summer of
1858, and its completion by January,
1854, was confidently anticipated.
In TIM autumn of 1853, marked
change took place n the monetary affairs
of this country, and a great revolution of
opinion occurred on the subject ofrailroad
investments. During the years 1854
and 1855, it became very difficult to ne
gotiate securities Of unfinished railroads
The European war aggravated the want
of confidence in this class of securities
The Fort Wayne and Chicago Company,
after having advantageously disposed of
nearly 100000 of its mo. tgage bonds,
and $5OO,OOO of real estate bonds, was
unable promptly to convert the residue
ofits bonds. or to realize upon its as
sets, so as to progress rapidly with its
work. The Ohio and Indiana Company,
after hard struggle, had opened its road
for business unballasted, and it could not,
therefore, be operated as economically
and efficiently as was desired. The con-
dition of both roads, during 1854 and
1885, became quite discouraging, and
both the Pennsylvania, and Ohio and
Pennsylvania Companies seemed indis-
posed to extend them further aid, until
some comprehensive plan could be de-
vised which would insure the completion
Of the whole line to Chicago. Notwith-
tstanding the embarrassment produced by
the general depression of railroad inter.
ests, the essential strength Of its position
has enabled the Fort Wayne and Chica
go Company to maintain its credit and
progress steadily, though not rapidly
with its work. In February last, twenty
} miles of the road, from Fort Wayne te
) Columbia, were opened for business, ant
} the state of the work on forty four mile,
) more, between Fort Wayne and Plymouth
} is such that it can be completed, and the
road opened to that point in September
next. At Plymouth, connection will
be made by way of the Plymouth and La
porte Road, which will give an immedi
ate outlet for all the through business TO
Chicago and the northwest passing owe
the Pennsylvania, the Ohio and Pennsy VI
vania, and Ohio and Indiana Road. Thi
desirable and highly important resul
can be obtained by an expenditure o
} from $95O.OOO to $500, 900 on the For
q Wayne and Chicago road. .
The unavoidable delay in the compile
tion. of the Fort Wayne and Chicag
Road has been serious draw back upol
the prosperity both of the. Ohio, and Penn
sylvania and Ohio and Indiana Roads
Without the Fort Wayne and Chicag,
. Road, neither of the other roads have an
direct outlet to the Northwest, and th
business that properly belongs to then
: passes over northern and more circuitou
J routes. With three hundred and thirt
y eight miles already constructed, Of wha
: is considered to be the best route fror
: Pittsburg to Chicago, all of it but abou
eighty-two miles between Pittsburg an
) Alliance, at the intersection Of the Cleye
d land and Pittsburg Road, is virtually los
u as part of a through line for want of com
x pletion of the link of forty-four mile
70 between Fort Wayne and Plymouth =
- The receipts per mile of the Ohio an
Pennsylvania Road have never vet ex
d oeeded $4,000 per year, when if tn
/ Chicago connection by way of Fol-
: Wayne had been completed, and in sue
s oessful operation, and the entire line fror
i Pittsburg to Chicago operated in concert
o it is confidently believed the average re