The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1866-11-22

ural decay OF the buildings AM
swear and tear of property" w,
say, it has done little more thai
this. Within the past six years
we do not remember of any singl,
residence, within the lncorporat,
limits, that has been built from tn,
foundation up. Some have beer
remOdeled and improved, but w
remember no new property. .
Zaleski, on the other hand, ha
grown, within little more than tina
time, from farm residences, into {
respectable village. Macarthur il
three miles from the railroad, and
for years, we have 4" "hauled pass
engers and goods through the mud
with no respectable effort to pu
ourselves even in respectable com
municating distance of the rail
road. ZaleskI has Il depot on the
main railroad within her incorpor
ate limits. Zaleski has more pub
lie spirit than Macarthur. We have
the means-the capital, but toe
many of our most influential &,
and wealthy citizens have no dis,
position to take hold of any public
improvement. We labored for
years to get, by vote, a tax to build
a respectable school house in our
town.
There is nothing about our town
to command the respect of stran.
gers, or to encourage people to
come here to settle. From Novem-
Der to May it is a serious task to
attempt to get to town, or away
from it. The "old hack" it is true,
plunges through the mud and mire
twice day to the station, but it is
doleful trip to undertake, at best.
The age Of improvement is up
on us. Time is money. VIII we
put ourselves in communication
with the outer world, or will we re-
main as we have for ten years
spending as much time, patience,
labor and money to get to the Sta
ton and back, as it would take to
go fifty miles if We were at a de-
pot? The Scioto and Hooking Val
ley Road to Macarthur is almost
graded. A very little outlay will
prepare it for the iron. The Ports.
mouth train lays by nearly four
hours at Hamden every day. If
the road was built to Macarthur
from Macarthur Station, that train
could run up here and remain the
time that it lays at Hamden. Have
we the nerve and money to build,
or aid in building, that road? Let
some of the men of our town, who
are interested thousands in the
county seat question, answer wheth-
er they are willing to do something
for the public and their own good.
| have looked over the ground.
A show of public spirit can alone
save US, if the question comes up
on us, as it certainly will.
Madison, Brown and Knox town
ships are interested in the removal
to Zaleski; Vinton and Wilkesville
and Swan are largely interested,
Clinton, south part of
RIchland and Harrison are interes-
ed by the railroad convenience
Jackson and Eagle will not be
greatly discommoded OF benefited,
and will care but little about the
natter. The public buildings will
)e but a small item with the Zales-
ii people, and the matter of taxa
ion will not be question.
Many people will vote for the county
eat to remain here. If they see a proper
'ublic spirit manifested by the people of
lcArthur, and disposition to do some
hing to command respect. While those
cry people will vote for the removal if
We remain idle and sleep away our day of
race. Soma old fOgy may tliak | am an
larmist, and am trying to frighten the
'eople of Macarthur into putting money
nto railroad scheme. | have only to
ay that | am barely awake to the inter-
SITS of my town and vicinity, Prompt
neasures may save us; bnt nothing short
f that will. The people of Macarthur
latter themselves that some of the Zaleski
said at one time that they did
ot want the county seat. Allow me to
llggest that the people of Zaleski are
'ide awake to their interests; they have
ought lots and built houses. store-rooms, |
hops, &C.. and to-day the trade of Near
lur is suffering from the sales at Zaleski |
hey are opening roads, and making ev-
rything drGc that can drdlg the crowd to |
leir place. The original proprietors of
aleski may or may not wish the county |
eat-we know nothing and care nothing
bout that. The people of Zaleski consult |
leir otcn Interests fully as much as they |
o the interests of the original company. or
ne people of Macarthur; and their interests |
ill be best subservcd by making Zaleski
ne county seat of Vinton county.
ELK.
Sltr Airerf;st,,,r,f.