The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-11-20
FROM YOUNGSTOWN WEST
As Far as Mansfield, the Road Is Yet
To Be Built.
WILL CONNECT WITH BIG FOUR
On the West, Giving Direct Connection
Canton and Cincinnati--Canton
Men Will He Represented I
On the Board.

Canton seems to be the mecca of all
trunk line roads this fall. If plans sub
mitted to the board of trade Thursday
afternoon are carried out Canton will
be on the main line Of a railroad run
ming from Pittsburg in the east to con-
nections in the west that will give a
new through line service to Chicago, st.
Louis and Cincinnati.
Behind the prospective company, 1t
is said, is the Vanderbilt system, own
ing the largest and most complete sys-
tenn of railroads in the world. Mr.. c.
w. French, of Mansfield, met members
OF the board of trade at the city hall
and presented plans and specifications,
showing the route of new railroad to
be built from Mansfield to Youngstown
and running through a territory that is
at present not represented by east and
west lines, but at the same time taking
all the good towns between these two
cities. The line will touch Mansfield,
Mifiiin, Jeromeville, Blachleville. Woos-
ter, Massillon, Canton, Louisville and
Alliance, and from there proceed to
Youngstown.
the p. G. L. e. railroad. At Mansfield
the line will run west over what is
known as the Mansfield short line, now
building at Shelby. At the latter point
THE BIG FOUR
will be the connecting line. The above
Is substantially what Mr.. French laid
before the board. He asked the board
to name two men to act as directors of
the new company to be known as the
Richland and Mahoning Railroad COM
pany, of which he is president. The
reason he asked for two Canton men,
was'net to get Canton money interested
in the project, he claimed, but to secure
moral support and keep Cantonians in
terested in the project.
The stockholders of the company are
building the line at present from Shelby
to Mansfield, and expect to be running
trains before Christmas. At Shelby the
company has secured enough ground to
allow for twelve side tracks, each half
a mile in length. At Mansfield they
have secured terminals that are su-
perior to those owned by any company
entering Mansfield.
The real power behind the throne, ac-
able. is the Vanderbilt interests. The
Vanderbilt people own the p. & L. Il. |
running from Pittsburg to Youngs-
town. This road, according to statis-
tics, hauls more freight than any other
road in the country, considering it's
mileage.
THE ONLY WAY
for the Vanderbilt people to handle
business out of Pittsburg for the west
is to haul it to Youngstown. take it
from there to Ashtabula on a branch
OF the Lake Shore ana turn II over 10
the main line. This makes a long run,
especially on st. LOUIS ana Cincinnati
business. and that lie the reason they
are interested in getting line from
Youngstown to the west that will con-
meet with the Big Four. The new con1-
pany is building union depot at
Shelby which will be used by the Big
Four also. Mr. French stated that he |
expected the line through Canton
would be double tracked as soon as the |
company could get the single track |
completed and trains moving.
1t is very probable that the line will |
be extended beyond Shelby to a point |
to connect with the Lake Shore, and In |
that manner make short line from
Pittsburg to Chicago.
Mr.. French went to Massillon Friday |
to meet the board to name tyc men to |
act In the same capacity as the Canton |
men he asked to have appointed Thurs I
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