Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-03-26
The Crestline Route to chicago.

A Merchant.of Buffalo takes Hnotes of
q trip to Chicago" via the above route,
the advertisement of which may be found
in the LEADER. We make the following
extract from the Buffalo Commercial i'd
V~ertiser, dated Chicago; which viii apply
to Cleveland as well as Buffalo:
Dinner at Cleveland. From there took
the train of the Cleveland, Columbus &
Cincinnati Railroad to Crestline, arriving
in time about 6 P. NJ for a splendid
supper at the new and c~ommodious CONT
mental Hotel, recently completed and
opened. This is trulya magnificent hotel.
1t was built by the Pittsburg, Fort WAYNE
& Chicago Railroad-which crosses the G.
&. q Q. K. X, at Crestline-and l IN told
cost over one hundred thousand dollars,
and IS capable of handsomely accommo-
dating three hundred guests. 1 had time
for only a glance at this great house, bit
can safely say that if its parlors, sleeping
apartments, etc. correspond favorably
with its outside appearance and the ele-
gance ofits dining hall, waiting rooms and
Offices, it has better claim to the name
"hrst-class' than a majority of hotels in
our large cities which make first class
%pretensions.
Supper over, 1 obtained a berth in one
of the most superb sleeping coaches 1 ever
saw, and was booked for Chicago via P.
f. w. & Q. r. G. These sleeping coaches
are furnished the line by the Central
transportation Company of Philadelphia,
and are noted, most worthily, for their
elegance and comfort.
Seven o'clock next morning found me
here in the great city of Chicago, "right
side up with care" refreshed by a com
Portable nights rest and sleep, ready for
business,
Now, a word or two in regard 10 com
ing from Buffalo to Chicago, around by
Crestiline. From my limited kpowledCe
must l confess it-of the geographical
situation of this and the Michigan South
ern, or Toledo route, L had supposed via
Crestiline was many miles the iurthest-a
superstition shared by many of your travel
ing readers, no doubt. Prompted by un-
usual curiosity ard s desire to
be better posted on the different
routes, purchased a copy of Ap-
pleton's Railway Guide for March, 1865.
and proceeded TO investigate. The result
OF my researches among its pages, given
herewith, will not surprise any one more
than 1t did me. / foundthe distance from
Buffalo to Cleveland, via Lake Shore r,
K. (page 2l5) l33 miles; from Cleveland
to Toledo, via G. & T. r. R., page 2l5l
ll3 miles from Toledo to Chicago, via
nj. S.1& N. L R. r., page 223) PA miles;
making the distance from Buffalo to Chi
cago, via Toledo, $40 miles. From Buff
falo to Cleveland-as above-ls3 miles /;
from Cleveland to Crestline, via c. c.. &
e. H. K, (page 2l6) "a miles; from Crest
line to Chicago, via P. F. W. & c. r. R.,
page 2l9) 2F9 miles; making the distance
from Buffalo to Chicago, via Crestline, 537
miles-three miles shorter than ria Toledo!
This state Of facts accounts for this routes
being advertised as the "shortest route.
&c" whica ! had believed, until now, was
only an advertising humbug.
Besides the one spoken of 1 learned
that there are two other trains on this
route, which leave Cleveland on the arri-
val of the Lake Shoretrains morning and
evening, and make the same time TO Chi
cago as is made by way Of Toledo. At
present the Toledo route has the advan-
tage of the night train out of Cleveland,
as no sleeping car is run through BY
Crestiline, and passengers are obliged to
change cars there at midnight. But l
was told that the managers of the short
route intend, by the LIST of April next, to
put on their line the magnificent sleeping
coaches of the Central TRANSPORTATION
Company, and run them regularly there
after Oh the night. express train through
from Cleveland to Chicago. This done,
the route will be on as good a footing, in
every respect, as the other; and to prove
that it will be done, I need only mention
that 4. S. Flint, General Superintendent
C. G. q G. r. r, and j. N. Mccullough,
General superintendent P. +. w. & O.,
Il. R1-knOwn throughout the railroad
world-are the interchangeable Hmanagers"
who have the matter in hand.
L have said this much, Messrs. Editors.
in regard to the Crestline route, not be-
cause m under any particular obliga-
IONS to the line, for l paid my full fare.
l wish simply to cast in my mite towards
doing the line tardy justice, and inform
the travelling public of Buffalo and vioin-
ity that the u to Chicago via Crestline
is, in every respect a good one; and dis
pei, if possible, the prevalent idea-which
l once fully OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES to go that
way is going Out of your way and much
further round. That such is not the case,
the figures L have given, c~onelusively
show.
Nor would l say a word to the detri-
ment of the Toledo line. In every partic-
ular it is a first class route, but most pop
nlar only because best known. The route
by way of Crestline being shorter and as
quick, with a perfect track, excellent cars.
kind and Obliging conductors, and famous
dining halls, must ultimately become as
tavorably known and as extensively pat
ronizad. MERcHGNT.