Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-05-30
r. II. SPEECH
C. w. BEERY,
MARION, O.

A rousing meeting i'm the interest of
the c. d I. r. r., was held in the Court
House, at Marion, on the 18th inst. at
which our townsman, Mr.. Geo. w. Bee
ry delivered the following speech
which we reprodu ce from the Mirror:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN. GENTLEMEN IL meet you
here tom light for the purpose OF talking with
you as delegate interested in the project OF
the construction of the Hooking Vail ey Rail-
road. / come, not owning dollar of stock in
the enterprise, not pledged to n cent of finan-
cial assistance except as my duty prompts, and
not with an understanding of remuneration 'or
my services, but simply am here an inter-
ested citizen of WyandOt county, belisvin the
proposed road most beneficial and feasible
one.
Twenty-Five years ago. when few r. iIroad
facilities we're in vogue. assisted in bull ding
the Pennsylvania Central Rail road, and that
is the only road 1 ever assisted in. BY this
fact you will see tfat know nothing
OF the minute of railroad building; but
do think can see enough in the present en-
terprise to warrant prophecy OF future sue
cess. 1t has now become Il lie monstrabe fact
that railroads are necessity;, that no com
mercial interest can get along without their
aid. A NECESSARY lai road, u railroad built
with tangible beginning and which has n
substantial ending, never fails having renu-
lucrative success Under that old consultation
which allowed counties to subscribe stock,
twenty-five years ago, rs said, assisted in
building railroad; but after that the state
egislature took it into their heads to repeal this
statute, and since that time | have had not
interest in the subject to occupy my time ff
teen minutes. Only a few year 5 ago other pro-
jectS were be ing agita ted, but strongly resist
Ell all of them, believing they would never
pay.
Some three or four years ago, (having been
born and raised on the Hooking Valley, and
knowing the immense mineral wealth Of tn at
locality lying dormant and without proflt,) /
became convinced that at an early time some
one would project and build q railroad that
would be a success from the nature OF the stu
alton. 1 could see that the Great Architect of
this universe, in his wisdom never designed
that SO mnch wealth and means of prosperity
to mankiud should lie inert and dormant. The
great advant iges OF this route are almost in
calculable. This great coal field. lying dor
mant for years, and the great agricultural and
commercial interest not half developed, rem
der railroad not only desirable, but abso-
lutte necessity. We find from Toledo cheap
water communication to all parts of the east
ond north, with railroads reaching ont in
nearly every observation-disclosures commerce
and veal tn to the city. Now 1t seems to me
time for il to extend its arm down into this
| field and grasp the immense wealth lying here
waiting only for the means OF transit to pour
pros rity at the feet OF those who assist in its
| accomplishment. While this coal lies dormant
| in that valley the strongest law of our nature,
| necessity and self-protection, compels us to
| grasp ut our opportunity.
Some four years ago this Mr.. Greene with
| that ankee shrewdness which has marked h :
| career, comes out here to MAJ ictta. He pros
poets, and finds the great wealth of the route
| tie goes UP to Lancaster, and finds that the
| people there had projected two enterprises sno
failed in each. lie opens up this subject; he
The people had been humbugged swindIed too
much and too often before; the farmers SAID
| they could not help him. He enlisted no sym
| pathy; he was almost discouraged. But this
| ma q Greene was a wonderful man. He was d
man who understood, digested and full!
graspcd the whole subject. and he pictured il
| out to me, and could not do otherwise than
pin my faith to him. But the people turned
| a deaf ear to him. Still Greene was not un.
| daunted. Without encouragement of any kline
| he went in alone to make the enterprise win.
| He hired corpse OF engineers without assist
| ance and went plodding along over the roaC
| seeking good grades and an easy route. He
| finds tn at it is geod line Columbus capital.
| lists backed him up and now he has built thai
| road.
