Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1878-08-08
FINISHEDI
''The Balloon Route a Success y
The stockholders Train from
Springfield to jackson.
A Graphic Description of the Trip by
Representative of the Herald

The Springfield, Jackson & Pomeroy
narrow-gauge Railway, which run its
first through train from Springfield to
Jackson on Friday last,-the occasion of
the Stockholders ride,-was first pro-
jected in the Fall and Winter of 1874-75,
with the intention of making junction
with the Dayton & Southeastern narrow
gauge Ry. at this place, which road was
! then in contemplation also; but the Off
GERS of the road could effect no satisfacto-
ry arrangement with the D. & S. E. Co.,
and in Justice to their own interests as
well as to benefit the public by giving
| them cheap and accessible route to the
coal fields of Southeastern Ohio, the S. j.
& P. Ry. Co. sought the aid of Greenfield,
Bainbridge, and Waverly, whose citi-
zens readily took hold of the enterprise,
raised their subscriptions, and the work
of grading was commenced the latter part
of 1875, between Waverly and Jackson,
then at Springfield and different points
along the line, and the work carried
steadily on until both ends met and the
'f1ast spike'' was driven on the 18th of
July, 1873, at point about three miles
East of Bainbridge. And while we must
not overlook the ex-officials of this enter
i prise, in the persons of Hon. James EN-
mitt, of Waverly, and James F. Ely, of
this place, the first President and Vice
President of,the road, with the assistance
of Hon. james Pursell, our resident Di-
rector both then and now, each of whom
are deserving of much credit for matur-
ing plans, raising stock and locating the
road, to the present Board of Directors,
with President W. n. Whitley at the
helm, does the honor of carrying the en-
terprise to asuccessful completion belong.
The Stockholders train which passed
over the road Friday, was made up in
two sections,-one starting from SPRING
field, the other from this place at 6 :55 a.
m. A large number of stockholders took
advantage of this free ride, or rather, re-
ceiving their first dividend in pass over
the road, ''good for that train only
From Washington the train flew along
at rapid speed, soon passing Greenfield,
now plunging through a deep ravine
with rugged, rocky sides, overhanging
trees, and waters ripling oyer the rock
bound base below, over high trestles,
through deep cuts, around winding
curves, we suddenly dart out into sun
light over the beautiful and fertile Paint
1 valley, which extends several miles in
width, and to the first view is surround
ed with very high hills which are covered
with dense foliage of forest trees, bor-
deringin green to the sky the level plain
of waving corn and golden grain. The
engine whistles, and in a moment we
have stopped and the brakeman sing out,
"Bainbridge!'' This is very old town /,
much older than Washington, and so
beautifully located. From this place we
skip along for few miles over the level
valley, by the side of the Chillicothe pike,
past magnificent farm residences and
grounds, near the fruit-crowned Little
COpperas mountain, upon which may be
seen the large nursery and peach orchard
of Mr.. Ren. Seymour, whose beautiful
park and residence grounds we are now
J passing. Mr.. S. is an old and influential
stOck-man of Bainbridge and Ross county
Farther on the train sweeps around the
base of Big COpperas mountain, with it;
washed banks, presenting to the view {
l square front of nearly three hundred fee
in height. Now we are entering 'sStorm'
Hollow and begin the ascent of tht
ridge that divides the waters of Paint ant
SciOto valleys, the most wonderful par
. in the construction of the road. W.
creep around serpentine-like, as we max
2. the ascent, some seven or eight miles t.
: the ''divide,'' or summit, which remind
one and is not unlike the crossing owe
T the Allegheney mountains. The 'FHorse
shoe Bend' of this road far excells tina
of the Pennsylvania road. You will nc
}. tice railroad a short distance to you
left, running parallel with the one yo
q are on, and you will fundamentally ask
|. ''What road is that?'' On receiving tn
L information that it is the one your trai
l. is on, and that it is only eleven hundre
feet across to the point in question, an
Il two miles and a half around the curve t
the same place, you will understand VIII
=. the enemies of this road called it th
"Balloon Route.'' The scenery over thi
and higher above the valley, hugging tn
S. side of the mountain, as it were, the tops
large trees may be seen to the left far bt
- meath the train. Frequent long trestle!
- deep fills and short curves are passed owe
r. and around in making the ascent, unit
a we reach Summit Station at the tol
!, where the Engineer reverses his engir
m for the descent and leaves it entirely
the control of the brakemen, who tighte
(. or slacken the brakes as the grade ma
a require. The whole populace are out
as meet us at Waverly, who greet the fir
ht train with roaring of cannon and marti
" music. Here we cross the great Scio
r. valley, with its immense cOrnfields e.
ne tending up, and down, and across as f
is as the eye can see. After crossing tt
a valley the road passes over a very pO
us country the rest of the way for agricu
ut turaI purposes. The soil is cOmpost
ue principally of white clay. We pass tt
rd switch leading to the mine of the Sprin
er field & jackson Coal Company, a fe
la, miles West of jackson. The Company
OH composed of citizens of Washington.
OF Messrs. A. E. Silcott and B. II. Millika
hg of the firm, stopped off here to inspect t
ne mine. The train arrived at Jackson |
'e- fore noon, and the Springfield train so
stAb0A "iOH U"O JANUS u iANSAO5 "HOh
made stampede for hotel. The Gt
'er son being first, was taken by stor
ny equal to the Kansas grasshoppers.
u c. Gould, of the Jackson Herald, inc
nu lot of his Washington friends at the dc
and took them to his residence for d
he ner. The citizens had been apprised
our coming, and opened their houses
ur- the visitOrs-picking up every one til
", could find who had not been to dinner a
Id taking them to their houses. Thanks
lk- the good people of Jackson is the best c