Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1871-03-31
A NEW RAILROAD ENTEnPRrsE.


Some time ago we made mention of a
project to extend the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad from Newark, Licking county,
vza Delaware, Marion and Kenton to
Lima, there to connect with the Fort
Wayne road and furnish the only mis-
sing link in an air line route from Balti-
more to Chicago. This enterprise is
now being again agitated, and is ex-
citing an encouraging degree of interest
at prominent points on the proposed
extension. A merchant of this place,
MIR. Sturgeon, who was in Newark few
days ago, informs US that influential cap
italists at that place are not only ready
but anxious to take hold of the project
and to cooperate with the citizens of
Delaware and other points interested in
pushing it forward. The Straitsville
coal interest at Newark is strongly in
favor of this new route, which would
afford it a new outlet as well as bring
the iron and coal region. Of Southeastern
Ohio into intimate connection with the
lumber and grain region of the North
west The advantages of such con
nection are obvious. Those which Del
aware would derive from it are chiefly
new eastern, southern and northwestern
outlet, with more advantageous freights
in all these directions; cheaper coal and
lumber position on one of the ma
tional arteries of travel, and such con
nection with the coal and iron regions
as would open to US new and extensive
possibilities for manufacturing enter
prise. Cleveland has within ten years
become one of the leading iron and oil
manufacturing cities of America, and
yet is located in the midst of an agricul-
tural district which yields not pound
of coal or iron or a gallon of petroleum.
Her chief prosperity is due to her facili-
ties for cheap conveyance of raw ma
terials and illustrates what other towns
may accomplish by securing like ad-
vantages.
In reference to the proposed Newarl
and Lima route Gen. Powell has called
our attention to some letters which he
has received from parties with whom he
has been in correspondence at diferenr
points on the line. Louis Evans, Esq.
a prominent citizen of Newark, writes,
under date of March I8:
81 have thought much on the subject
of a railroad from Newark to Delaware
and thence northwest, and I now ascer
tain by an examination of the map that
the route suggested by you would afford
us most desirable outlet for our coal,
as by il we would command the leading
western and northwestern market We
can be furnished coal at the Straitsville
mines that will depend upon the Newark,
Somerset & Straitsville road for an out.
let, at the rate of train every hour. !
suppose you are aware of the immense
deposit Of coal and iron in southern
Perry county, and of the superior quality
of the coal. There would be a favora-
le public opinion in our city for your
project, and think good subscription
could be obtained in our county to aid
such plan. / would suggest that your
CITY lead of. and let an active movement
be made by which the public attention
may be called to the scheme. think
the Baltimore & Ohio road would aid
such an enterprise. Twill improve the
first opportunity to ascertain their views. "
Gen. ]. S. Robinson, of Kenton,
writes:
II can say that our people are ex-
tremely anxious for an east and west
railroad, and will contribute money
enough to procure right of way and
grade the road-bed. We have @o6,ooo
| subscribed in our town to the Baltimore.
Pittsburgh & Continental Railroad. If
} this line fails us we shall be ready to turn