The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-04-26
Iatal sMews.
THE WHEELING & LAKE ERIE
RAIL WAYA FIXED FACT
Huron Co. sentinel.l


The important step in the construction OF the
Wheeling 4 Lake Erie Railway to which all the
people on the northern end OF the line nave peen
looking impaliently--the laying OF The hrSt rail-
and driving ofthe first splke-was taken Monday
afternoon in the presence of large crowd OF ca
Ger and excited citizens of Norwalk and villages
along the line.
Mayor White of Norwalk, having called the as
SEN mblege to something resembling order lhe con,
tractor, H. b. Wilson, ESQ, presented the spike oi
nickel.p plated steel to T. G. Lockwood, ESQ., VINO
had been chosen for the purpose OF driving IL
home, with the remarks given below
HMp LocKyooD:--The public sentimentof Nor
vail having spontaneously designated you as de-
serving the honor of driving theiirst spike IN CON
structipg the Wheeling Il Lake Erie Railroqd II
deyolyes on me as chief constructor, to present
Won with this spike as the particular one selec'eu
for that purpose. l have only to say that my own
feelings strongly indorse the sentimehtoi the peo'
ple of this prosperous and rising town, and CON
vratulate you on the honor thus most worthlly De-
stowed on YOU. believe that my ability 10 carry
ont successfully the great work of finance ana
construction with the able assistance OF my
associate General Mckee, is largely due to your
energetic and untiring efforts to promote the un-
dertakipp. These efforts know have not been
given with grudging hand, but have been long
ana continuous in season and out of season. THIS
spike, when driven will be like the hrsl sho1 N
great battle, the success OF which depends Oh Tue
union and energy of the attacking party All We
want to win this battle is union and effort Ihls
spke looks like silver, and 1t has been inSnuated
that It is silver but it is my opinion that lsmade
of a metal more valuable than silver, at least III
spiking the rails on our railway. l now hand IL
to Won. feeling certain you will send 1t home with
good will and the force you put into all you un'
dertake,"
On receiving the spike Mr., Lockwood made his
way to the place selected and with three goou
sturdy blows, sent 1t home, On the eompleGono OF
this ceremony the crowd adjourned to the court
house to listen to speeches from the who have
been gotive in inaugurating and bringing mus
far on the way to success, this important road
q. II Stewart, Esq being introduced, gave
short history of the line, saying it was discussed
thirty wears ago, but never got farther than the
newspapers 1t is not necessary to enter into
fnl renort of the facts which have grown SO famil
lar IN most of our citizens, until we come to Mr..
Wtllsou's former contract. Mr. Stewart said that
1t was only justice to Mr.. Wilson 70 say mat hau
he been permitted to proceed under thaEcohuact
as he earnestly desired to do, at least thirty miles
of the road would have been completed anu III
operation before the decision OF the suprene
Court of OHIO declaring the Boesel law uhcons'l-
tutional. Itwas the lack Of energy and executive
ability on the part of the then managers Wnlch
caused the failure to construct at least poruon
of the line at that time The refusal OF the BOARD
a ,o1C
of Directors then TO proceed lost the ROAD sooooOV
voted in Ohio and S9OOOO0 in Wheeling To-Day
the first rail was laid and the first spike driven,
and we were at last to witness the complexion OF
project which has long been in the minds OF Ine
business men of Norwalk.
Mr.. Wilson then took the floor and made clear
and comprehensive statement OF his plans py
means of which he was certain he could compleVe
the entire line of road His plans are approvedby
the rail manufacturers andif the people along the
line respond to his call promptly, he VIII 40 III
and more than he has promised in the Time al
lowed He closed his remarks with warm eulo'
psm on the efforts of the President and dlrectois
and particularly Messrs. Perrin Lockwood MACK
and Gallup, for the manner in which they hau
sustained him in his arduous undertaking in these
times.
MrF G. Lockwood of Milan, being called on,
made a pertinent speech. Mr.. L. was one OF
the earliest friends of the project and has remain
ed its staunchest supporter through all vicissl
tudes. He had richly earned the right to senu
home the first spike in the railway for which ne
has worked for years to have completed ana IN
full operation His satisfaction was evident III
every tone of his voice and act.
MI Gallup made stirring speech OF snort aura,
ton, 1ecounting the advantages the line "ouiu
confer on Norwalk and its business, if our people
will but use little of their energy and ability
Gen. Mckee was called upon but he is SO busy
with the construction that he hadn't time tospeak'
Mr,Willson denominates him his right hand man,
and says it is largely due to Mr. Mckee that ne
is indebted for the present forward state Of the
work.
After few remarks from Messrs. Mack and Per-
rim, the meeting adjourned, well pleased with the
days work