Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1869-01-02

tt9 present management, uhu ~ II ITtlV W'i
known, been n steady, open and earnest friend
and advocate Of the welfare and progress OF
society. II came into our hands IN Tie spring
Of 1865, from those Of It's conservative Ih'h1s
aud managers. Conservatism was then me
sentiment Of this community and
the 7SIt0tdph was then It's organ and exponent
The community was not only politically con.
scryatye, but socially, In business, and even
the church, under the pretext Of guarding its
sanctity by keeping IL clear Of politics, was
thoroughly demo conservative. Sopotcnt was
this influence that the liberal and right minded
were restrained and If they did not peaceably
submit, their influence was Of little weight.
lie that can look back to this state Of things
and compare It with the present, will hardly
need to be told that there has been something
Of change. The incubus that rested upon the
mind has been lifted Freedom Of thought
and action are now pretty generally INDUCED.
Business, social or church connections no
longer presume TO regulate such thought and
action The councils Of those who sought TO
cramp the mind and energies OF the people,
and hold the community in 0 state of swad-
ding tutelage, have come to naught, and they
themselves either scattered or formed into
other associations, taCiNy admitting that the
sceptcr has departed. Still others intclligently
discovered that they were following blind
guides, and honestly identified themselves with
the friends of freedom and progress. Repub-
lican freedom is now prevalent and predomi-
nant Men breathe deeper and freer, and utter
their sentiments with boldness that should
ever accompany conscious right All this is
evidence of progress and higher civilization.
We have in this time not only increased in
mental stature, but we have grown in business
and commercial importance. Cur borders as
a village have beer extended and our ccnlIgs
compactcd. New and comfortable dwellings,
as well as those of greater pretensions, arc seen
on every hand, and imposing brick blocks
have sprung up and are stored with merchan-
disc and active with business, and business has
extended and found new channels and new
developments. Church edifices of taste and
modern style, and well-grouped and commo-
dious school buildings stand out in the pano-
rama, and give character to the village walks
and highways, perhaps, as much as any other
feature of the place, indicate advance In
vestments especially in marine, have been
greatly increaseG-so much so that our harbor
boasts as large and imposing fleet of vessels
engaged in the carrying trade as about any
other locality along-shore. BY the generous
and fostering patronage of the Government
the harbor has taken on a character somewhat
in accordance with the increased trade. Fine
piers and ample vessel accommodation for
shipping have never been enjoyed 10 the same
extent as now. We need only revert to the
long ranges of buildings, and the network of
tracks at our station, for proof Of the growth
and increased business of our town. These
are some of the evidences of advance in senti-
ment, as well as material prosperity, within
tho time of our sojourn,
Whether the 7eJgra;@ has had any thing to
do with these changes, it matters little. A
desire and thoughdulness at least to be iden-
tilted with them, have not been wanting.
What we now want more than aught else to
confirm what has been done, and give US an
impetus for the futurc,i the completion of the
two southern roads, SOW in suspension. This
will give Ashtabula O position and business
importance that viii place her beyond compe-
tilion with any of her sister towns between
Eric aud Cleveland. The influence Of the
suspension and delay. work upon the James
town Road has been unfavorablc. Ii has been
disappointment and vcxation. Although
the established business of our village has not
suffered materially, II has stood in the way OF
new enterprises and discouraged the invest
ment of capital. The people are ycXed, be-
cause they took hold of the work with enthu-
siasm and gene rously and m04itully conni-
| buted of their means and estates to give il
success, and now without reason, or at least
without known reason, to see the work sus-
pended and dead, and their property tied up
ard all their pleasant hopes suddenly dashed
it is not singular that they should feel kecnly
Nor is it strange that this feeling should find
expression in muttcrings and complaints, and
in public meetings, for considering and delib-
Grating upon their grievances No better way
perhaps, than this, and the appointment, as
was done, of committee to wait upon the
Lake Shore Company, the other high contract
ing party, and stating their case, could be hi
upon. This was done, and the report Of the
committee Informally given in our last mum
Der. The bearing Of President DevereauX
and his manner of meeting the committe,
afforded much encouragement The assertion
that the company have never abandoned thC
idea of completing the work, and the rcadi
ness of the company at an early day to give thC
matter attention, lad the effect to raise The
hopes of those interested in the carly consum
nation of the line When this shall have beer
done, aud the resultant effect of completing
the jamestown branch shall have been felt il
reviying the A. and n L. Road, Ashtabuli
will gather herself for the dignity and dcstity
il reserve for her.
The closing of the year is always suggestive
Of resolutions for the regulation of the future
of promises of future amendment and improve
ment--at least this is the case with newspape
publishers. We have never had u very grea
veneration for the practice. What the 1sIe
graph has been it will probably continue to be
Our situation and surroundings will, perhaps
enable us to bestow more attention upon it
columns, and make it quite as worthy as here