The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-06-03

So urgent has been the pressure of freight as
greatly to embarrass the company, but with t
their great resources at ready command, they |
are rapidly multiplying facilities. and are get
ting ready to meet every demand upon them.
Trains now run regularly every day to Ak
ron, (two trains each way) and the work of
completion on the track laid, in ballasting,
building turntables, engine houses, freight
and passenger depots, &C., is going rapidly
forward, while the work of construction west
of Akron is being pushed energetically for
ward to Cincinnati. The receipts of that por-
ton of the road now in running order, are
constantly and largely augmented, and have
already reached a point far exceeding the
most sanguine anticipations of those who
were the most hopeful
So great and leading business thoroughfare
as this is and must be, is and will be vast
benefit to the country through which it pass
es. This can already be seen by the stir. ac-
tivity aud impetus given to business all along
the line, in country, and in villages-and
where it has its stations, decided, large and
permanent, advantages are secured. This is,
emphatically true in regard to Ravenna, where
there is growing up such large daily trans
fer of freight and passengers between this
road and that of the Cleveland Pittsburgh
Railroad. This will require large Depot
buildings at this point, and will, of ITSELF add
| largely to the business of the locality, and to
the working force necessary to do it.
The Work Shops of the Company, for the
Middle Division in Ohio, are to be located, we
understand, at Franklin Mills in this county.
We trust there is not citizen of the County
who will not rejoice at this intelligence. For
ourselves, we cordially congratulate the citi-
zens of our sister village, in securing so impor-
tant an addition to its business. Very large
and extensive structures will be needed for
these shops. and their location will add speed
lily five hundred, it may be more, to the pop
ulaton of the place.
The location of the Shops at Franklin
Mills is doubtless due to the position and in
fuence of MARVIN KENT, Esq, the President
of the Road, who resides at that point If
any man ought to be gratifed and benefited
by the location of the shops, it is President
Kent. He was not only the early friend of
this Road, but if We are correctly informed, he
originated the idea of its construction. In car
completion, he has toiled and struggled for
over twelve years, amidst doubt and dscour-
agement, amidst jeers and sneers, and obloquy
While others hesitated, be stood fast; when
the faint-hearted turned aside, he persevered
with unfaltering nerve and courage. When
timid friends forsook, he succeeded in
raising up other friends, and in attracting caI-
ital to this great work. And thus, with a
patience, a courage, an assiduity, an unswerv-
ing fidelity to single aim, that reaches the
point of real heroism, has he held on his way
through twelve laborious years of fuctua-
tions, vicissitudes and uncertainties, neglect
ing, or abandoning his private business, pledg-
ing and imperilling, or, at least, casting into
the hazard of success his large private for
tune, for the benefit of his cherished enter
prise. And yet, he has labored all this time,
without general appreciation the select few
more intimately associated in official rela-
tions with him, only knowing and appreciat-
ing his trials and his tolls. But it is time the
man to whom, more than to any other, the
country is indebted for this great and leading
road, should be understood and appreciated
for every man, and every community benefit
ted by the construction of this Road. owes tt
| Y j IL II
be congratulated on the success, which tht
intelligence the ability, and the fixed ant
! resolute purpose which he has brought t.
bear on the enterprise, have accomplished.
Who, under these circumstances, cal
grudge to Mr. Kent the location of the ex
! tensive Machine Shops in the place of hi
9 residence. Who more than he, and wha
g community than the one favored by his resi-
dence among them, can be more entitled t
: the benefit
Ravenna might have been pleased t
: have had these shops here, and, yet, she ha
: no peculiar claim. Besides, if we are correct
!. ly informed, the Company required bonu
: of forty thousand dollars from the citizens c
the place where these shops should /
located. Who supposes and believes the be
nus could have been raised in Ravenna ha
the proposition been submitted to US? "
: do not. And yet, Franklin Mills, through th
same energy, and influence and means whic
Mr. Kent has been able to bring to this ente
:, prise all along, is enabled to meet the requis
: ton, and Franklin Mills has the shops. Will
therefore, the place of their location will re
ceive large direct benefit from the shops, Ra
= VIENNA will, indirectly, share largely in tt
:, benefit. Besides, the large investments net
essary, will bring very important additions
!: amount on to the tax duplicate, and thus ev,
ry citizen of the county will, to an extent, NJ
only be benefited by the construction of tt
Road, but by the location of the shops with
- our bounds.
u Henceforth, say we, let justice be done
y to the character and ability of MARVIN KEN
~ the enterprising protector and successf
u President of this Road-let his merits be a
preciated, and his great aRS important labor
m and sacrifices in the completion of the Alta
a tic and Great Western Railway, be acknow
nd edged.
mt 241s =
"a BLAcKwooD FOR MAY-The number
he Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Americ
To- Edition, republished by Leonard Scott & G
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Price So year.
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