Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-06-09
LETTER FROM AIIDDLEBURG.
An 'tAncIent VIIIage''-Ifs New Start
Mauufaefures----MIne COaI---PrO-
speetiVe Advantages.

Especial Correspondence Of CLEVELAND LEADER
MIDDLEBURG, June 5, 1865.
An interesting place is this ancient vii
lage of Middleburg, as from a short so
iourn of one of your subscribers, among
the scenes of its business and of its rural
beauties, he is able to testify. I call If
ancient because for twenty years-bofore
such place as Akron, within two miles OF
it. was known, or even thought of-Mid-
dleburg was the business center of all the
surrounding country.
As early as the year 1907, its mill seats
upon the little Cuyahogs became improv-
ed, and were the resort of the inhabitants
for many miles around. 1t was not, how
ever, until the year 1917 that its village
plot was established by VIM. Hart-one
of its enterprising feunders-when iteom-
menced upon growth, destined to make
it of very high rank, which, long ere
this, it would hav e fully attained but for
the Ohio Canal, which suddenly built up
Akron-its near and successful rival. But,
although retarded and kept in the back
ground for long time by this event, Mid
dleburg is coming up again, to realize the
expectations of its enterprising founders
1t is becoming as distinguished for its
potteries, for which it possesses remark
able facilities, as the far-famed city of
Sheffield is for its cutlery. It's manufac-
tories, rapidly increasing now more than
twenty in number, line the banks of the
little Cuyshoga, the deficiency of which in
waterpower for so great business, is made
upby the appliance of steam. In these are
produced every variety of earthen ware
known to the art, and it is marvellous TO
see what can be done with clay in the
hands of the potter. Among the other |
is that of Hill and Adams,
for the sewer pipes, which supply our
Western cities, and of Wetmore, Robin |
son & Co., for the finer wares. Without |
going into statistics it is safe 70 say, that |
in the production of earthen ware, in |
quantity and value, Middlebury exceeds |
every other place IN the country.
must not omit to speak of the recent |
development of an extensive bank,,of min |
eral coal in The immediate vicinity of this |
village, by Gross, Payne & Co., of your
must have an important |
bearing upon the prosperity of Middle |
bury, and no small interest to Cleve- |
land. In the explorations of D. w. Cross,
Esq, of your city, whose speciality seems
Of late to be mineral coal, an extensive |
bed of the same, of superior quality, was
discovered to be underneath one of the /
farms of Miss A. L. Sumner, and of Mr..
Moore, ninety feet below the surface and
in strata of more than four feet in thick
ness. This valuable mine is now being
opened and made available by Gross,
Payne & Co, who have become the pro-
prieters, by an outlay of expenses which
proves the saying in this instance TO be
rue that ait takes a mine TO work
nine"
The existence of this bed of coal, with
IN forty miles of Cleveland by the canal,
and with capacity to yield more than
i've hundred thousand tons to Its market
of the best of coal, is of impor tsnce to
and to AiddlebUry of immense
advantage, as the material for the crea-
ion of steam will be furnished almost at
heir door, without the usual cost of trans
Dortation. The benefits to result from the
enterprise of Gross, Payne & Co., be-
ieve, are well appreciated by the people
IF Middlebury.
Time will not permit me to speak of
he churches, schools, and other institu-
lions of Middlebury, which are giving it
rising Importance. S. 5.