Now this brings me to the subject in hand
| | feel myself Inadequate To paint word pic
an adequate conception of the great importanc,
| of this road. Such enormous dormant wealth
| lies down in that valley that the conception o
| man can hardly grasp its magnitude, 1t lie:
| there only waiting your action TO yield up il;
| treasures to Importance. Connecting your city
| with New York is as nothing. Establishing
| through route to the East, important as such
step is to all small cities, sin Ks in comparison
| Other enterprises are no doubt OF importance II
you, but the building of this road dwarfs then
all.-Irhe speaker here gave a glowing ant
interesting account of the coal fields, ETC., ly-
ing at the terminus of the road, aud dwell
Sgsiy and U tse r0ad td all SRr h
line. He a!s) stated, in order to put at rest the
| assertion that the coal was not of quality t.
|
| that chemical analysis had proved that it wa,
| the very best for all manufacturing PURPOSES. !
AT Columbus is being laid the foundation o
| most extensive iron smelling works. The
| whole foundation of the presen and luture pros
| perity of the emanufacturlng interest Of ColuIn.
| bus lies in the locking Valley. But let us *
a step further. After we have built this road
| and opened its unsurpassed facilities for man
ufacturingicheaply and in a superior manner
| will we along its route, enjoying such magnif
| icent advantages, allow all its manufacturing
| facilities to concentrate and remain in C-lum-
bus? W i'll we not all pIofit by it. Can We moi
| take advantage of il, and can we not all share
| in its advantages? We are bound If we have
an eye to business, to profit by it Us we'll IA
| Columbus.
Can any man doubt, in veiw of the picture
have drawn, that the stock of road like this
| in proper faads will be good investment! L lit
| Hooking Valley Railroad last year-a year o.
| drawbacks ut that; rtrike of the miners dur
| ing the year occurred which cut down the busi
ness smatcrially-declared dividen OF 10 pei
| cent. Columbus capitalists have full conhdenct
| in the road. They have said to me, 1--WE have
$780, 90 money to put into this Toledo extension
upon one condition however, The main oh
ject of our meeting here tonight IS to look int
| this one condition
1t is simply this that; Toledo comes down will
S20O,0O Columbus capitalists say they cal
afford to wait awhile if Toledo does not assis
them. Greene said TO me, come to Columbus >
| went. MIR, King went; others went, Toledo
autographed to us 100000 raised; the other il
| doubt.''
Columbus will not help Toledo. Can little Marion
county and intermediate points build this ROAD
|
stand. Upon Toledo depends whether the road Viii
| be built. When the Telegram was received from
| Toledo Mr.. Green proposed TO us that we go home
go TO the various meetings; state the true condit
| ion tell the truth and let the people know JUS
| what the condition is. Appoint committees o.
| practical men, along the route. Who will go tC
| Toledo and say to them; We want to connect
| with you This road is about to open ug to you
| a rich country which will bring you wealth and
great increase OF commerce. Can we rely upon
you or can not?'' By this couIce it is likely
l that Toledo will he so blind as not to say, 1--WE
come down?'' If she is still blind we must then
| work it UP as best We can. But our first duty
| is with Toledo.
| Can you, after what have said. appoint and
| financially equip a committed! After tha
| committee has done its work, aud succeeded
with Toledo, the ne xt thing is road, with Greene
| at the head. a man in whom l have full conf.
/ dence.
| But after Toledo has pledged herself she i.
| not pledged to either route. Do you see where
we stand? Ii Greene pledged himself to om
| road it will be built. Now the proposed rou res
| have resolved themselves into two-one the
| air line to Toledo, which W. are, and which
| is by ton miles the shortest route. The 9TH
er route will fight hardly for it,; but We have as
| much money as they; we have as rich country
as they dare TO boast; we have the advantage
| in almost every way. If we work united for
the road we will achieve success; but if we di-
vile our strength, and allow ourselves TO be-
come beset by chickering's over personal matters
we will lose it.
The speaker continued to dwell upon the du-
ty of the citizens along the route the advantages
ofthe road, ect., and closed amid cheers.