The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-02-05
GOING NORTH.

A brief history Of the Valley railway will not be
out Of place here. For long time Canton felt
the need Of direct railway connection with Ak.
ron and Cleveland. Indeed as far back as 1874 q
line was run between Canton and Akron, and 1t
was not Canton's fault that railway was not
built then, The growth OF CleVeland Of late years
has compelled attention to more railways to reach
the coal fields. The Tuscarawas Valley road to
Massillon and UhrichsVille got Cleveland aid with
this view. But the terminus being at Black River
instead OF Cleveland caused prominent gentlemen
Of Cleveland to consider a route by Akron aud
Canton,
N p Payne, Captain Coe and other gentlemen
engaged in the work and agitation all along the
line was begun In the spring Of 1871 enthusiastic
meetings being held In Akron, Canton and other
points. The first Board of Directors were James
Farmer N. P. Payne and A. B. Stone Of Cleveland;
and D. L. King OF Akron, Mr.. Farmer being Presi.
dent. Surveyors were sent out and route was
laid out which has not been materially changed.
In 1872 the number Of Directors was increased to
nine and considerable grading was done.
In 1878 Mr.. Witt Of Cleveland, was made Presl.
dent, but Ill health compelled his resignation,
when D. L. King was chosen to fill the place and
James Farmer was made Vice President, Bonds
OF the road could have been sold In New York In
1873 for so cents on the dollar but 1t was thought
they might do better and 90 held on, when the
panic In September struck the country and para.
lyzed all such enterprises. The Directors finally
borrowed $500 from the Cleveland banks on
their own risk and paid off the clamorOuB con.
tractors and kept doing little work along the
line.
Things were quiescent till last spring when the
question Of completing the road was agitated and
meetings were held. The Board was reorgRnized
]. H. Wade taking the Presidency; bonds we're
Sold debts we're paid and contrRctslet for grading
aud track laying, The work went right along
from that time until now, when 1t has become one
Of the railways Of the country, and the engineers
whistle ia heard along the line.
Securing the canal bed from the State Of Ohio
and the city Of Cleveland 80 as to get the road into
the heart Of the city was notable success. Grad
ing Ia being done as fast as as possible and In few
months the Valley Railway will run into the
heart Of the city. Trains now stop at Jefferson
street, and the company have conveyances there
to take passengers to The Public Square free. We
congratulate the gentlemen who have SO nobly
stood their ground in this enterprise.
The Valley Company have at present sever
Baldwin locomotives, Ave passenger coaches, two
baggage and express cars, eighty box cars and
one hundred gondolaS and will increase the roll
ing stock as necessity demands, affording shipper
rapid transit from all points along the line
The following are the present officers Of the
road President ]. H. Wade Of Cleveland; vcC
President and Treasurer, s. I. Everett Of Cleve
land; Secretary W, B, Porter Of Cleveland. Chas
B. ChildS, consulting and principal engineer; W
J. Boardman, counsel; 3. G. Baldwin, genera
manager; Samuel Briggs, superintendent Direc
tors, Mesars. J. Il. Wade, 8. T. Everett W. B. Por
ter, H. B. Payne, A. B. Stone, H. B. Flsgler, Thorn
as ooe W.. J. Bordman, L. " Bookius and D. L
King.