Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-07-15
TEN MILLIONS FOE A RAIL-
ROAD


a great majority, at popular election, to
subscribe ten millions Of dollars toward
the construction of a trunk railroad to Chat
tanooga The ordinance for the purpose
was unanimously passed by the City Coun-
ellis, and was earnestly advocated by the
Chamber of Commerce.
The population of Cincinnati, in 1860, was
l6l 900. Her growth, since then, has been
great, though it has by no means kept pace
with that Of Chicago, or, perhaps, of st.
Louis. The building rate it is stated in the
address of the City Coumcils, averages but
ga thousand new structures per annum,
which will not count more than six thousand
increase Of population. Estimating her pop
ulation, at the highest figure, to be 200,
it will be seen that the subscription she has
Just made for city seven times as large as
Wilmington, would equal one for us of over
81 1925, 900. Or if we may allow something
for greater wealth to Cincinnati, we may
safely say that il equals subscription from
US of million and quarter of dollars
This seems to be great expenditure. Yet
the step taken in the case considered, was
unanimously approved by the members Of
the City Councils, men who knew their re
sponsibility to the community which they
represented; it was earnestly urged by the
business men, manufacturers and merchants,
organized into the Chamber of Commerce;
and finally, when submitted to the working
people, taxpayers, and citizens at large, it
was ratified by u vote practically ovcrwhelm-
| ing. The reasons for it are set forth at length
in an address by the City Couscils and
Chamber oil Commerce. The object is stated
to be, "to enlarge the market for Cincin-
"nati's manufactures to extend the area Of
shcr commerce; to aid in developing dis
9 trict Of country which is naturally tribu-
g tary to this city; andy accomplishing
g this--to give greater employment to labor,
" and increased value TO property. In one
word, it is to secure greater growth and
prosperity 10 this city.
These, it is true, might be oily glitteriu4
gcncmlties. Such allegations might b,
made, though surely not by the responsible
and prudent authorities who put them forth
in this case, of an unsound prolcc.. The
! facts therefore are cited TO support the state
! ments. This road TO Chattanooga will tai
there the centre Of 4 region, estimated u
) 100000 square miles, in the whole of whicl
S there is no large city, and to which no otle
! large city, East or West, can gain so cheal
Q and easy access as Cincinnati, This trunl
|. railway Of two hundred and fifty miles
/. not only to unite the railroads North of Gin
: cinnati, and centering there, with thos
= connecting at Chattanooga, but il is TO ope
|. the country through which itself passes
i is to take into this large district of country
i almost exclusively agricultural in its chai
/. acter, the various manufactures of Cncir
d natl Nearly the same is to be said OF d
d mercantile commodities, sold by the deae
n in that city, while, on the other hand, ii
Il expected that "the decreased cost in tran
q poriation Of the products OF tile South
1c lice, sugar. coffee, FRUITS &c, will en-
ii = Bile the merchants Of Cincinnati to cor
40 pete adyantogeously with Northern al
n, . Eastern cities Tor this class OF trade Nor
B. g Of the Ohio river.
". To builders and mechanics, the impet
Isl given the city by such road is Of the gre;
he est importance; all new works furnish mo
IL and better employment for the laborer, vii
Of 70 the owner Of real estate ii is Of no IL
nj value, for every foot of its ground is
~ creased in value by the increase of cit
Of trade and business.
III These facts and arguments are the la
n. upon which Cincinnati has voted len IN
lions of dollars 10 the Southern railway Iii
ds aud they afford subject for study to
Fl. Other Amcrean cities. Such arguments
III not new TO New York or, mcasuraily,
rl Philadelphia And Chicago, enterprise
a and energetic beyond either, long a
81 learned hy the best possible method--exl
m rience--'' that every acre with which
m could put itself in easy communicate
rs ''must pay tribute to it forever" All
lcs surplus force and revenue, since il comp
n hendcd this great truth, shave been
M 'spcndcd in making itself the centre OF
d "grcat system Of railroads and canals
~ ~ EASTERN SHORE EXCHANGE processes
H. be reliably informed hat the Presidency of
Eastern Shore Railroad Company has been ole
~ to nr. Hillary L. Pitts President Of the Wieom
Nit & Pocomullc Raiirond. We think our cotcm
zen rlly is slightly III error, and that il was the p
ull tlon Of superintendent Of the road which is lii
his e. ae offered 10 DIR. Pitts.
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