The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-03-02
"TERMINAL FACILITIES.
Where Shall the Southern Railroad
Depot be Located. -.Opinions
Of Business Man.

we present. our readers WIN tne result
of a number of interviews with leading
business men in different departments Of
trade, who were asked by representative
of the STAR to give expression to their
views as to the proper location for the de-
pot of our new Southern Railroad.
Mr.. Robert Mitchell said that there could
be but one opinion on this question; the
business public would not only in
sist on but compel the location of the depot
as near the business center as practicable
and that the increased cost of draying good,
to and from depot in the extreme west end
of the city would equal the freight on one
hundred miles of road and could scarcely
be estimated under IS per car load. For
instance horse and dray could not make
more than four trips per day from the
Mitchell & Rammelsburg ware-rooms on
Fourth to the Mclean Avenue Depot and
back, and time and money would be saved
by more convenient location. And for
passengers as well the depot must be near
business and the hotels.
Mr.. Glenn, of Glenn & Sons, thought that
the weight of opinion among downtown
merchants and manufacturers was favora-
BILE to locating local freight depot not
further away than Plum street, and would
insist on its being placed there. On the
other hand, there were other interests,
such as lumber. tanbark, and possibly cot
ton, that will find better accommodation
and indeed could only find this out in the
Millcreek Valley. That stick would go to
the Stock Yards and naturally would gray
itate that way, hence there would proba-
bly, grow up need for arrangements such
as would provide for these interests there.
He thought that in case of large shipments
of cotton here, cotton sheds similar to those
in New Orleans would BIZ constructed out
there, and the necessity for hauling to store
be avoided.
The transfer of freight to other roads
would of course be made on the spot, but
as before observed the general business in
terests would undoubtedly compel the
bringing of the local freight depot to Plum
street or vicinity.
The Messrs. Shillito said they object in
toto to the further expenditure of money
on the Southern Road. The location of the
depot was not of great moment to them,
they thought that the business
generally would object decid-
edly to hauling goods to the West End.
They thought that the immediate needs of
the Road, at least until it was proven what
its business was to amount to, might be
done through the terminal accommoda-
tions OF some OF the present existing roads.
In any event Lincoln Park was too far
away to suit the business community.
Mr.. Howell Gano said that there could
be no two sides to the question as to the
place where the depot should be located to
the principal business inter-
ests Of the city. 1t must be down town,
and as far down town as practicable. If
merchants had to send their freight out to
the West End it would cost fully double
drayage and take three times as long as to
send to the Plum-street Depot, which was
q vital matter in shipping. That in case
Lincoln Park was selected the drayage
would fall mainly into the hands of the |
Companies, which was we'll |
enough for heavy merchandise, cotton, &c, |
but would not do for lighter loads that
were better suited to dray. A dollar draw |
ige for light load or half a load of goods |
would lose customer, hence the extra
cost would more often than otherwise fall |
On the shipper.
Mr.. Goodheart was inquired of at mis- |
cotton warehouse and was emphatic in sa,
ing that it would be fatal blow to the |
business men and to the business interests
)f this city to have Lincoln Park selected |
Tor the depot. The cost tor drayage there
would be as much as the railroad freight on |
4 bale of cotton and must not be thought of. |
Mr.. Jeffras, of Jeffras, Seey & Co., said |
that he thought as a general principle the |
lepot for local freight should be as conye-
nient to the business requiring to be done |
over the road-the nearer the better-and |
he felt convinced that nne-tenths of the |
merchants and manufacturers of Cinciu.
natl. all of whom are liberal tax-pavers
would concur in asking that the depot be |
located not farther away than Plum street
Or Central avenue.
Mr. Geo. G. Ware thought the policy
was suicidal to think of locating freight |
depot at the West End, as the increased
drayage which such q selection would in.
volve would amount to not less than $5
per car load. This $5 of unnecessary tax
would, in many cases. rob Cincinnati mer-
chants OF the advantages she has gained, or
sought to gain, by the building of an
S18, OoO,O railroad, and would enable
other places that are not, like this city,
taxed penny in this investment to de-
rive, without cost or risk, the same advan-I
tages that we do. Possibly for standing
room for cars and the handling of bulky |
freights. stock, etc., room may be required |
in the Millcreek valley, but the street rail-
roads and transportation companies are
The only business interests that have any
reason to advocate the placing If the Com
panys general depot Sabbath days jour
ney away from the great business center OF
tha citv