Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1869-08-21

road through Vienna and Liberty to the de-
pot of the Pennsylvania Central at Youngs-
town, there to connect with that road for Pitts
burg. 1t is well to consider the character of
the proposed route, as upon the grades and
descents the efficiency of the road greatly de-
ponds. Most of the plans and profiles of the
company were unfortunately burned some
time since, and for this reason authentic fig
ures and statements cannot be fully made. We
have the following report of the grades on the
line going north from Warren to the lake
Less than # to mile. s...... 26l
to Is ii to mile. ......... 231
10 to 2l feet to mile. ......... 179
81 to 20 4-10 feet to mile. 212
20 4-10 to 81 7-10 feet to mile. 2.40
Most of the level grade was between Bris-
tol and the lake. Going south from the lake.
we cannot give the grade except from recol-
lection, by which can state that the maxi
mum is 81 feet to the mile This is as follows
First, ascending from the waters of the lake
to the North Ridge, and second, from this
ridge to the South Ridge, commonly known
as Plymouth Ridge, which is eight miles and
three-tenths from the lake. Thence, 0s will be
seen from the above figures, nearly all of the
grade is level or descending. The cost of the
completion of the road from Bristol to the
lake, put in readiness for the iron, is estimated
at $35,O00
Mr.. Hubbard then read q letter from the u
States engineer in charge of the harbor inn
provements, showing what an advantageous
character the harbor of Ashtabula would soon
possess for the object of shipping and recsiv-
ing heavy freights, such as coal and ore. The
character of the harbor of Ashtabula has not
been generally understood, but from this letter
is proved that it will be first-class. Mr. Hub
bard then stated that the project first origina-
ted by Mr.. McCreery, of the Lawrence road
He closed by stating the saving in distance as
compared with any other route TO the lake at
seven miles, and the saving in freights and
dockage at the least estimate, so cents ton.
Mr.. McCreery was then called for. He said
that he thought that speeches were unnecessa-
ry, that the public ought at once to see that
the project was of the first importance to
Youngstown and the Mahonng Valley. Ash
tabula is susceptible of being made one of the
best harbers on the lake, and the grades are of
remarkably good character, as Mr.. Hubbard
has just shown. BY this line coal can be east
" shipped and ore received. The iron men
and people of Youngstown should understand
their position, The coal and iron trade has
made Youngstown what it is, and additional
railroad facilities are imperatively needed. 1t
is of the first Importance that the present ruin
Gus freights should be reduced. | have moth
ing against the Atlantic and Great Western
management They are doing as any one else
would do under the same circumstances. But
1t should be understood that this valley no
longer occupies leading position among the
advantageous localities for the manufacture of
pig iron. Illinois, Indiana other western states
are rapidly wrestling the supremacy from this
entire region. The only way In which we can
regain the supremacy Is to reduce the price of
freights to Its lowest point Here is magnifi.
cent opportunity to do this. The Ashtabula
road can be brought through, making not only
the shortest but the best line from Youngstown
and Pittsburg TO the lake, Other interests will
support the project Gen. Cass has expressed
himself as strongly IN its favor. The Pennsyl-
vania Central interest is favorably disposed to
the project Speaking of the question of
freights and the influence of competition, Mr..
McCreery gave the following figures of the
cost of freights on the ore for a ton of iron in
Pi.tsburg and Youngstown; In Pittsburg the
freights on the ore for ton of iron is $3.50.
In Youngstown the cost is $252, to which
must be added $500 for the shipment of pig;
iron to Pittsburg, making the cost $45s, In
other words, where there is competition, the
freight is $3.50 for distance Of 2s5 miles
where there Is q monopoly, the cost Is $4.52 for
165 miles. Mr.. McCreery then concluded by
declaring his interest in the project and his
readiness to do his share toward securing its
success
Hon. Thomas Struthers, in answer TO re-
quest of Mr. McCreery, came forward and sta
ted his views. He had been much pleased to
hear the suggestion of another and compe-
ting route to the lake for several reasons. The
prosperity of this region depends on the de-
velopment of our mineral resources-on get
ting ore here as cheaply as possible, and ON
sending coal away at the lowest rates There
is but a single route now by which these ship
ments can be made, and we know that rail
road always does the best for ihelf that It pos
sibly can. concur with Mr.. NcCreery in his
opinion that freights should at once be brought
down to the lowest possible rates. When this
is done, Youngstown, as the CENTRAL point of
the block coal, and the point where the ore