Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1870-06-23
The Railroad.

GALLIPoLIs, o., June IUth, ~.
Mr. EprroR:-As the time has
come when the Subscription Books
of the Gallipolis, Macarthur and Co.
lumbus Rail Road are to be opened,
the construction of which is of vital
Importance to our county as well as
the city, I sincerely hope that every
man of means is waiting, for the time
to come, when they will subscribe to
the stock, to the utmost of their abil-
ity, in order to construct the long
talked of, and so much desired, Rail
Road.
Having recently become a citizen
of Gallia county, / am, therefore,
deeply interested and identified with
the prosperity of the county; and
having removed from a portion of
our great and growing State travers-
ed by different railroads, among the
most important and best paying in
the q. S., the Great Pan Handle
route, from Philadelphia, MA Colum-
bus, to Chicago and st. Louis; also
the River Division of Cleveland Il
Pittsburg r. R.-from Wellsville on
the main line to Bellaire, Ohio
which pays very handsomely to the
stockholders, and is of incalculable
benefit to the country through which
it passes, let me state an honest
fact: that large portion of the COM
munity was violently opposed to the
Railroads-took no stock them
selves, but tried to prevent others
from doing so, and acted in the same
manner about the right of way.
When the cars had been running but
a short time they were asking and sell
ling their property for double prices;
and, to day, the people for miles on
each side of the Roads would give
twenty-five per cent of their actual
wealth, rather than have the track
torn up-and ties removed for
good--and hear no more the whistle
of the locomotive, and its echo along
the valleys and surrounding hills.
Knowing the advantage of Rail
Roads from experience, positively
assert that the proposed Gallipolis,
Macarthur d. Columbus Road will
pay a handsome per cent. to the
stockholders, if men of financial abil-
tiles and economical in their deal
ings, control the same.
Therefore, fellow citizens, as we
have great need of Rail Road from
here to Columbus, and have made
several unsuccessful efforts on for
mer occasions, let not the golden op-
portunity pass by US with the vain
and delusive idea that men of capi
tai from a distance will build our
Rail Road, and thereby increase our
wealth, while we sit on the corners
and whittle. But come up to the
grest and important part, and sub
scribe to the capital stock with such
liberality that will convince men of
capital elsewhere that the people
along the line mean 'tbusiness," are
alive to their own interests, &c,
knowing that there are great advan-
tages to be derived, with proper rail
road facilities through our county, in
opening up communications and IA
cilities for cheap and reliable trans
portation. Our minerals, coal fields
and agricultural resources, will be
developed; trade will be increased
and stimulated; labor-the great
lever of all wealth and prosperity
will command remunerative prices,
while the agricultural products of the
country will seek foreign market,
thereby commanding better pay to
the farmer, and gen eral prosperity
will crown our efforts, if successful
in building our Railroad and estab-
fishing communication East and
West.
Therefore, let every man who feels
himself able, subscribe in proper
ton to his abilities, and not expect
his neighbors to aid in building the
object so much needed, for unless
every effort is made we may not be
successful, and the present opportu-
nifty will pass, and the citizens and
will have to mud it out
While other portions, with less
means and less natural advantages,
but more vigilant to the welfare and
of their portion of the
country, will reap the rewards of our
inactivity.
Hoping and believing that the peo-
pie are ready and willing to do all
hat is iE their power in aiding in the
building of the proposed Railroad,
and that the Iron Horse will be run
hing down Chickamauga in less than
,hree years, / am Yours,
H. B.