Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-07-11
SPRINGFIELD AND THE NORTHWEST
Some Important and Most Interesting suE.
gestions.

some Am DoEt1ut anu NAoet AhtoA c'sAs<e -
gestions.
SPRIN6FIELD, o., July 18th, 1888.
To the Editor OF the Republic:
read with pleasure your suggestions as
to what Springfield needs, and what the
board of trade should do for the interests
of our city, in your issue Of last Saturday.
These suggestions are timely and good
and should be acted upon at once. There
is no mistaking the fact that railroads
make city, and our citizens should be
more willing to aid by rights Of way, and
subscriptions if necessary, any new road or
belt road, that may try to enter our city.
Springfield is fairly well supplied with
good railroads, but she needs at least one
more. We must have a direct line to
Chicago The idea of our having to 60 to
the villages of Urbana or Xenia to get a
good start is wrong. Probably three
| fourths of the number of car loads of agri-
cultural implements that are shipped out
from this city, for the great west, are
shipped via Chicago.
If direct line could be had this would
save at least twenty-f0ur hours in time and
it is reasonable to suppose that this new
line would get the liens share Of the busi-
ness.
By our building what might be called the
Springfield, Sidney & Fl. Wayne railroad.
direct line of about one hundred miles to
Ft. Wayne, we would go through an entire
ly new country, and one that is very rich
both in lumber and farming products. 1t
would also go directly through
the natural gas belt of Mercer
county, and the same right of way
that could be had for the railroad could be
used also by the natural gas company that
would want to pipe to this city from St.
Mary's.
This road would open up q trade fol-
, Springfield's wholesale merchants that
could hardly be estimated, probably mil
lion dollars year. to say nothing OF the
: retail merchants trade being increased by
! city ON the line this side of Ft. Wayne
|, would consequently draw a large trade
I from all the towns on the road. 1t would
I strike the towns of st. Paris, Sidney
q Lamarie, Minister, st. Marys, Celina, Will
: shire, Decatur, Ind, and Fl. Wayne, be
q sides large number Of smaller towns tina
would spring up along the line.
If Springfield is TO have any wholesale
Z business, it must have direct lines, SO tina
they can reach most any part Of the state
without transferring. We have lines in al
: other directions except the northwest an
l. this line would be what is needed. DaytOl
n and Columbus both have such good railroa
C facilities that 1t is unreasonable to suppOs
that Springfield's wholesalers can compel
with them. This matter should be cOnsid
e cred by the board Of trade and a measur
n put on foot to start the ball a rolling 1t
n not necessary for Springfield to subscrib
NJ the bulk of the capital. as was done in tn
S. j. & T. X. X. This will not be necei
l. sary, as the other towns and cities alon
5. the line, especially Ft. Wayne, would tax
N hold of the matter, and subscribe literally
y TT. Wayne wants to reach our coal field
- over the Ohio Southern, and the new rOa
70 would be equally advantageous to thel
III as US.
re This road could be built at very mode
,r ate cost, as the grade is very level from 81
al Paris on to F. Wayne. Probably u
greatest cost would be between here and 81
U Paris, owing to the heavy grade.
" If Springfield could get this road, its be
is railroad (allowing the Erie to come into Il
4. city. for eastern business, and natural ga
n piped into the city, we would have one
the best cities in the country. and be on tn
IL high read of the prosperity that has alwal
70 marked Springfeld's career.
10 1t can be done il somebody will make
bis business to see that 1t is done. 8.