The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-08-11
CONGRESS- LAKE.
AND THE ONNOTTON VALLEY
RAILWAY.
Its Extended Connection and Rapid Progress
Its Able and Capable Management-A
Grand Coal Road for Cleveland.

NOHuOttOh dllSy NdllWoy NOllP AZ OH
the banks of the beautiful lake, known
as Congress Lake, situated near the
north line of this county, in Lake town
ship, little over one mile north of the
town of Hartville, about thirteen miles
north of Canton.
The lake is about two miles long, and
at its widest part nearly a mile across.
No finer sheet of water can be found
anywhere; and the picnic grounds and
structures are attractively arranged and
prepared for large parties, so that there
is. little doubt this will be place Of
great resort, The company owns some
twenty acres around the lake, good
portion OF which is an original oak for>
est Several fine buildings are just com.
pleted for the use Of pleasure parties
The pavilion is large two story struc-
ture, erected over the lake, finely ar
ranged, the lower room to be used for
serving refreshments and the upper
floor for dancing In addition to this
there is a refreshment pavilion, bowl.
ing alley, swinging chairs, and Extend
ing from the ticket office building is a
covered platform, 200 feet long, with
seats for the accommodation of people,
A suitable number Of trees have been
left for shade and the rest have been
cleared away. Wednesdays, Saturdays
and Sundays are regular excursion days,
when passengers are carried for half
fare to and from the lake. Parties can
arrange on other days when they desire,
Crowds have visited the lake this sum-
mer, although the accommodations were
poor. Next year, and hereafter, there
will be great improvements in this re-
spect.
The energy with which this road has
been and is being pushed, reflects credit
upon the management. Passengers are
taken to Cleveland now, transferring to
the c. and P. Railroad at Bedford.
In few weeks the Connotton will reach
the city with its own line. There is no
doubt this will be one of the best coal
roads into Cleveland. 1t goes through
extensive beds of coal in Stark and Car.
Tol, reaching the valley of the Connot
ton River near the Harrison county line,
where also are fine coal deposits. The
road is being extended through Carol
to Bowerstown, on the Pan Handle line.
c. G. Patterson, Esq is the General
Manager Of the finished line and was
in fact the man to propose this extended
road. He has the contract for building
the whole line, and when completed
will turn it over to the management.
The officers of the road are: Presi.
dent, William J, Rotch Vice President,
Samuel Allen; Secretary and Treasurer,
A. B. Proal General Counsel, VIM. A.
Lynch; Chief Engineer, VIM. F. Ellis /;
Directors, VIM. J. Rotch, New Bedford,
Massachusetts,; Joseph B. Thomas, Boss
ton; Albert P. Clark, Boston; Albert w.
Nlckerson, Boston; Cyrus Wakefield
Wakefield, Mass; Samuel Watts, Thorn
aston, Maine; Samuel Allen, Dell Roy;
Isaac H. Taylor, Carrolton; Arthur B.
Proal, VIM. A. Lynch, L. r. Tressel
Edward D. Bishop and Augustus Thiery
of Canton. Frank Morrison, of Boston,
Massachusetts, is the Trustee for the
The Connotton Valley
Company is authorized by is charter
under the laws of Ohio to construct,
maintain and operate a railway from
Cleveland to the Pan Handle Railroad,
at Bowerstown. 1t also has authority to
construct branch roads from any points
IN its line to any point in the counties
through which it passes.
When completed, the main line will
De IIS miles long. The grading is al
.eady done to within some six miles of
3owerstown, and ready for the rails.
south of Canton the track is finished
lbout forty miles, and north over thirty
niles. Mr.. w. F. Ellis, formerly of the
Boston & New Bedford Railroad, of
Massachusetts,, superintends the work
If construction, and everything is done
n very substantial manner, the bridges,
masonry and culverts being all of stone.
The great bridge over the Cuyahoga,
1t Kent, is Of wrought iron, with clear
pan of 1863 feet and fifty feet above the
liver. The maximum grade is fifty-two
Get and eight inches to the mile. The
Dad is narrow>guage, three feet, and
he company claim a great saving in
construction and operation. In riding
n their cars one cannot discern any diff
erence from the standard guage. They !
Ise the steel rail, weight forty pounds to
he yard. The trains run rapidly, The
Dad is smooth and safe. The company |
Leserve great credit for their prompt and
beral dealing in securing the right of
ray.
The company also show their liberals
Y and judgment in the construction of
epot buildings at important points.
he one at Canton is a model building
{ the kind, being two hundred feet long
y sixty feet wide. the brick being Phil
delphia pressed, and laid in black NOR
lr, with Berea stone trimmings. 1t is
lrmounted with tower in which is a
ne clock. The upper floor is occupied
Al. Al.