The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-01-28
THE CONNOTTON.
General Manager Sam Briggs Retired
Saturday
And President II. Al Blood. OF Boston,
Elected In His stsad.-J. w.
Wardwsil Appointed
Superintendent,

The announcement here Sunday OF a
change In the management OF the Cleye
land q Canton Railroad, until recently
the C0nnotton Valley, did not create
very much surprise. The dissen'
siOns among the stockholders fore
shadOwed such an event. The
change was effected rather suddenly
Saturday afternoon at q quiet meeting
of the directors OF the road, held for
some reason In Cleveland instead OF at
the general offices Of the company here.
Mr.. II. A Blood, OF Boston, president OF
the road, was elected general manager,
and j. W. Wardwell. connected with the
Concord q New Hampshire railroad,
was appointed superintendent.
MR.. sAM BRIGGS,
who for several years past has been re-
ceiver and general manager OF the
road, and who acted AZ special master
commissioner when the rOa was sold
TO the new company last February, came
here from Cleveland on the Valley rail-
way Sunday morning, and held O con
sultation with W. A. Lynch, Esq, until
recently a director and legal counselor
Of the road, Both gentlemen we're seen,
but no more Information than that
above given was obtained.
Much interest Ia manifested az 10
what the policy OF the new management
will be. II IL hoped and expected that
the road will now be made
A STANDARD GUAGE
and the main line extended from
COshoctOn to Zlnesville, Ohio, where II
will reach the Baltimore Il Ohio line.
The history Of the CoDnOttOn road 10
an interesting one. Mr., Q. g, Patterson,
a shrewd Yankee from Boston, built the
road about seven years ago, and got q
number OF capitalists Of that city to
furnish the money. The road was bull
and equipped regardless OF expense aud
was expected to be q heavy paying In
yestment Instead, however, II has
proved to be a financial incubus TO IT.
owners.
REVENUE OF THE ROAD.
The chief revenue is the traffic 10 the
coal mined In the Connotton Valley In
Stark and Carroll counties, most OF
which 10 shipped to Cleveland, To find
u market for this coal was the chief Tea
son for the building Of the road. Later
on a branch was built from Canton 10
Coshocton TO tap the coal fields In Tue
carawas and COshocton counties. AL.
though q valuable feeder, this branch 10
likewiee q financial failure.
As II now stands the road consists OF
one hundred aud sixty-one miles OF
track, extending from Cleveland,
through Canton, TO 6herrOd'vllle, Carroll
county, with the branch running from
Canton to. .Coshocton,
A COSTLY PLANT
The road coat about 81 100000, exclu
sive OF the rolling stock, which Ia owned
by the New England Loan q Trust Com
pany, OF Boston. This company held
heavy mortgages on the plant aud had
the receiver appointed, owing 10 the
failure OF the company to pay the inter.
est due thereon.
In the few years OF Its existence the
road has experienced four changes In
the management. Previous TO the time
when MIR. Briggs took charge, the road
was run In rather reckless, haphazard
way. MIR. Briggs regime has been the
mo8t successful OF oil, the affairs being
carefully and economically managed.
The new management
TOOK CHARGE SATURDAY,
II Ia not probable that any important
changes Will DO made among the Office
and road employees.
As VIEWED IN CLEVELAND.
The Cleveland Leader says this morn.
Ing:
II Ia claimed by some that the board
was divided into two facti0ne, and that
considerable feeling has existed be
tween tho managing officials for some
time. However this may be, II is certain
that there were two parties OF the stock
holdere at the annual meeting held at
MIR. Briggs office In this city on June "a,
1885. Tae Blood faction was non com.
initial In policy, but II was understood
TO be In favor OF broadening the gauge
and OF extending the line TO the city
OF Zanesville, while the opposition
known az the Parlin party, was against
incurrlDg Indebtedness by the Issue OF
bonds at the present time. In the elec
tion that followed the b God party we're
victorious, polling l3938l shares OF
stock against "a. 26i votes cast for the
Parlln ticket. Az u meeting OF the Di.
rectors held the next day Mr.. II. A b cod
was elected President; Mr.. ID. X, Steyens,
Secretary; MIR. W. 0. Chapman, Treas
urer, and MIR. Sam Brigge, General Man.
ager. These officers were elected unani.
mously, entire hai mony prevailing, and
on the lat OF July they assumed their
duties.
After the meeting held on Saturday
last tho Board OF Directors went over the
road on q tour OF inspection TO Canton.
The project OF making the road Of stan.
dard gauge lhas been thoroughly dis
cussed by the management, ana II In ex' |
pected that tho new officials will effect
this change.
PRESIDENT BLooD's STATEMENT.
President Blood related the following
account OF the boards transactions:
"The meeting was q full one and every
member OF the board was In favor OF the
consolidation. MIR. Briggs was not o
member OF the board, as he Ia not a |
stockholder at the present time, and az
matter OF coureo was not Informed OF |
the meeting, There has boon no trouble |
In the management aud there 10 no other |
cause for Mr.. Briggs retirement than |
the reducing OF expenses. One salary |
does for two offices under the new rule, |
and o superintendent 10 much cheaper
man than q general manager. We think |
II 10 not policy TO employ better men
than we are able TO pay. LIDO not think |
there 10 any faction In the road NJ pres.
ent. There was last June, but all are
40 near OF one accord now 40 II 10 possl- |
ble for 1000 different stockholders TO be. |
My policy, might say our policy, is TO
make the road pay expenses. To do this
the gauge must be wldened and will
be changed next spring to the standard
width. A narrow gauge will not pay,
and too much money has already been
squandered IN trying TO build up tho