The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-12-16

I
SO well written and candid an article
as the above, from our friend, if he
is an anti r. R. He has however,
unwittingly managed to destroy the
objections he urges, until at the close
he virtually upsets it all by admit
ting that railroads have built up To
ledo, and made it the third city in
the State. And we would add that
she is sensible of their Importance
to her, and is continually reaching
out to obtain new roads as contibu-
tions to her prosperity.
Itls-a fact, as our correspondent
states, that such line as We have
urged would found new towns and
build up old ones, and among the
ones it would build up would be our
own old one; yet while that result
would add to the trade of othercom-
munities, it. would also add to the
number Of traders, by efecting a
rapid settlement of the corntry and
promoting every branch of industry.
Clyde, Lindsey and Elmore have tax
en- away some of our young business
men, it is true, and that very fact is
an argument for railroads, they hay
ing built up those towns, and aided
in the development of the country
around them. But railroads have
equally benefited our city, though
our correspondent does not appear
willing to admit it, but rather ass
cribes our increased prosperity to
other causes. From a town of ], 500
or 1000 before the opening of the
C. & T. R. R., we have grown to a
city of nearly 5000, as shown by the
recent census. Our town lots, com
manding few hundred dollars each,
have risen to thousands. Our cor
respondent may argue that the cree
ton Of substantial business build
ings, on "Front Street has occasioned
the increased value of Lots, but it
was the increased business produced
by the railroad, and the increased
population that required those i'm
provements to meet the wants of
trade, and increased the value of
business property to form 1925 to
$500 per week,
The statement of our friend that
farmers derive all the benefit from
railroads, is little strong, although
as class, they reap as much or
more advantage than any other.
None of them who are old enough
to remember, but can compare with
satisfaction the prices received now
for their produce, with the prices re-
ceiYed years ago. The railroad has
opened up other markets for them,
and the inhabitants of our city have
to compete with consumers in the
most distant cities for the supplies
which the farmer brings in, or go
without them. His farm has increas-
ed in value, and he has been every
way benefited. In fact, so great is
the benefit conferred upon them in
this way, that as good business men,
they should be willing to aid largely
in the building of other roads. fatis-
fed that every new one enhances
their business and adds to their pros
perity. But the same is true of city
property. Its price has been adj
vanced from 100 to 400 per cent,
above its previous value. The
facilities afforded for shipment have
lent encouragement to manufactures
and the manufacturing interests of
the city have multiplied in a greater
ratio, while still in their infancy.
But our friend makes a weighty sug-
gestion, which, however, does not
initiate against railroads but rather
against individuals, when he inquiries
why, if railroads are good thing,
those who own large tracts of land
around the city, and our business
men, do not take hold and complete
the L. E. 81. R. R? The answer
is simple enough. They lack what
we fear our correspondent lacks,
'spubHc spirit" They would rejoice
to see the road completed, and tAe
moment it was done add ten twenty
five or fifty per cent, to the value OF
their lands, but want others to do
the work and provide the means,
and they reap the profit. Drawing
line from the river south of us
around the west end of the city and
back to the river north of us, and
there is not an owner of land in the
semi. circle, but could well afford to
pay $4,000 on each 100 acres to have
that line completed, and on every
hundred acres net a profit of as much
more, quicker than he could make
it at 20 per cent interest. A similar
line on the east side of the river
might be drawn, and allowing for
disparity of value, like results be re-
allied. And there is not a business
man in the city but could well afford
to contribute toward the enterprise
in view Of prospeetiYely increased
trade. The workshops of the com
pany being mainly located here,
would give employment to a large
number of mechanics, and the in
creased population create demand
for homes which would advance the
prices of real estate marvelously.
Our manufacturing interests would
expand, because the road yould en-