The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1863-12-31
From The Ohio State Journal.

sembled to honor. \ n a #&*N,
From the Ohio State Journal
Railroad Com munIeatI0n with the Great
Coal Fields ofthc Hooking Valley Ohio.
1t has been contemplated in this vi
cinity and at other points in central
and southern portions of the State, to
build Railroad from Columbus to the
great deposits of coal, iron, salt, build
ling stdno, marble and the oil re-
Igions of the Hooking Valley. This
important project has been neglected.
OF late years owing to the disturbed
state Of the country, and othermatters
engaging the attention Of capitalists
and the business community general
Ily. But the present seems to be, in
the opinion ofprominent men largely
interested, residing in Columbus, along
the proposed line and at points which
would be largely benefited, the time to
prosecute this important work.
The exorbitant price of coal in this
and other cities in Ohio for the past
three or four years from these fertile
mincs,a s,abounding in ineXhaustiblc veins
from six to nine feet thick of pure coal
admittedly all who have tested it TO
be superior. to any other known in the
western country, is entirely owing to
the want Of facilities Of Transportation,
the Ohio Canal being insufficient to
font u boat of the burthcn necessary,
in summer for want of water, and in
the winter its navigation being entire
ly closed. This is but one reason on
which we shall urge at present the i'm
portance Of building the proposed road,
while there are many others which will
readily suggest themselves TO the rea-
der. ...., ..,r.t.,t
Tn the year 1854 or The route was
Surveyed, commencing at this city,
running u southeastcrly course from
here to the city Of Baltimore, passing
through Winchester, Carroll, Lancas-
ter, Sugar Grove, Logan, Nclsonyillc,
Chauncy and Athens, making d dis
tancc Of about seventy miles =; tho en-
tire line being favorable for railroad,
there not being ut any point u grade
exceeding thirteen feet to Il mile, the
bridging very triiing and no tunnel
: ing. At the same time an estimate
was made by acompctcnt cnginccrthat
the road could be built and put in or
der to receive the rolling stock for
eight thousand dollars per mile, or an
aggregate of S5G0,00O.
Tho points named arc not the only
ones that would be benefited by the
construction Of this road Springfield,
Dayton, Xcnia, Url ara, Piqua, and
more particularly Cincinnati, would
reap material advantages
The contemplate road connects at
Athens with the Marietta and Cincin-
natl Railroad, forming distinct line
fifty miles shorter than any other route
via Parkcrsburgh to the city of Balti-
more.
The interests of the citizens of Port
mouth, point celebrated for its cxtcn-
sive Iron Works, Jackson, McArthur
Hamden, Logan and Newark would
be largely enhanced by the undcrtak
ing, giving them the benefit of direct
railroad communication from Ports.
mouth through to Lake Eric by the
completion otthc road eighteen miles
between llamdcn and Logan now par.
TALLY graded, and building Il road over
II most favorable country, eighteen
miles, from Carroll to Newark.
In addition to the great advantages
to be derived by the citizens Of Colum-
bus and other localities named, by the
construction OF this road, there can be
no question as to its being most lu-
crativc investment; we hesitate not to
say, one Of the most profitable railroad
enterprises in the Western country.
The question now is, Shall thisgrcat
work be accomplished, and when? AS
we have said before, the present time
is proptious; capital was never more
abundant, and holders are anXiously
seeking opportunities for permanent,
safe, and profitable Investment. Then
why delay action? We suggest that
prominent men take hold of the ma ter
at once, Let a meeting be called for
the purpose % consultation in this city,
and subsequently at other points on the
proposed route and at localities to be
benefited by the roud's completion
let subscription books be opened, and
our word for it, there will bo more
oncy offered than would be requisite
TO build Il road costing four timcs the
amount Of this cntcrprizc. G.
Columbus, December, 2S, 1868,