The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1875-01-14
ABOUT THE RAILROAD.

Our readers know that we look upon
Jackson county as destined to be great
railroad center at no distant day in the
future. All our plans for railroad lines
should be laid with reference to this
fact Now let US see what is the present
duty of the people of jackson county. In
few days the people of this county will
be called upon to subscribe $4,000 to
construct railroad from Springfield, by
way of jackson, to Pomeroy. Now we
want the road all the way through, and
not only that line, but we want branch
from Jackson, by way of Grahamsville or
vicinity, to Portsmouth, and line to
Ironton, and one to Gallipolis. What is
the first thing to be done? The first
point to be attained is the road from
Springfield to Jackson, or, if you please,
from jackson to Springfield
Starting from Jackson, you first reach
Waverly. Here is the Ohio Canal, Civ
ing US a competing line to the Ohio River
on the south, and the lakes on the north,
for our heavy freights, especially for our
iron and coal There can be little doubt
that there will also soon be a railroad
down the Scioto Valley from Columbus
to Portsmouth, making. an addition
al competing line for transportation.
These competing lines would greatly re-
duce the freights on our only means of
present transportation, the Marietta and
Cincinnati Railroad.
tba Mor;oEfo
road at Greenfield, the new road will
cross another load, the Muskingum Val
ley Railroad, at Washington. This will
give another competing line to Cincin-
natl, and also to the East Next the
Little Miami Railroad will be crossed,
giving another competing line to all
points east and west. At Springfield two
other competing lines will be reached.
With all these competing lines thus
tapped by the new road, can any one
of freights, and the great reduction in
price per ton on the same? With the
present high rates of freight, our iron
and coal are almost entirely excluded
from Chicago, and many others of the
great markets. With the new road fin
ished, we can compete in these great
markets with any other locality. The
same rule will apply to the mercantile
interests of this county.
| We look upon the development of the
coal interests of our county as of much
greater Importance than the iron inter
est. Coal will always be in demand, anc
that demand will greatly increase with
the increase of population and the de
struction of timber. No crisis, or scarci
: ty, or hard times, can ever materially
check the consumption of coal. 1t is uni
versally conceded that the supply of Goa
: in jackson county is practically mex
haustible. Now suppose that insthelim
mediate vicinity of Jackson $4,000 bush
, cents per bushel, the lowest point that
could ever reach, this would give 81 49,
per day, and counting 200 days in tlt
year, would give $4,000, or more than
a third of a million dollars. This w5uld
all be paid to miners, and would atonce
, go into the general circulation. Yearly
all this money would first go into the
. hands of the merchants, manufacturers
and. .fa4ners
In addition to the above, the coal it
self would yield to the owners of th'
mines at least $150,000 annually. The
greater portion of this amount would alsC
go into the same channels of circulation
Both these amounts would increase rap
idly from year to year, after the compile
, ton of the road.
We know there are interests on tina
part of the line between jackson anC
, Pomeroy that are slow to acquiesce il
. the west end of the road being complet
ed first. If the money could be raised
we would rejoice to see the entire lin
put under contract. But where is tn
money to come from? 1t will cost from
$I5O,OOO to 5000, 900 to construct the roa'
from jackson to the Vinton county line
We are only required to raise $4,000 t
secure the road from Jackson to Spring
field Can that amount be raised w
hope so; but there are well-informe'
business men who have their doubts uI
on this point The people of the cite
and counties west of US have proposed t
build us road if we will contribute onl
;, a nominal portion of the cos
Does any one doubt that jackson
and jackson county, will be more benz
n fted by the road than any other count
e on its entire line ? Then let the sma
; amount apportioned to this county b
= raised at once, and when that shall hav
@ been done, strike at once for the nez
o portion, east of jackson.
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