The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1877-06-21
BAILBOAD MEETINGS.
HnLsporo. O.. June "A, 1877.

HHLsBORo, o., June IA, 1871.
Pursuant to call a large number of the bust
ness men and other citizens of HillsbOrO and
Highland county met this afternoon at the
Court House to consider the expediency OF tax
ing action in favor Of the proposed Maysvllle
Columbus Narrow Gauge Railroad, Southern
Division, extending from Maysvilie to wash
ington C. Il.
James II. Thompson was called to the Chair
and J. L. Boardman and j. R. Marshall we're
appointed Secretaries.
After some explanatory remarks by the
Chair, Hon. Chambers Baird, of Ripley, was
invited to address the meeting, and responded
in an able and convincing speech setting forth
/ the advantages of the proposed road to Ripley,
/ Hillsboro, and the whole country along the
/ line. He said that nearly two hundred Of the
citizens Of Ripley had publicly pledged them
selves through the newspapers to subscribe not
| less than two and half per cent. Of their tax
able property to help build the road, and thus
/ they had already between $4,000 and S3O,OOO
of good stock secured, which would be largely
increased. Maysville had pledged herself to
build the nine miles on the Kentucky side to
meet Ripley, and now Rinley wanted to hear
what Hillsboro and Highland county proposed
/ to do.
Colonel Yeomun, of Washington C. H., was
/ next called out He stated clearly the pro-
/ gress Of the enterprise thus far, and made
strong showing Of the advantages and eeono-
/ my Of narroW-ga railroads over those Of the
| standard gauge. He presented statistics OF
the earnings and expenses Of a narrow-gauge
road in Iowa, and compared them with those
Of standard gauge road in the same State,
showing that while the narrow gauge road Of
/ 81 miles made a net profit Of $50 600 on gross
earnings of S74,O0O the standard-gauge road
of 81 miles made net proht Of only $4,000 on
gross earnings of Sl54, ,OOO-thus proving that
the per cent. of operating expenses Of the mar
row-gauge road was greatly less than that Of
the standard gauge, while the cost Of the
standard-gauge was nearly three times that Of
the narrOw-gauge
He claimed that a narrow gauge road to
Ripley would give HillsborO cheaper coal from
the Ohio river than she could get from the
nearest coal region. The best TOughiOgheny
coal can be bought by the bOat-load in Ripley
for five to six cents and placed in HillsborO at
eight to nine cents, and pay the railroad
good profit. lie also referred to the many ad-
vantages Of the proposed connection Of South
ern Ohio with the famous "bluc grass" cattle
region Of Kentucky and the ineXhaustible
mineral region of Eastern Kentucky and West
Virginia, which only needs railroad facilities
for its rapid development.
He urged the necessity to HillsbOrO Of n
COMPETING line Of railroad to bring down the
ruinous prices now charged for freight on the
Marietta & Cincinnati road. This proposed
narrow gauge road would connect at Sardinia
with the Cincinnati & Eastern, now in opera
tion from Sardinia to Cincinnati, and thus give
HillsbOro the much-needed competition.
Colonel Yeoman spoke at considerable length
and displayed q thorough knowledge Of the
whole subject Of narrow gauge railroads, to
which, he said, he had given nearly his whole
nd, g., IL
arguments we're clear and convincing, and
were heard with close attention. He concluded
by urging prompt action on the part Of Hills
boro to secure the building of the north and
south road, and said that the fate Of the enter
prise depended on her citizens. Without their
aid Ripley and Washington could do nothing
but with it the success of the road was a fixed
} fact.
The Chair called on gentlemen present from
WhiteOak township to state what the people Of
that township would do. DR.. Hare responded
He said they wanted the road, and would raise
their full quota of stock, but were waiting tC
see what Hillsboro proposed to do. Whiteoak
township now had a new railroad outlet by the
G. Il E. r. R., and great deal of her trade
was turning in that direction but if HillsbOrC
would take hold promptly and aid in building
the MaysviIle & Columbus road, most of this
trade could be brought back-Otherwise she
will lose it all. He believed about $4,000
] stock had already been pledged for a north and
south road in Whiteoak township, and prOba.
bly, more could be raised, but not until Hills.
boro showed her hand.
