Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-03-22
INDIANA.
Written Tor the American,
SCRAPS or HISTORY.
Sayings and Dolngs In the White Water
Valley Thlriy-Fiye Years Ago.
MELRosE FARM, March ~, 1867.

RAlLAoADS. If III
SO great has become tho amount inyolv-
cd, and so mighty the influence welded by
Railroads, their early struggles, and the
men who aided and encouraged their con-
struction in tho days when il was consid-
cred experimental, may not DO too dry a
subject for the attention Of your readers.
Whc wSge the first men to agitatc this
subject in your part of Indiana? II
should DO recolleoted the Baltimore &
Ohio Railroad-the first in the United
States--was commenced in 1923, and only
finished to Ellicot's Mills in 1880 F; and
in 1881 the papers commenced pgitating
the subject Of building branch road to
Washington City. But 80 well satisfied
were men Of energy and enterprise that
Rail Roads were reality, the West was
soon wide.awako During the sessions Of
the Ohio aud Indiana Legislatures OF
1872, several Charter were granted by
each. Ohio granted charter for n Rail
Road from Sandusky TO Springfield, called
tho Mad River and Lake Eric Road
But the charter for the south end Of said
Road was not granted till 1885 or 1925
that is from Springfield 10 Cincinnati
The work commenced in 1893, on the
Mad River at Sandusky, and few miles
of track were laid. At that time, the
Baltimore Ind Ohio Road had po.
ny locomotive that had been imported
from Englknd, which they proposed TO
sell, cheap, 10 tho Sandusky Road. They
bsugbt, bit when 10 arrived, il was
n different gauge from what they
built their road, They tore up, and chang.
ed their road TO suit the pony; hence the
endless troubles and the expenditure OF
millions caused by different gauges East
and Wet.
On the Cd day Of February, 1882, the
Indiana Legislature granted tho charter
for the Lawrenceburg and indianapolis
Rail Road. fixing the capital stock nj
$500 ,0e0, deeming that sufficient TO build
and equip FIRST class road Is miles long.
a few days after the charter was granted
for road from Madison 10 Indianapolis.
This was before the initiation of the NAM
moth Internal Improvement scheme which
Indiana inauguiated in 1885, aud which
she broke down under in 1898.
Shortly after the passage of Lawrence.
burg aud Indianapolis charter, some live
men at LawI4neeburg prepared for meet
ing Of the Trustees. Among them was
Geo. III. Dunn, who was one of the best
men Indiana ever claimed as a citizen.
lie threw all his energies, his time and
his means to this road from the time of
its inception till it was finished. We
have no doubt his tolls and exposures in
this work brought him to an untimely
grave. just about the time the cars ran
through from LawTenceburg 10 Indianap.
oils, he went home to Heaven. We love
TO contemplate so pure and so useful a
life as his.
The Directors named in the charter, TO
wit David Guard, Thos. Shaw, Geo. II.
Dunn, John Test of Lawreneoburg; Dan.
iel Plummer, VIM. Purcell and PinckDey
James Of Dearborn Co. Martin Adkins,
N. ID. Gallon and James Freeman of De.
catur Co. Johu Walker and John Hen.
bricks of Shelby Co. Nicholas McCarty
and b, j. leyihe Of Indianapolis, met at
the rcsiden( Of N. d. Gallon in Greens.
burg on Eel ruary 23d, 1892, and organ.
lied by cting John Test President
and Geo. IN Dunn Clerk. Among other
things at this meeting, they "0rdcred that
books for subscription Of stock be opened
mt the town Of LawrencelNrg on the last
Monday OF Mareh-at Cincinnati on the
first Monday Of April-at indianapolis
the eeeond Monday Of April--at Shelby.
vile the thiid Monday of April-and at
Greensbarg on the fourth Monday OF
April that George II. Dunn and David
Guard be authorized to attend to opening
books Mt Lawrenceburg that John Test,
Geo. II. Dunn aud David Guard attend
TO opening books at Cincinnati Nicholas
MoCarty and Benjamin j. Blythe at
Indianapolis-John Walker and John
Hendricks ut Shelbyvile--and that Mar
tin Adkins, james Freeman and Nathan
ID. Gallon at Grecnsburg attend to the
same."
Immediately Judge Test began to
Ere up all along the line, by publishing
articles in favor of the work. His ideas
Of Rail Roads at that time may appear
crude and even laughable, yet the reader
of this day must recollcct that was at the
lawn Of this great enterprise. The dim
twilight Of mighty revolution in the
Torld Of commerce was just bursting up
IN the first minds Of the nation. Judge
Fest was a man Of large experience, Of
sound judgment, and Of inquiring mind.
Ini therefore, quoting from his articles on
Rail Roads in 1892, we do it in no vain
pirit to expose his ignorance, for VIC re-
Iere his memory. These articles were
written after his term as member Of Con-
;ress had expired, where he served with
honor to his District. Th g
National Intelligence, paper which sell
lom INDUCED 10 cheap culogies, spoke Of
lin frequently as one Of the soundest
nd best business men of the House.
But We Propose to give you some ex-
racts from is articles, to which his name
fas attachc for he scorncd to publish
nything I which he was ashamed.
pcaking q the probable business of the
during 10 last fall ! travelled, in com
any with Vnother gentleman resident
fthis state, from this place Lawrence
urgh) to indianapolis. while the roads
ere good, and took pains to count the
aegons aad teams that We passed, aud
,und them to average between twenty and
iirty each day. suppose then those