Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-07-09

/ readers that the Atlantic and Great Western
Railroad Company have leased the Cleveland
and Mshoning Road, and will, within short
time, commence laying down new six foot
track instead of the present one, and in a
brief period will make Cleveland one Of the
termini for the running of three trains. We
suppose that within three or four months the
through cars on this broad guage viii be
running, and another element of prosperity
added to the many our growing city already
possesses. Tne agreement will likely be
ratified on tina 9th inst, when the annual
meeting Of the stockholders Of the Maho-
ming Road takes place here. We learn that
the price agreed upon ia liberal and makes
the stock a ten per cent. investment, which
is far better than would, under the present
organization, be realized.
The energy and perseverance of the man
ayers of the Atlantic Great Western Rail-
road, have driven forward the work with "a
pidity almost unparalleled. The two hun
dred miles, from Salamanca, New York, to
Akron in this State, are run with two trains
day each way, and within one year it is ex-
pected that the whole road to Dayton, dis
tance of four hundred miles, will be com
pleted and equipped, and trains running. It
was little thought when, in 1s4I, the act in
cooperating the Franklin and Warren
Railroad Company" was passed, that this
immense work would be the result. Section
second Of the act gave the Company power to
" construct a railroad frem the village of
Franklin, in The County of Portage. to War
EvuJ county Of Trumbull, and from
thence to the east line of the State of Ohio,
and may continue the same from its place of
beginning in a westerly or south westerly di-
rection, to connect with any. other Railroad
in the State, which the Directors of this
Company may deem advisable"
Armed with this rowing charter, Marvin
Kent, Esq, of Franklin Mills, subscribed the
whole amount of Stock necessary, ($2O, ,OOO)
and proceeded to organize the Company
whose labOrs have produeed such great re-
suits. He was chosen President by the Board
of Directors, who became such only upon
strong solicitations, and from that day to the
present he has given the business his almost
individual attention, and still remains Presi-
dent of the Ohio Division It may be said
that Marvin Kent, Henry DOolittIe and W.
S. Streeter, built the Atlantic and Great
Western Railroad. The first gentleman took
the initiative, and was ably seconded by the
two latter, and they have built an enduring
monument Of which any mar may well be
proud.
It is, we learn, settled that the construction
and repair shops of the Ohio Division will be
located at Franklin Mills, in Portage county.
In our judgment the location is admirable,
both on account of the proximity of the raw
material required, and the fertility of the
surrounding country. Timber for building is
abundant, and the town is underlaid with
one vast quarry of tho choicest stone, and
the water power is extensive. We know of
no place whero the large number of workmen
required would find more pleasant homes for
themselves and families, nor where the ne
cessaries of life would be more abundant and
cheap. With the stimulus of these work
shops, franklin will speedily become one
of the most thriving villages in the State.
The facilities that the Atlantic and Great !
Western Railroad give iron and coal interests
around Sharon, Pennsylvania, will speedily |
double our Lake Superior trade. The pro-
ducts Of numerous coal mines will find their |
wav to our city, and we shall furnish the |
Lake Superior ore to nearly all the blast fur
naces that have heretofore obtained their
supplies in Erie. Our policy towards the
shipping interest has been liberal, while that
of Erie has been narrow, and we shall be GER
tain to gain while she will lose. In my
judgement tho Atlantic and Great Western
Raiload is destined to add very largely to the
prosperity Of Cleveland, and we have reason
for self Congratulations that we are so soon
to have one unbrOken railroad Of six foot
guages from our city to New York. B.