Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-11-17

ml. To be railroad director In those days
did not mean to sit In the Office and devise
means to get rid of the surplus funds,
laughter i but anxiously to consult about
raising means to pay debts falling due. Mr..
Handy, who was then Treasurer, can tell
YOU Of the many dark hours he had, en-
deavoring to raise money on the company's
paper for the purpose of relieving 1t from
pressing claims. Years after, met Mr..
Dennison, then President of the Little
Miami road, and l was boasting little Of
the great success which had attended our
efior g. and he said to me, II should not be
surprised If you and l would live 10 see
your railroad earning o million OF dollars
yearly" and we have lived to see II earn
too and a hGlT millions. lApplpuse. The
railroad was the first road identified
with the interests of our city. To
the successful completion of that
road we are Indebted for the projection
OF the Cleveland S Pittsburgh. and Cleve-
land, Painesville and Aehtabula railroads.
The Cleveland & Pittsburgh road was next
projected, and when In February, 1858, the
irsti through train arrived from Columbus,
bringing the State authorities and the mem
bers OF the Legislature to celebrate the
union of the two cities. on Washington's
birthday, an excursion train went as FAR as
Hudson on that road. We may consider
the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati as
the elder sister of the Cleveland & Pitts
burgh railroad. The Cleveland, Norwalk
& Toledo Railroad Company was next or
ganized, but it was afterward consolidated
with the junction Railroad Company, and
took the name of the Cleveland & Toledo
Railroad Comp ny. AT later day the
Cleveland & Erie railroad--the model rail-
road of modern times cheersl--W pro-
jerted. This company did nothave the dit
ficulties to overcome which had beset the
pathway of its predecessors. There was
plenty of surplus capital, and the stock
was all taken at once. These four rail-
roads represented last year capital of
twenty-nine millions OF dollars, and their
gross earnings exceeded ten millions Of
dollars. They bear cheerfully their part
of the burdens of the Government, as Is
shown by the fact that they paid taxes last
year to the amount Of six hundred thou
sand dollars. [Applause.l The headce
of all these roads is at Cleveland, and they
are all named from 1.-THE Cleveland, CO.
lumbus 81 Cincinnati, Cleveland - Pitts
burgh, Cleveland & Toledo, and CleueLdnd d
Erie, and they are inseparably connected
with the growth and prosperity Of our
city. l.ui a1dUi
something over three years ago the direc-
tors and stockholders of these four roads,
without one dissenting voice, determined to
build q depot commensurate with the
increasing wealth of the companies and the
city. One inferior in size and less costly
would have answered the legal purpose,
but something more was done, and an edi-
flee was erected that is an imperishable
monument to the companies, the stock
holders, the respected Presidents Of the
roads, who composed the building commit
tee, and the worthy Chairman of that
committee [prOlonged applause], their
mature judgment and their cultivated
taste. Tie work Is complete, and the re-
suit of years of toll we are assembled to-
night to celebrate. This magnificent depot
and its massive masonry, its luxurious ap-
pointments and its unsurpassed cOnven-
iences for the travelling public, is just and
honorable contribution of these four rail-
road companies to the city of Cleveland.
All will join with me in paying deserved
tribute TO the taste and genius displayed.
will not particularize further, as the re-
spected heads of these railroads are present
and viii address you. The Cleveland, CO.
lumbus & Cincinnati road should claim
priority, and you will now have the pleas
ure of hearing from its representative.
President HUBBY introduced Hon. f. Il.
BAcKUs, as the legal Representative of the
road, who made an interesting speech on
early Railroading in Ohio.