The New York herald., 1864-09-19
THE re; u aOyTE TO TIE WEST.

Completion OF che Atlantic and Great
Western Hailroad-- K xe ursfon Trip OF
James McHenry-The Early History OF
the Rosd--Imsaenstty or the Enter
prfse-Thc Results OF s'Tinte, Faith and
Energy &c., &c.
MsApvulE, Pa. Sept Q, 1864
The Nx~ YORK HgRALp, in lis issue OF July ~, con-
tanned 10 its personal announcements the fact that
James McHenry OF London and the contractor for the
construction or the Atlantic and Great Western Rail
way, arrived tbs day before, direct from England for
the purpose OF Inspecting the which he had built
under contract, but which he bad The mag
ntude OF this great work and the unexampled rapdy
with which il has been built render Il fitting that the
time when il rs be thus inspected and passed under
the eye OF the master workman for approval should be
taken for giving 20 The country through its widest cir
cuated Journal details which will be OF interest
the commercial and travelling world. Already the people
finding out that this road-whch for time was
sneeringly characterized the "Artlght aud Great
WINDY road-s fast becoming OF the great instiu
tions OF the country. It's main liae will be
opened TO travel throughout its entire length while its
branches not excecded in Importance by hardly
any old road OF the country Look al tho Franklin Branch
road from this place 10 the very heart of the wonderful
and seemingly exhaueiless oil region. That El Dorado
pidity Absolutely startling its development, IL
great part the railroad which has given it safer
outlet 10 market than the uncertain freshets upon the
streams, and has secured constant influx OF visitors
from all parts Of the globe This portion of the road
been emphacay the poor mans friend, In cheapenng
the price the oil BY essenDg the expense OF transport
ing II to market and the less viii the nam line be
found to perform the beneHcen work for passes
through the heart OF the great grain growing portions Of
the West which the Eastern cities and States derive
their daily bread.
SHALL therefore, devote some little space to a narra-
tive Of the early history Of ths great work.
satisfied that it will be OF value and interest.
wHiTERS.
The history Of the inception and growth OF what has
become one OF the great arteries Of the And, and Is
destined TO be surpassed by in importance and
tent of business, difficulty and encouragement
But also the history OF what indomtable persever
and undying faith will do when applied to worthy
object. Let me briefly recaptula,c few OF the facts
connected with the Inauguration OF this great natural
highway 1t is fact Of grcat interest that no loss
person thss New Yorks great beueractor, DeWt Clin
ton, saw the necessity OF having Q railroad 10 follow
psary the same route as that now traversed by the
Atlantic and Great Western long ago the year 1928
Having laid and built the Erie Canal he published
pamphlets, which sti n existence, shew i0g the
cessty OF building road from the western tsrmiuus Of
the canal which should be the great carrying power, "a
he himself states, nbetween the Atlantic and Great
westn He may, therefore, be said 10 have originally
proposed te ian bis outreaching mind seeing the abeo
lutte necessity which would exist Tor u in less than gene
ration from the opening OF bis stupendous work
The time when thus proposed, however, was TOO
early tor the accomplishment of the work, and re-
NAMED for later day 10 bring II before the public
Iu the fall OF 1850 Marvin Kent, ESQ.,, cf Franklin
Ohio brought before the Legislature OF inat State the
charter just rs it same from The bands OF Nr Kent
finally granted but PROBABLY no, one 10 one hundred Of
the legislators voted upon had ANY conception Of
the importance Of the document TO which their presiding
officers by their leave placed their hands aud sas. The
charter first asked for the "FTaUkn and Warren
Rairoad and the specification in the charter permitted
the corIorators construct road from Franklin IN
Portage county TO Warren, in Trambuli county. THIS
The main fe4ture Of the bill, written aud epps
repy The only point Bu. Il is safe TO assert thst
charter granting unlimited privileges, and placing
such vast discretionary powers 10 the corp@ai0s
never passed before or siuce by any legislature.
