Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-11-03
PROSPECTS
Or THE WABASH EXTENSION AS
VIEWED By JUDGE MEEKI-
SON.
Circumstances Make it Exceedingly
Doubtful That Napoleon VIII be i.
In It.

Not few inquiries were made at this Office
in answer to the article in last weeks NORTH
WEST relative 10 the extension of the Wabash
railroad from Montpelier to Napoleon. Our
information as published last week was
gained from Wabash employer at the
depot and in measure was corr ect.
That our readers may become thoroughly
convels SAINT with the situation we have
& anied few facts through the courtesy of
Judge Meekison which are hereiuund.r
submitted:
II do not think the road possible guam
tity to Napoleon the Judge answered in re-
sponse to query from the NORTHWEST.
I'm fact ir is very DO udtful If the line will
be extended in order to make connections
with Toledo"
''The chief reason for my belief in that d.
rection is Toledo's inability to give the Wa
bash an eastern outlet for its traffic, OF
course We all know that such traffic would
be chiefly of seaboard nature. The Wa
bash would care but little for local busi-
ness.''
tWhy can not Toledo come up to the i'm
mergency of supplying an outlet?" was
asked.
sBecause the road west of Toledo would
come in direct competition with the Lake
shore, and hence Vanderbilts line would at
once wage war against the Wabash. Now, it
seems to me that the Wabash's only recourse
is to use its branch from Montpelier to De-
troit and then via the Grand Trunk Line
through Canada to Buffalo and thence via
the roads runni east from the last named
point secure the outlet 1t DESIRES"
'sIn the event of this eastern outlet obsta
Gle being overcome, what advantages IL any
has Whitehouse and Wauseon over Napo-
leon in securing the extension?
"Well, really but one. By striking
Whitehoese the Wabash would secure two
miles shorter route, but, on the other hand
should Napoleon be selected, the road would
be relieved from constructing some ten
miles less of road, the distances being "a and
81, miles, respectively, from Montpelier.
Then again, as far as local patronage is con-
cerned the profit derived from Wauseon
would be meager, inasmuch as the Lake
shore would Immediately commence sys-
tenn of c1t rates. In such case, Wauseon
of course, would be the gamer, with both
roads the losers. But, the question with the
Wabash, that ia, in case 1t we're to consider
the extension of the road, and latterly which
town 1t would strike is: Whether or not it
could afford to lengthen the route two m les
in order to be relieved from building ten
miles of road. do not think the question
would be long in reaching solution in IA
vor of Whitehouse. All roads are seeking to
shorten their routes and mere expense in this
case would be secondary"
.Have the Wabash officials submitted a
proposition to either Napoleon or White
housepp
"As far as the latter town is considered, I
know not. Inregard to Napoleon, there has
been none. Last August in response to let.
ter from me, the officials sa that when the
road is completed from Chicago to Mont.
pelier, then the question of extension will be
considered. Further thin that have re-
ceived no intelligence. There remains near
" hundred miles of the Chicago branch
yet to complete which think will be done
this month. Until then we can expect moth
ing"
do you surmise its nature?"
furnish the right of way and construct the
road bed, and of course we would be required
to do that and probably more. In such an
event we could have the Coidwater d Michi-
gan road bed condemned and utilize IL.
What benefit would we derive by securing
the roadp Not very much beyond a direct
outlet to Chicago and the Northwest