Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-09-12

MEADvnLE-THE ATLANTIC AND GREAT
WESTERN RAILRoAD.-A recent trip to Mead
vile, Pennsy ylvanis, over the Atlantic and
Great Western Railroad, enabled MS to judge
Of the astonishing rapidity with which the
country has been opened up by the company
having the building of that road in charge.
The road is in complete running order
to Akron, and is being rapidly extend
ed westward. The passenger from Cleveland,
on leaving this city by the Cleveland and
MahOning track, is agreeably disappointed
at the change from the prOverbial slowness
Of the trains upon that useful road to the
sWiftness of an express train. The train
leaving Cleveland at 1880 A. N. connects at
Leavittsburgh about 10 o'clock. Hero the
broad gauge cars are taken, and one who has
not tried the experiment can hardly appreciate
the increase of comfort which resuIts from
the change. The Atlantic and Great West
ern cars are finished and Furnished with ex-
quisits taste and convenience, while the wide
seats afford ample room without erowding or
"hugging."
The track west of Meadville has been
laid down within year, the most of it within
eight months. 1t would be but natural,
therefore, to expect rough and jOlting bed.
But to the sstonishment of all novices, the
road bed is extremely smooth and easy, much
more so than that of many old roads.
At Gresnville, PennsyIvsnia, is the june
ton of the Erie and Pittsburgh road, which is
completed to Sharon at present, and will soon
be through to Newcastle. The travel upon
this road il already considerable and as soon
as it is completed the travel to Pittsburgh by
this route win be heavy.
MeadvilIe, Pennsylvania, 60 miles from
Beavittsburgh, is the chief town upen the
line of the road, and the most important.
one year ago there was not rail laid or a
stick of timber on the ground at Meadville.
To-day there is in full operation and use the
finest depot building we know of in the cOun-
try, and the iron horse, after pausing here to
take food and drink, rushes on sway of into
the hills Of Ohio. This depot building is 327
feet in length and about 50 in hight. Through
its center run three tracks for the passenger
trains. Wide platforms extend along both
sides. Upon one side are the ticket Office,
reception rooms, and all the main Offices Of
the company, elegantly and fully arranged
for the transaction of fbusinoss. 0a the OppO-
site side is the new hotel, which is to be kept
by that prince of landlords, Taylor, formerly
of tho Angler in this city. The great feature
of this hotel is the immense railroad dining
hall, two hundred feet long, about thirty feet
vide, and thirty Eve high to the ceiling. Itis
prOfussly lighted upon both sides. The fin
ish and sdorning of the rooms are superb,
being all in black walnut. Overhead, the
raftsrs and stringers are in full view, after
the style of the finest Episcopal churches
while at the eastern end great
stained glass window increases the resem-
blance. It is altogether the fhest hall fol
the purpose we have ever seen. In range
with the dining hall are the Offices, &C., Of
the hotel, while the hotel proper extends al
an L from the western end of the Depot, two
hundred and ten feet. This will be elegant.
ly furnished and supplied with all the con.
veniencss and luzuries Of which any metro
politan house can boast. As for the cuisine
nobody who tArried with Taylor at the An.
gisr needs any assurances.
The grounds about the hotel are being
graded and laid out hrtistcally. Five acre
Immediately about the hotel will be laid on
as pleasure garden. with walks, arbOrs
fountains, &c. In short, the " MeHenrJ
House will be one of the best to be found il
all tie States.
The Railroad Company are in possession o
large quantity of land adjacent to the De
pot, which has heretofore been farm AM
meadow land, and are erecting very exton-
sive works which will be models of their kind
Of MeadEiIle proper, it can be said tha
few inland towns have had so steady AM
substantial trade. An old merchant who hs
resided thsrO twenty years, stated tha
there had been less than q dozen busines
failures in that time. The population of tn
town in 1860 was about five thousand. T
this number probably two thousand have al
ready been added, and the impetus given b.
the railroad will increase It to ten thOusan
in two years more. There are many wealth,
inhabitants and fne residences, mostly loea
ted upon the elevated sites which the roIlini
character Of the land presents.
- That the people oC Meadvills are 4 read