Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-08-16
The Narrow Gauge Railroad and Fair
port HarbOr.

Auc NdETCh UduB0 hAllTO0u ana tAlF-
port HarbOr.
P~AINEsvILLE, O., Dec. Il, 1859.
Tn following letter, received nom Gene
raj Tram, gives q correct Idea Of the Harbor
at the mouth Of Grand River:
DETROIT MICH, Nov. 2, 1883.
HON. HITCHCOCK, Patnesvtlle. Ohio.
-DecT 6u'-ln reply to a request made 81
me by one Of your citizens, that I would ad-
dress you a note in respectto the advantages
Of the Harbor at the mouth OF Grand River,
l. That arbor is one OF the very best on
Lake Erie; not My as a harbor Of refuge
for the general commerce of the lakes In
time OF storms, but eminently adapted to
the terminus Of a railroad ~unnin back in
to the coal fields.
2. 1t was somewhat run Town from
they have, in the last three years, been re-
paired thoroughly and extended on the
south side so as to make them Of equal
length, and are in better condition han
they were when originally constructed.
There is ample space between the piers
over 200 feet-and ample depth Of water on
the bar for the largest class Of freight YES
sells on the lake TO enter. The harbor inside
Is very capacious, and affords great water
room anu good ground on both sides for
5. The great outflow OF the river in spring,
and at all other times, is ample in force 70
keep the mouth over the bar open to adepth
OF II to 10 feetof water; and this will always
be the case as long as the piers are kept In
good repair and condition,
- A. AAoA1AA = Tx hAAA HUI III EEn
the pliers, nor up in the interior harbor, to
dredge out to get sufficient depth, as at Ash
taoula, Nermillion, and other places where
harbors have been constructed. There Is no
haroor that can be made without . very
great outlay-not excepting Cleveland even
-on the south side OF Lake Erie, At all COM
parable 70 Grand River harbor. These facts
may all be gathered from my official re-
ports, made nom personal examinations
and surveys, during the time they were I'M
der my charge-from 1854 to lS67-S-for re-
! pairs and improvements. !
.. Grand River mouth, its harbor, and its
Interior, for some one and a-half miles up, |
ture, for heavy commercial business and
manufacturing, on the south shore OF Lake |
Erie. But other places having got the start,
II is difficult for poor FairpOrt 70 catch up
Very respectfully, 7. J. CRAM.
The following memoranda is taken
from Harbor Plans in the Office Of Major
Mcfarland, the U. S. Engineer, having
charge of the harbors between Buffalo
and Detroit:
FAIRPoRT HARBoR.
Width at the extreme north end, be-
tween the west and east face Of the piers,
is 40 feet; thence south until the lines
of the piers become parallel to each 9TH
er, where the inside width is 1876 feet.
This is the narrowest point.
AsHTABULA HARBoR.
Width between the piers at the sx-
treme north end is 16O feet; thence to
the narrowest point between the piers,
which is 90 feet.
These figures, taken in connection
with the above letter Of General Cram,
will enable every reader TO see at q
glance the superior advantages Of the
harbor at Fairport as a terminus for q
railroad which must bring down the iron
ore used throughout this valley, and
carry back the immense quantities Of
coal seeking q market at the lake ports
west and north.
The fact that a road Of 3 n. gauge is
now being built from Fairport to this
valley, should stimulate every property
owner, every business man, and all 9TH
ers having the interests Of Warren at
heart, to do all in their power to have
that road come direct to this place. They
should also make haste and build a road
of the anne gauge from Warren to Vi
emma and Sharon. If our citizens will
Immediately set about the building Of
such a road to Vienna, there can be little
doubt but that the gainesville road will
direct from Chardon to this city.
With these two roads, of the same mar
row gauge, Warren would possess great
advantages for the manufacture Of iron.
Coal could be delivered here at the low
est possible rates, and ore could be
landed here at a great saving on present
rates, and for less than it could be deliver
s.ny other point south of us. The fu-
ture growth of Warren depends upon
the question whether she will become a
manufacturing town; and this depends
altogether on the question, whether she
shall be able to secure cheap fuel, and
this again will be determined by the
question of GreightS, and the freight
question is solved by the length and
gauge of the roads that do the freighting.
But the road from Fairport to Warren is
the shortest possible from the Lake to
this valley, and the narrow gauge Of fl.
is one that reduces freights to the mini
mum and will give a handsome saving
over present rates to Cleveland. Then,
with ashort road Of the same gauge to
Vienna, Warren can compete with any
other place in cheapness Of fuel. Is it {
not evident, then, that the business fu- ,
ture Of Warren is to be decided by the {
question Of securing noW these two rail- !
A large force is already at work
finishing up the old road bed between
Fairport and Chardon. The engineer is
advertising for 10000 ties, and there is
every indication that the road is to be !
on to completion at the earliest
day. If Warren proves indifferent to :
her own interests, and this Psinesville
road is run away east Of us, so that ore 1
can be landed here no cheaper than at !
Youngstown, she will throw away an
advantage that will never return; she I
will thereby put it forever out Of her g
power to compete most successfully with I
other places in manufacturing. Let t
Warren say to the gainesville company,
I'VE will forthwith build a 8 II. gauge
to Vienna If you will bring your Z
road to this city," and doubtless the Of !
FER would be accepted. \. u. ]