Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-06-29
SPEECH OF MR.. KENT.

H 0E16SA ~ w. 46|
Gentlemen: Before proceeding to
drive the last spike, | desire to call
your attention to the fact that on the
4th of July, 1858, in company with
several warm friends of this enter,
prise, we proceeded to the line of this
railway, and broke the first ground
and as | had the pleasure of remov-
ing the first earth, it is especially
gratifying to me to be present on the
occasion of laying the last rail and
driving the last spike. But before
performing this last service, permit
me to express my obligations to the
gentlemen who have contributed so
largely to the success of this enter
prise. | allude to T. W Kennard
and James McHenry. Esqs. Those
gentlemen, by their energy, their
perseverance and great financial abil-
ity, have achieved the great ends we
had in view; and had it not been for
the marked success that attended
their efforts in prosecuting this great
work, we should not be assembled on
an occasion so important and interes-
ting as this.
Before closing these remarks, /
should do great injustice to n other
gentleman, by emitting to acknowl-
edge my obligations for the valuable
service he has rendered. | refer to
my friend here, J. W. Tyler, who has
been my confidential legal adviser
from the incipiency of the project,
and who has ever been q steadfast
and efficient co-operator in this work.
1 desire that he shall drive the spike
preceding the last-deeming it befit-
ting, that having commenced the
work together, we should therefore
conclude it.
REMARKS OF HON. J. W. TYLER
Gentlemen: However undeservin g
the honor conferred upon me by Mr..
Kent, the President of the Company,
1 must proceed to the accomplishment
of the work. But before doing so
allow me to say that the early friends
of the road have a right TO congratu-
late themselves upon the final COM
pletion of this great enterprise, con-
Meeting the waters of the Atlantic
with the Mississippi River.
Particularly has Mr.. Kent, who
conceived the project, cause for con-
graduation. He, to my knowledge,
in the fall of 1850, was the first mar
to trace the line of the road on the
map and having fully satisfied him.
self of its Importance, drew the char
ter under which the company is now
acting, and which passed the Legisla-
ture Uerbatim ct Hterdtim as submitted
by him.
In his first report he suggested the
name which the company now bears,
a name which it must be admitted is
at least eminently proper. At first
the people along the line in Ohio ac-
knowledged its Importance, gave it
encouragement and subscribed large.
ly to its stock. But financial Difficult
ties coming on, they generally became
discouraged, and but few friends ad.
hered to the enterprise. 1 recognize
some here to-day who have risked
their fortunes and their regulations on
the accomplishment of the grand en-.
terprize, conspicuous among whom is
Nj. Kent, risking his own liabilities
and those of his relations.
Those, indeed, were the dark days
of the road, even ~portending utter
night. At this critical juncture Mr..
Kennard arriving in this country from
England, passed over the line of the
road, and saw at once its great ad-
vantages, and Immediately made IA
vorable representations to European
capitalists, securing James McHenry,
of London, as financial operator and
and contractor of the great work;
since, there has been no difficulty in
financial matters, not only for the
completion of the main line, but all
its tributary branches.
May the friends of this road live to
ee the day when this cruel war is
over and the country restored to new
life, that the West and her thriving
cities may yearn for increased facili-
ties for their business and travel, than
the lines now constructed can furnish
and this road require its double track.
Then, and not till then, will be fully
appreciated what has been accom-
plished by those who conceived and
prosecuted to completion this i'm
mense artery in the commercial
world.
THE ROLL OF n
The gentlemen who had the honor
of participating in finishing the lay
ing of the track, and exhibiting their
dcxterity in driving spikes, were
T. W. Kennard, Engineer-in-Chie A.
&C. w. Railroad.
Jacob Grail, a Director.
D.. C. Goldman. Principal Resident En-
gineer.
R. S. Dukes, Assistant Engineer.
w. Lee, Supt of construction.
H. F. Sweetser, General Supt.
F. w. Cummings, Supt of the Locomo-
tive and Car Department.
Jacob Riblet, Director.
OBeach, do
R. NJ. N. Taylor, Supt McHenry House
A. G. w. Railroad.
VIM Reynolds, Pres A G. W. Rail
road, Pa.
Lieut.. Governor Anderson, of Ohio.
s. S. L'Homedieu, Pres C. H. & D.
John w. Ellis, Vice do do do
D. McLaren, Supt do do
F. H. Short, Sec do do
Sohn Young, Director do do
George H. Hill, do do do
George Stedman do do do
VIM D. Bickham, Ed. Dayton Journal.
George Harding, assistant Editor Gin.
j.. C. Belman, Assistant Editor Gin.
Enquirer. !
Paul F. Nicholson, assistant Editor
World. New York.
VIM Ritezel, Editor Western Reserve