The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-07-24

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ton of $4,000 per mile is obtained,
which we may say has been accom-
plished as far as Milan.
The destination of the road is To-
ledo, and that it will be built there
we have ample assurance. If an air
line from Milan to Toledo be deter
mined on, it will go by US some six
or eight miles to the north, and thus
again will the territory tributary to
our city be subdivided. Such con-
dition is not desirable, if it can be
avoided, and there lies the pith and
marrow of the matter. It will not
be avoided without an effort, and
the expenditure of some time and
money, and may not then, but GER
tainly will not otherwise. 1t becomes
those, therefore, who are most inter
ested in the growth of our city, to
investigate the matter at once, and
endeavor so to shape circumstances
as to secure the road here. A sur
vey of the line from Milan to Toledo
has been authorized, and will be en-
tered upon as soon as the harvests
are out of the way.
Now is the time for action. and
people in other places interested are
at work. Our Oak Harbor neigh
bors, with only a tithe Of our popu-
lation, wealth and resources, are mo-
wing in the matter with a spirit and
enterprise worthy of emulation. Its
committee has interviewed "authori-
ties" has explored a route, has in
spired feeling of determination to
secure the road among the people,
and at a meeting held in Fought's
Hall, on the evening of the 10th re-
ported. We find their report in the
Press, and from it make the follow
ing extract, merely promising what
We kuoaO-that there is nothing over
stated as to what has been done, and
not half in regard to the road pros
poets as we have reason to Know
them. 1t will be the best coal road
in the state, as well as the shortest
line between Wheeling and Toledo;
will be well equipped, and do an ex-
tensive freighting business between
the west and east:
The distance between the two points, Wheel
ing and To'edo,) on an air line would be 1872
miles, according to the geological survey of
Ohio. The elevation of the water shed between
the Ohio river and the lake near this point,
would be $40 feet above the level Of the lake,
According to the report Of Mr. A K Robinson,
chief engineer of the railroad company, the
highest grade on the road would not exceed, at
any one point 42 feet per mile, or require a
curve of less than 1000 feet radius. The road
is now located and under contract for construc-
ton from Martins Ferry, opposite Wheeling,
via Hopedale, Fairview, ,Bowerstown, ,Leesburg
Zosr, Navarro, Dalton, Arreville, Pike Station
to Lodi, in the southwest part of Medina coun.
ty, los miles, This part Of the road was Ioca-
ted with a view to accommodating the princi-
pal coal mines, which stretch slong this road
for 81 miles northwest of the Ohio river, and
avoiding excessive grades. hence an air line
has been slightly deviated from between those
points, which makes the line five miles longer
than an air line. From Lodi to Toledo an air
line has been determined upon and has been
surveyed and located for 81 miles, from Lodi
to Milan. From Milan to Toledo a survey
will be made as soon as the harvest is out of
the way. An air line would run via Castalia,
head of Sandusky Bay and Oak Harbor to near
the iron works, in the southeast part of Toledo,
opposite the former site of Manhattan. 1t gives
all the advantages of a direct route, opens up
an entirely new country not yet penetrated by
railroads, and rich in timber stone and gravel,
so essential fol the construction of railroad
Milan is about Is feet above the level of the
lake, and the point of termination on Maumee
river, will proably be from 10 to 20 feet above
tee lake. No great elevation intervenes be-
tween the two points. The distauce from Mi
Ian to Oak Harbor is 81 miles, from Oak Har-
Dor to Toledo 81 miles, in all 81 miles. Hence
the descent from Milan to Toledo would be a
little over one foot per mile The air line across
the head of Sandusky bay will traverse consid
cradle low lands and marshes, which would in
volve some piling, bridging and filling, but
would be found less expensive than lower
route across the oren bay. But slight devi-
alton from an air line, making curve around
the south shore of Sandusky Bay, with radi-
US of one or one and one-haif miles, and
curve of six OF eight miles would avoid all the
principal marshes of the bay crossing Portage
river near Oak Harbor, and returning at that
point to the original air line. This weuId but
slightly increase the distance, and secure good
and practicable crossings on the Sandusky and
Portage rivers, avoiding alike the expense of
bridging and filling extensive marshes below
or extensive embankments across the valleys
Of those rivers higher up. Esquire Frank and
Judge Kramer are both practicable engineers,
and both have had some railroad experience.
They have examined the route around Sandus
Ky bay and find a good practicable crossing on
Sandusky river near Hoan's club house. The
channel of tho river there is about 300 feet
wide, l6 feet water, hard clay bottom, on the
north shore good banks some feet high; on
south side, low banks and marsh for 80 or 40
rods, from 2 to 4 feetof water, thence an al
most unbroken open prairie to Castalia. The
crossings of the intervening creeks are on good
hard land, and from 4 to 10 rods wide, each.
The country between Sandusky river and Oak
Harbor is about two miles of timber, and the
remainder open country. Portage river is
about 300 feet wide, 200 of which Is channel
l6 feet water, rock bottom, 500 feet of fats on
south side, about or 4 feet of water on it,
banks 10 to u feet high. The road would al
50 cross at this place the L S & NJ S R'y., and
north of Touissaint traverse one of the most
extensive limestone ridges in the county.
Oak Harbor is situated near the head of nav
igation on the Portage river, in the center of
Ottawa county,and in rich farming and lum-
bering distTiSt. In the town and within
radius of five miles, are situated l6 saw mills,
stave and other factories, which will furnish
large amount of freight for this road, as al
ready large shipments are made from here to
Baltimore and intervening points on the B &
o R R., which must increase as shortening of
distance will facilitate shipments.
The committees report created