Mr.. Elias johnson, Of Leesburg, was called
out, and said the people of Fairfield township
arc deeply interested in the proposed enter
prise, and would subscribe literally, but they
too were waiting to see what HillsborO will do
Mr.. King, Of Ripley, said he was buSines;
man, in the hardware trade, and no talker
The main thing needed in building railroads
was money, and how to raise it was the ques
ton. The people Of Ripley were generally
willing to give two and a half per cent. OF
their taxable property, and if this rule wa
adopted along the line it would raise the re
quired amount of s. 600 per mile. Ripley wa.
ready to do her part, but she could de- nothin.
without the aid Of Hillsboro. The capital re
quired was here in abundance, and all tina
was needed was the WILL to build the road.
COlenCl YcOman said that before he began Il
work up this enterprise he had fully satisfied
5 himself that if IS 900 per mile could be raiset
along the line the other $5, 600 necessary t.
iron and equip the road would be furnished b,
responsible parties whenever needed.
Major Byrne, of the Cincinnati IL Easter
Railroad, said he fully expected that Presiden
Woodward, Of that road, would have been her
to-day, but he seems to have been unayoidably
detained He still hoped he would be here 70
tO-night's meeting. Major Byrne then gave
full history Of the Cincinnati ~ Eastern Rail
road explaining the plan on which it wa
built. He said it had proved a success
ECOsting only $4,000 per mile, it is alreadl
t earning at the rate Of 81 800 per mill
e per annum. Deducting operating expenses
u about forty per cent, they being always large
on new rOad) leaves 5000 per mile, as ne
y earnings. The interest on the bonds, 5,OOl
per mile, at seven per cent, amounts to $3.50
t Deduct this from the not earnings and yol
have $3.50 per mile per annum as clear profit
+ So, that the road will not only pay the interes
on its bonds, but pay profit to the stockhold
ers besides.
He regarded HillsbOrO as having one of tn
best possible natural locations to become
great distributing center if she had the addition
al railroad facilities which this north and soutl
road would give her. II He made a clear expla
: nation Of the superior economy of the narrow
gauge over the standard-gau railroads: No
one Of the standard gauge roads in the cOuntrl
is employed to its full capacity. The enormou
DEAD WEIGHT they have to carry in their heavy
cars and engines cOmpes them to charge high
er rates Of freight. The narrow gauge roads
. with their lighter cars and engines, have al
2 the capacity necessary to accommodate tn,
freight and travel of this region. They ar
= emphatically the PEOPLES railroads, from thei
t superior cheapness. He said the c. & Z. R. R
b would guarantee the completion Of the Nays
vile Il Columbus R. R., if s. 900 per mile wa
subscribed along the line. Maysville anC
Ripley are both anxious for the road. Ripley
especially regards it as her only salvation. Ht
hoped HillsbOro would join with her sister town,
on the line, and give them an assurance tha
: she would do her part.
e The Chair said he also hoped HillsborO would
= do her duty. He had no personal interest il
the road more than any other citizen. Il,
wanted no official position and would accept
none, but he desired the road for the benefit o
the town and county.
The following resolutions were read and
adopted:
RESOLVED, That the following committees
be appointed to solicit stock for the Columbus
& MaysvilIe R. r., Southern Division, in and
, through the county Of Highland:
Fairfield toWnship-E. P, johnson, A. Flesh
er, DR.. John Holmes, J ohm Griffith, J. IIiIliard
Elias johnson, Charles Turner, T. E. Ladd
y A. P. Pushee, Benjamin Heller.
Liberty tOwnship-James H. Thompson, c.
S. Bell, Dr. D. Noble, W. R. Smith, B. J
Harris, T. Z. Kibler, J. s. Black Josiah Ste
vcnsOu, A. S. Glascock, John A. Smith, John
fl. Jolly, benjamin Barrere, R. s. Quinn, C
Il. Collins, F. W. Armstrong, J. C. Gregg, II
5. Fullerton, S. Z. Parker, S. Amen, John D
W. Spargur, J. S. Shaw, J. L. BCardman,
| A. Feibel, Hardin Roads, T. G.. UOggard p