They authorized TO continue the line from Warren
'to lice Of the State OF Ohion and they may
continue the same from ibe place OF beginning Cat Frank
n) In westerly southwesterly direction TO connect
with any railroad within this state which the directors
Of said company may deem advisable" II will tbus b.
that they had full power 10 proccod from frsnkliu
wherever they pleased They might all over the south
western portion Of the state II they saw M and connect
with any other road which they should select Bot,
again they we're authorized construct their road of
such wfih a, might be necessary, the act imposing
restrictions IL that respect IN short, Mr. keut In The
framing Of ths charter displayed shrewdness Winch
might DO credit TO the 'Phadelphis lawyer" or whom
We have all 81 often heard
The act VIE passed in March 1861, the ,te being
CnAbEed Wsl DclOrc W5 passage 10 tndt OF line Al
lan,ic and Great western Railroad company Until
this change OK name nothing was known OF the
scope Of the Intentions OF the orginaiors. 1t wss
supposed by those who took c0gnzance at all Of the
" rankin and Warren Railroad thai II mere
local track to enable Mr. Ken. TO get coal from the banks
of Mahonug county for his glass works Franklin a
so they troubled themselves abou, il
Tbs charter beng granted, subscription books
opened aud Mr.. kcut's design was explained WAS 70
build road from some point on the New York aud ESie
(which mol then entirely completed, oesn, 70
Warren thence to Franklin and Gallon, aud thence to
connect with the Ohio and Mississippi, which then
10 process Of construction he believed that this would
be u the greatest roads IN the country aud that be-
all manner Of dsooursgemcnts and DANGERS 10 spite q
financial and legal embarrassmens which would hsve
dIsbeartencd almost any other mau, he held with .
grim determination and tenacy which iug
ther reward in the fulblmen, Of his great design
The people along tie proposed line " tho hsvi ing
subscribed hberay work commenced vigorously 10 1853
aud the grading between Franklin and warren nigtt
have been ccsnplesed IN Short time " the Subscribers
had paid IN Put ene,es or the road were M, an,lng
that lie desisu became manifest AL sorts Of di
eulties we're ibrosn IN tho way Sus almost ,naure
rshe we're brought into court Through all Of these
lyor The faithful friend aud legal adviser the
company and Ia high commentator both OF tsa ius.
lice q their and the ability with whch uss To-
tended that the company successful Ia every suit
Aeentime work was progressing urOn tho eastern por
tiou o the ue. so0n after ihe charter obtaued IN
Onto Br Kent came 10 Meadvis, sd the nrst rslro "a
consultation upon thc subject of the Atlantic apI Crest
Western Railway. within tbe limits the STATE o Psno-
sylysra wae hed 10 sois place between sr Kent, VIM.
Eeynods aud Genersi Duck These last gentlemen were
Meanwhile the commercial troubes of 81 swept over the
atd. md onded work upon thp road upon many
other partially completed abls. Bot IN The fan OF 1865
msu appeared upon the scene.
J,srs sunSRy
The James hcHonry, Who Is English by pre-
seut residence, but Pannsylyansn by birth, and
thoroughly American IN feeling OF nsqpes
toned integrity, OF large means and of hber nj
views, he possesses much tho conndencc Of the
rsrcsl circle. ot Europe tba, of the most noted
h)use. Of the Coniiuent we're eager 70 Join with him
the Duildi3g Of this road. Az time WHOM American
l.fnr p tna
Mr. ncfcnrv believed he saw Nv the route ~ the srue.
slipg CORPORATION of which are vritng the road "a
succ~s and rs1fuipese he there 70 sn~e
Ing the matter IN chsrre, proposing 10 suppy the
for completing the whole road, provided nvestigation
should confirm the favorable opinion he entertined oi
hs practicahty. The oner gladly received for the
projectors ot road had need Of financial aid Accord
rgy 10 the fall Of 1853,
T. TRgNSrn
came = Amer Al he nstance o 8r NcFnry 70 cxa-
biinn and reyOfi upcp the route. br heyBerd ned a