The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1875-06-18
EDITORIAL CONVENTION.

EDITORIAL CONVENTION.
Excursion Down the Hooking Valley.
New StraltsvilIe Coal Mines and Mi.
ners SO Athens---Its Features 80 The
Insane AsylGm---FeastIngs, sc.
As the hour of eight approached, on
Friday morning, the members of the
fraternity assembled in the depot at Co
lumbus, where the train was already
made up for the excursion down the
Hooking Valley. President Greene and
other officers Of the road were on hand
to see after the comfort of their guests,
and at sharp, all being on board, the
train steamed out of the depot, and we
were off for the coal mines. Passing
the town of Grovesport, short stop was
made ut Canal, Winchester, where some
refreshments were taken on board, and
soon after, Mack, of the Statesman, be-
came acquainted with the mysteries of
Hopley's private glass. Winchester is
an old town, but seems to have taken q
new growth since the opening of the
road. Lancaster was the next stop.
Prominent among the buildings at this
place is large new school house, re-
Gently erected and not yet finished, but
giving evidence of architectural beauty
in its construction. 1t is located on a
hill some distance from but overlooking
the depot, and is calculated to give a fa-
vorable impression of the intelligence
of the community. At Logan, which is
the junction of the road to Straitsville,
we turned from the main line, and ran
down among the hills into the coal re-
gion. AS we advanced, the fields looked
more unpromising, and the hills more
barren, until at last it was a rare sight
to see cultivated spot. The mineral
wealth of the country is its redeeming
quality, but in this it abounds. We
reached la4 .sr .I, .. ....
NEW sTRAITsvILLE
at half.past ten, and then debarked for
an exploration of the mines, President
Green announcing that the train would
leave at IL O'Clock sharp. 5st
The main mine, at this place, is but a
short distance from the track, and the
company under the lead of Mr.. Martin,
Superintendent, climbed the hill side, or
wandered up the coal screen stairs, to
watch the operation of screening, when
the coal was dumped. Assembled at the
mouth of the mine, lamps were lighted
and distributed and the procession moved
into the mine. A pleasant hour was
spent in the exploration, and several
bushels of specimens, more or less,
found their way into various pockets.
At one point on the line of march, the
company wandered into miners meet
ing, where they were discussing the pre-
tpriety of asking an advance in wages.
OF course the miners were interviewed.
and some facts learned which in a meas.
ure seemed to justify the demand, but
the depressed condition of trade, with
the price OF coal at the mines, it was
claimed by the operators, would not JUS
tify the advance asked for. The miners
did not seem excited, but suspended
work for the day. A meeting was to be
held in the evening to determine what
they should do, and as they have not
"struck, " it is presumable that the sober
second thought prevailed.
At the hour appointed, the train was
again in motion for Logan, where we
struck the main line and started for Ath-
ems. No stop of any consequence was
made until we reached the depot at that
place, where we arrived at about two
o'clock. The courteous managers of the
road had arranged to furnish a dinner
at this point, and numerous tables were
spread with
A BoUNTEoUs REPAsT.
which was duly enjoyed by the com.
Pany, which was by this time prepared
to edo justice to the occasion" After
hearty meal, it was announced that car :
riages were in readiness to convey the
guests to the Insane Asylum, and quite
delegation started to inspect it, while.
others preferred to stroll off on foot to
see the town. We were among the lat
ter. A visitor is not fayorably impress
ed with the first view of Athens. He
sees it at a disadvantage, but after strug-
Cling over the brow of hill and push
ing down the other side, he finds quite a
town with some very neat residences