Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1870-11-09
GallipOlis, Macarthur and
Columbus Railroad.
GALLIPoLIs, Oct. 90, 1870.

| pSCL 10 III SoCCAilS tHO PIVJVCPel
Railroad built from this poin
to Logan, Hooking county
Ohio, when it will be built, &c
In reply to all such enquiries
can only say that a Railrorc
cannot be built without money
and that money must be raised
by voluntary subscriptions
there being no law of this State
to compel counties, cities, towns
or individuals to pay assess.
ments that might be made by
a majority of taxpayers fol
that purpose. Hence it is with
the people interested in the
success of the enterprise to say
whether or not they will sub
scribe the required amount to
grade the road, and when il
shall be done. Many of the
citizens of Gallipolis have sub
scribed very literally in pro-
portion to their means, and theiI
interest in having the road built,
but | am inclined to think that
many others might add largely
to their subscriptions without
serious inconvenience and ma
terially encourage others to do
likewise. There are a few in
the town, Gas | have no doubt
there are in all towns in the
State, that are entirely able,
but too selfish, to aid is this or
any other enterprise in which
they would not be the recipients
of all the benefits arising there,
from. Such should not be, but
generally are, a heavy clog up.
on many Of the more liberal
minded and public.spirited cit
izens. Such, on the contrary,
should be stunned and left by
the high-minded liberal and
public-spirited to enjoy their
wealth alone, it belongs to them
and they have a right to enjoy
it in their own way. Such are
generally ready and anxious to
reap the benefits arising from
any public improvement, pro.
vided such improvement is
made at the expense of their
less able, but more liberal
neighbors. Go to such men,
for aid in an enterprise of this
kind, and they will look very
wise and make numberless ex.
cuses to avoid contributing any.
thing for the public good,
though individually they would
be greatly benefited thereby.
Let all such pass, pay no re-
gard to them, but let the ques'
ton be how much can 1 sub
scribe to this enterprise with
out inconvenience to myself !
Decide on the amount and SC
subscribe and pay no regard to
what others have or have NOT
done.
Within the past two or three
days the first attempt has been
made to solicit subscriptions
from the country, and there
has been between three and
four thousand dollars subscrib.
ed principally in small sums,
which is certainly very liberal
for a beginning and a number
of them have said they would
increase the amount. The most
of this was from points several
miles distant from the proposed
route of the road, thus showing
their confidence in the merit Of
the enterprise, and the benefits
to be derived from it, and, if
the citizens of the town had a
proper appreciation of the ad.
vantages to be derived from the
building of this road, I believe
they would add fifty per cent.
more to their present subscrip-
ton at once, for / certainly
think they could make no in
vestment that would pay them
a better profit, independent of
the general Improvement in all
branches of business and the
general advance in the value OF
property, increase in popula-
tion and capital, and consequent
decrease in the rate of taxation.
I notice in the Ironton Journ.
al of October the 18th, 1870,
the following quotation from
the Iron Age
"wHAT MANUFACTURES DO FOR A