The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1878-08-15
EXCURSION.
THE BALLOON ROUTE A SUCCESS
From Jackson TO Springfield by Rail,

JACKSON, August 8. 1878.
To the Editor Of the STANDARD:
On Saturday last complimentary ex-
of the Springfield, Jackson and Pomeroy
railroad, by President Whitley and Su-
perintendent Thornburg, that they might
have an opportunity of seeing how the
amounts subscribed and paid by them
had been expended.
The train left Jackson at 5,23 a. m,
with several cars well loaded with excur-
sionists, and arrived at Waverly at $40
n. M, where large number were waiting
to accompany US, few more cars were
attached and in fifteen minutes our train
was ready to leave Waverly. At this
point our road intersects with the Scioto
Valley railway, running from Portsmouth
to Columbus, thus giving us a direct rail-
road communication with the rich valley
of the Scoto
AT 6 So a. m our train left Waverly,
and from this point to where it strik es
Paint valley, about eighteen miles dl-
tant, the scenery is picturesque, and at
some points grand. The road winds
round the hills and hollows, making
short curves and many of them, and at
one particular point reminded me of
"Horse Shoe Bend" in the Allegheny
mountains, and l think this point should
be called Narrow Gauge Horse Shoe
Bend. Soon we struck Paint valley and
arrived at Bainbridge; after short stop
we proceeded on our way arriving at
Greenfield at % a. M. At this point
connection is made with the Marietta
and Cincinnati railroad
Leaving here we arrived at Washing
ton at 1905 a. m. This is very pretty
little town, and the surrounding country
is beautiful and fertile, the soil being
very rich At this point our road con-
meets with the Mu- kingum Valley road,
which runs from Evansville to Cincinnati;
also with the Dayton and South Eastern
Narrow Gauge railroad, running from
Musselman' to Dayton which connects
with the Little Miami railroad at Xenia,
and Dayton Short Line, Hamilton and
Dayto and Dayton and Michigan, at
Dayton Connection is also made at this
point with the Cincinnati, Washington
and Columbus Narrow Gauge railroad,
which is finished within four miles of
| Waynesville, where it will connect with
the Mama Valley Narrow Gauge rail
road for Cincinnati, making complete
Narrow Gauge route from jackson to
Cincinnati via Washington. This will be
of incalculable value to US in many ways,
giving US an outlet by competitive lines
of railway, thus giving US an opportunity
of obtaining reasonable freight rates
which we have not had at this point.
The next point after leaving Washing
ton is South Charleston, where oonnec
ton is made with the Little Miami or
Pan Handle road. After leaving here
we ran across beautiful portion of
country and arrived at Springfield at
| II 10 D. m. Here our road connects with
the c. S q c.; C. c. c. q /; A. & G. w
railways, and Xenia Branch of the Little
Miami
! Springfield is los miles from Jackson,
contains about 10000 inhabitants, and is
a great manufacturing city, and will be
greatly benefited by our Narrow Gauge,
as we can furnish coal much cheaper
than they have been able to get it here
! tofore.
As we can furnish coal in unlimited
quantities, and of superior quality. for
all purposes, it is expected the demand
| ha hat 4 10
taxed to its utmost capacity in taking
our coal away; also in the ireightage of
grain, produce, stone, iron and lumber,
together with 81 considerable revenue
from passenger fares, thereby insuring
the success of the road financially.
The road is substantially built, all the
work done on the road is the same class
as that done on standard gauges, and
nothing but firstclass work was accepted
by the engineer.
At $50 p. NJ our train left Springfield
for Jackson, and after travelling a few
miles we espied balloon apparently fol
lowing US; but, as this is known as the
Balloon Route the trip would not
have been complete had not balloon
put in an appearance. l watched it
while we travelled several miles, but as
we neared Washington it disappeared
in cloud and was seen by US no more
When we left Waverly for Jackson we
travelled in the wake Of a heavy thunder
storm, which preceded us the entire dis
tance to Jackson. The vivid flashes of
lightning, and loud, rolling, rumbling
and crashing of the thunder with the
heavy dark cloud in front of US, made it
seem as though we would be in the midst
Of the storm the next moment; but our
little horse was not quite fast enough,
and we arrived safe at home just after
one of the heaviest torms that has passed
over this place this summer.
In conclusion l will say that the time
is not far distant when it will be apparent t
to every one that this is good road,
runs in the right direction, and is a sub
stantial benefit to the country through
which it passes.
Yours,
CHARLES RHODES.
We have received our new Alden
Model job press, directly from the manu-
facturers in Philadelphia 1t works