The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1873-09-11
WHEELING 8 LAKE ERIE R. R.
Breaking Ground Mt Navarro.

On Monday last, pursuant 10 notice cir
| culated, ground was broken IN Navarro
being the commencement IN Stark county
of grading for the Wheeling q Lake Erie
railway.
The place selected for the suspicious
beginning was on the west bank of the rlv-
er a little above Rochester and u few rods
below the upper bridge. The river will
be bridged lust below, when the track will
pass to the east side OF the stream and run
through Rochester, Navarro and Bethle-
! hem and thence down on the same side.
Quite a large assemblsge OF citizens
were present on this occasion as well as
several gentlemen prominent IN the enter
prise and officially connected with the
company, among whom We may name
Hon T. W. Chapman, Director Mr..
Robinson, Chief Engineer and Mr.. Foote,
assistant Engineer. The Navarro band
were also on hand and d~iscoursed excellent
music. Messrs Mckee q Imrrie, con-
tractors of large experience IN public
works, have taken several miles TO grade
and prepare for the ties. and the breaking
on this occasion was done under the dlrec-
ton of General Mckee himself. Trees
were felled and ploughing done pIepara-
tory to shoveling.
The crowd proposed 10 give some Iegu-
larity aud form to the affair and on mo-
ton E. D. Otis was chosen chairman and
A. McGregor, secretary.
The chairman briefly announced the OBJ
ject of the gathering and the organization,
stating the desire was to have some re-
marks from gentlemen present. He there
fore called upon Capt. W. a. Miller TO open
the ball. The Captain wished TO be excused
at present but the demand was peremptory
and Mr.. Miller promptly mounted the ros-
trum, which was q wagon.
Capt Miller said he hoped the 9Th of
September would be q memorable and aus
picious day for Navarro. Two years ago
this railway project was started and Joel
Wood, Esqr., was chosen the President
1t now began to take shape and he had no
doubt it would go on until it would be
one of the successful railways of the land.
The contract with Mr.. Stanley for grad
ing and completing the whole line was al
ready signed and sealed and now it was
business. The intention was first to com-
plete the road from Zoar to Lodi which
would be done as soon as possible. He
referred to the safe and profitable invest
ments In railroads. giving a case in point:
Mr.. McGregsr being called upon spoke
of the wonderful revolution railways had
wrought upon the towns and business of
the country, giving several notable IN
stances in this connection. He urged up
on those teIested in the success of this
road to remember that it was a great and
i'm portant enterprise to them, and every
one should do his full duty In promoting
it. He understood the local subscription
required was only five thousand dollars a
mile, and it was but a trifle compared TO
the returns that would come back. He
was glad to learn that the local subserip-
ton was mostly secured and prompt pay
ment was necessary to insure the rapid
progress of the work. 1t would all come
back many fold. He felt a deep interest
in the Wheeling & Lake Erie R. K. as our
Valley railway was to join it and indeed
Navarro would really be a very good and
suitable point for the joining to take place.
Here it was announced that Mr.. Chap
man would throw the first ground, to be
assisted by David Mentzer and General
Mckee. The gentlemen, with shovels IN
hand, fell in with vigor and were greeted
with hearty cheers from the large crowd
looking on. The shoveling was continued
by other gentlemen for some time and
the ceremony was enlivened with several
airs from the band.
The crowd was determined to hear re-
marks from other gentlemen, and Enos
Raft, Esqr., was loudly called for. Mr..
Raft. said he was glad he had lived to
see ground broke here for the Wheeling &
Lake Erie railway. When q boy he saw
ground broke for the Ohio canal nearly
opposite where we now are. He hoped to
live to see this important work completed
for 1t was rue as had been said that a
place of from a railroad was almost out of
the world, at least almost put of the busi-
ness world. He had lived to see great
changes in this county. In his younger
days he had killed deer at night in the
river near where we are, deceiving the an
imal by placing a light in the canoe. Mr..
Raft said it was a, citizen of Stark county
who projected the Ohio canal and it wasa
citizen of our county (Mr chapman) who
projected this railway. He was proud to
be a citizen of Stark county Cor it wa one
OF the very best In the Union. Mr.. Raft
favored a connection with the Valley road
at Canton and he hoped Canton would
help it along.
Andrew Stahl, Esqr., was called out for
some remarks IN German, which he gave
in a happy manner, bringing out laughter
and applause from the crowd. He con-
cluded with allies Techt NIGHTS gebTOchen!
Loud and repeated cries for George
S~wearingen caused Mr.. S. to mount the
RESTRAIN. Mr.. S. Is q fine specimen of
youthful vlgor; & has been, and is, assist
ing the engineer corps along the line. Mr.
S~wearingen donned his broad brimmed
beaver, made his bow and remarked he
had no idea of figuring upon this occasion
as a public orator. He reminded the
stockholders of the importance of paying
their assessments promptly. They all
owed a debt ofgratitude to Mr.. Chapman
for his constant and unremitting efforts in
promoting this great enterprise. As our
worthy Director in the road he has labor
ed and expended his own means for two
years past. Nj. s. said it must be graft
flying to Mr.. Chapman to be present and
participate in these proceedings. He
hoped Mr. Chapman would live to see the
work thus begun, happily completed and
prosperous, connecting HE own native Vir-
ginia with his adopted state.
After a tune by the band, three hearty
cheers were given in conclusion and it be-
ing near 5 O'Clock, the assemblage adjourn
ed.
E. D. OTIS, Chairman.
A. McGREGoR, Secretary.